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.
Quotation dates: 1559-1693
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Repositio(u)n(e, n. [L. repositiōn-, n. of action f. repōnere Repon(e v., Repose v.1 Cf. e.m.E. reposition (1588), also obs. F. réposition (OED).] The restoration (of a person) to a right, possession or position formerly enjoyed; esp., the reinstatement of a minister. 1559 Edinb. B. Rec. III 55.
The restitutioun and repositioun of the saidis dekynnis to thair priuilegis … quhairof thai wer denudit 1576 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 277.
In respect of … the Erle of Huntlies repositioun [etc.] 1594 Lothian and Tweeddale Synod 73.
And quhat ordour they sall tak anent the said Mr. James repositioun and his awaiting heirefter upon his cure 1607 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 99.
The repositioun of the gentilmen who wer brokin of thair placeis 1643 Baillie II 52. 1652 Johnson Diary II 166.
And I heard of the deposed ministers … telling them that, if they would not repone them, they would think on wayes of their awen reposition themselves 1681 Stair Inst. iii i § 3.
Retrocessions, which are the returning back of the right assigned from the assignee to the cedent, which are also called repositions 1688 Inverness Presb. 134.
Intimation to the congregation of … his absolution and reposition to his former charges 1693 Fountainhall Decis. I 564.
The Lords found his [sc. the schoolmaster's] depredation … unwarrantable, and sustained his reposition to this place
b. An agent of such a restoration. 1585 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) I 189.
Great … potestatis in Europe … manifestit to the warld thair intentioun to be the repositioun of that Romishe idole to his former auctoritie
c. A writ of reposition. a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 271.
Ane repositione maid be the mother to her owen sone … could not prove against ane third persone who had acquyrit the mother's right
d. ? Replacement, repayment. 1675 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 28 June.
At least shall procuire repositione thairoff the theserer for the peir out of the readiest of the tounes thesernd. that yeir
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"Reposition n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/repositioune>
