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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Renunc(e, -nuns, v. Also: ra- and -nwnce; -nounce, -nouns(e, -nowns; -nonce and renunci-, -cy-; renunti-. [ME and e.m.E. renounce (Wyclif), OF renoncier, renoncer (c1155 and c1283 in Larousse), L. renuntiāre proclaim, also disclaim, protest against, f. nuntiāre to make known.]

I. 1. intr. To renunce to (til) (a non-material thing), to repudiate; to give up.Appar. obs. after Hay.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xvii 333.
He renuncyt halely To this vykit varld & his foly Ib. xxi 430.
Wil thu renunce to genesis? c1420 Wynt. v 3137.
To thaire state thai ranownsyde hale 1456 Hay II 116/26.
He mon renounce till his propre lusty desyris of the fleshe(2) 1410–11 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 31.
David Panter foirspekar … renunsit til the recontre thai hed maid befoir

2. To make renunciation. b. specif. To resign formally or explicitly a right, trust, etc. Const. infin. compl. or without const. 1456 Hay I 275/32.
In this cas he may renounce but his princis leve 1549 Breadalbane Doc. No. 68.
The said Jhone Menȝeis hes ranuncyt to persew before my juge … the said Jhone Campbell 1585 Wemyss Chart. 216.
It being alwais in the said Patrikis option … quhiddar thai will … renunce or nocht a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 66.
Efter litiscontestatioun ane persone may renunce jure litis et causae 1663 Decis. Lords G. 54.
The conception of the bond being in favours of the bairns as fiars, they with the mother may well renunce 1682 Ib. F. 18.
The Lords found that allegiance relevant for the earl, … and allowed him to renunce

3. tr. To give up or surrender (a right, privilege, benefit, etc., also property or office) (to, in the handis of, in favoris of another person); to withdraw explicitly (one's claim to something).For some further examples, see Ourgive v.Also, to renunce (a benefit, also, one's body) ouer (to another), in the same sense.(1) 1467 Acta Aud. 8/1.
Andro renunsit and gafe oure al tak of the said landis 1493 Ib. 172/2. 1507 Treas. Acc. III 416.
The arrege of David Betoun renuncit be the kingis lettres … xx li. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 167/17.
Ane merchand, his geir as he did sell, Renuncit his pairt of hevin and hell 1521 Selkirk B. Ct. MS fol. 88b.
To renunc … his assedation … that he hes to the bailȝery of … Mynto 1533 Bell. Livy I 189/6.
Vnder sic conditioun that thai renunce al lawis, autoriteis, and priuilegis quhilkis thai latelie conquest … be thare secessioun 1536–7 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 85.
That … Mr. Adame renunces all bygane pensiouns and actis made in his favour 1554 Acts II 601/2.
Renunceand 1555 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. I 161.
Quha in our presence renuncit al tytle, rycht, and kyndnes he had to the saidis landis 1556 Wemyss Chart. 186. 1569–70 Inverness Rec. I 185.
The said Maistyr Farquhar Hectourson renunsit resignit and owergaif be way of resignatioun all rychtis clames [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 141/7.
Frilie renunceng the impire, he constitutes ane heyre, to wit, Thereus 1611 Edinb. Test. XLVI 278.
The said Johone Andersoun … hes renunceit and be thir presentis renunces all bairnes pairt of geir 1633 Cullen B. Rec. MS 5 Feb.
Elspet Duncan his dochter in law … renuncit hir lyffrent richt and tytle of Gillanis croft 1685 Decis. Lords F. 80.
Which 1100 merks the wodsetter was obliged to accept and renunce the wodset(b) 1454 Douglas Chart. 384.
Renounsand … al remede of law … quhilk may be til vs … ony … help 1463 Wemyss Chart. 82.
I renowns … all clame off rycht off ters [etc.] … and all other rychtis that I ma haff 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 823.
Quhilk Peter did renounc[e] thow [sc. Sylvester] did resaue(c) 1482 Edinb. Chart. 154.
Coniunctlie and seueralie renunciand the benifite of diuision 1501–2 Acta Conc. III 165. 1510 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 10.
Coniunctlie and sewerlie renunciand the benefice of divisioun(2) 1491 Acta Conc. I 207/2.
The said Schir Thomas haid renunsit his office of notery of before 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece II 100.
He was chosin Pape efter Sanct Gregoure, and wilfully renunsit the paperie Id. Livy I 129/5.
How Tarquyne Collatyne renuncit the consulate 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary II 208.
And thairfore we haue dimittit and renuncit the office of gouernement of this our realme 1596 Dalr. I 247/1.
Father Disibodie renunced his bishoprie 1613 Glasgow B. Rec. I 335.(3) 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 329.
The said Williame and his ayris … sall renunce and upgyf the saidis landis 1481 Soc. Ant. Chart. No. 14.
We … sal frelyresigne renunce … and quietclame the said annuel rent 1496 Lennox Mun. 161.
Renwnce 1559 Inchcolm Chart. 97.
[They] renuncit and ourgaif the malingis and ferme stedyngis that thai … hes in … lauboryng 1562 Prot. Bk. J. Drummond 16b.
In consideratione of the priuilege … grantit to wemen be the law quhen thai renunce ony landis 1606 Acts IV 300/2.(4) 1466 Acta Aud. 5/1.
That the saide Ranalde renuncit and gafe oure to him the of [sic] office of balȝery 1509 Newbattle Coll. Somerville.
The said William Bailȝe renunsit quhytclemyt & ourgaiff for ewyr his franktenement … of Cormestone till his sone 1536 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 222.
I … sall ranunce … the said landis and tovne … to the said James 1557 Aberd. B. Rec. I 302.
And the new heretabill possessouris therof to renunce the same in the townis handis 1592 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 26 Feb.
Dauid Synklar renunsit … in the handis of Thome Chayne … ane part of land 1605 in Goudie Diary J. Mill (S.H.S.) 193. 1607 Inverurie B. Ct. 20 May.
The said Janett Leslie judiciallie renuncit ane burn rig … in fauoris of William Stewin(b) 1491 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 327.
The said Jhon has … renuncijt … all rycht and cleme of entresse … to the said Schir Alexander 1509 Reg. Privy S. I 284/1.
Renuncyand and quitclamand the sammyn to him be thir our lettres for evir 1511–12 Ib. 358/2.(5) c1560 Montgomery Mem. II 159.
We … renuncis … to the said Robert … the … hatrent of our hartis … quhilkis we … may haif in tyme cumming … for the … slauchter of [etc.](6) 1549 Compl. 179/31.
I renunce ouer my takkis … and resingis them … to the comont veil of Athenes 1662 Crim. Trials III 603.
I … put the on of my handis to the crowne of my head and the vther to the sole of my foot, and then renuncet all betuixt my two handis, ower to the Divell

b. To renunce the warld, to renounce worldly wealth, values, etc. c. reflex. To renunce (oneself), to attempt to be totally unselfish.b. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 200 (Ch.).
I wald renunce all this warld quyte, For till stand in hir gracec. 1588 King Cat. 96.
We glaidlie embrace the croce of Christ, renuncis our selfs [etc.]

4. To repudiate; to decline to approve, recognise, accept, etc.; to disown.There is possible ambiguity, and perh. some overlapping, with sense 5 below. c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 143.
He … renunsyt al syk lawbore and besynes 1494 Acta Aud. 198/1.
The said erille and Adam suld haff be thar procuratoris renunsit all maner of excepciounis delatouris [etc.] 1497 Acta Conc. II 75.
Grantit … that he renuncit the retoure of ydeotry impetrat be him apone … his fader 1521 Liber Melros 632.
Quhilkis all and otheris exceptionis now expreslie for me and my saide airis I renunce c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3.
Thou lytil quair, … Weil auchtest thou couerit to be with sabyl, Renunceand grene [etc.] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1417. 1562-3 Winȝet I 15/21.
For giue thow haistelie pronounce Sentence ouir sone to riche or pure, The same na way thow may renounce Nor in na sort again recure Withouttin lak and shame 1567 G. Ball. 150.
Renunce thair lawis and cum to me 1567 St. A. Kirk S. 17.
I renunce … the fenyeit and inventet purgatorie 1569 Ib. 318.
Laurence … resavit the sam [religion] …, renuncing idolatrie, superstitioun, and Papistrie, befoir authorized in tyme of the Paip 1581 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 142.
Eduard Edȝear burges of Drumfreis renunceand his awin jurisdictioun and submittand him to the jurisdictioun of the burgh of Kirkcudbricht is becum actit [etc.] 1596 Soc. Ant. IV 157.
My innocent freindis to renunce thair sirname, and to leif peaseablie 1581 Hamilton Facile Tr. in Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 222/18.
The solemnel aith ye maid … to serue God in the … Catholik kirk, renunceand al heresie 1630 Justiciary Cases I 144.
The devill maid the said Alexander in maist feirfull maner to renunce his baptisme a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 163. 1681 Law Memor. 191.(b) 1571–2 Canongate Ct. Bk. 348.
Comperit Nicoll Scot burges of Edinburgh … renuntiand his awin jurisdictioun in this cace 1610 Bk. Dunvegan I 81.
For now and ever renunciand be thir presentis the exceptioune of not numerat money and all utheris exceptiounes quhatsumever

5. To abandon (a faith, belief, etc.), to reject explicitly. 1467 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 403.
Quhasa euir brakis in ony of thir condicionis sall be haldyn … [to] ranunce the fatht of Criste 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1133 (Ch.).
I dreid, without ȝe … renunce ȝour new opiniones, The spirituall stait sall put ȝow to perditioun 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 152/19.
I oblis my self … to renunce my religioun … quhilk I rekkyn na less in my conscience nor to renunce my God 1562-3 Winȝet I 118/18.
Eftir that he had renuncit his faythe 1612 Prot. Bk. W. Leslie (Burgess Oath).
Renunceand the Roman religione callit papistrie 1657 Dunkeld Presb. II 416.
That he renuncit Anabaptisme

b. To give up, discontinue (an activity, habit, etc.).Also, once, with inanimate subject.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 209.
Thai … kepyt wele obedyence, & renoncyt ay thar fre wil c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 54.
Renunce, rebald, thy rymyng a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 332.
Renounce thy rymis, bath ban and birn thy bill c1552 Lynd. Mon. 334.
I thynk it best … to … renunce curiositie … and lerne to de 1600-1610 Melvill 417.
And now [he] hes renunced the ministerie, and takin him to be a mediciner(2) a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 831 (L).
Thy pvnces renvnces [Wr. pronunces] All kynd of quyet rest

c. To renunce (an action to a person), to give up one's right to legal action or revenge. Cf. 2 b above. 1500–1 Crim. Trials I i 101.
Renuncand and forgevand to the said kin … al … crimes [etc.] … and al vther maner of actionis … that may be imput to thaim

6. With personal object: To reject explicitly; to refuse to acknowledge as master, leader, etc.; to withdraw allegiance from. 1490 Irland Mir. I 36/27.
In oure bapteme we renunce the deuill 1494 Loutfut MS 25b.
The ȝoung perdris … furthwith passis till hir & renuncis thair fals moder c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 167/10.
The Devill can say, Renunce thy God and cum to me 1552 Breadalbane Doc. No. 84.
The saidis … hes ranunsyt … thair cheyff the lard McGregour … and chosin … Collin … thair cheyff 1575 Reg. Privy C. II 464.
[They] compellit thame to renunce him thair kyndlie maister, and hald of thame 1578 Edinb. Test. VI 103. —
I … renuncis the deuill & all his craft & intysementis 1662 Crim. Trials III 610.
I … renuncet Jesus Christ and my baptisme

7. reflex. and intr. To renunce (oneself) of something, to give up; to set aside, dispense with. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 84.
[They] renuncit thame of thair cure and counsell 1595 R. Brown Paisley I 171.
And the said William Stewart is actit renounseand thereof, to releif the said William Erskine of the said cautionari

II. 8. tr. To proclaim (a person as queen). = Pronunc(e v.¹ ȝ. 1596 Dalr. II 352/3.
Joanna, the Dukes dauchter of Suffolke Quene of Ingland, al man in publick renunced