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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.

Repugn(e, v. Also: -pung; -pungn. [ME and e.m.E. repugne(n (Chaucer), -pungne(n (Wyclif), -punge (1457), -pougne (16th c.), F. répugner (1370 in Larousse), L. repugnāre.]Common in Irland and Knox.

1. intr. To be contradictory or inconsistent. c1490 Irland Asl. MS 12/10.
Thir [supra thingis] repugnis togidder

b. To be contrary, or opposed, to (a non-material thing); to be inconsistent with. 1490 Irland Mir. I 71/29.
And deidly syn repugnis to the stat of innocence Ib. II 121/28.
Repungnis 1533 Boece 185.
Sic maneris … repugnit to princelie gravite 1535 Stewart 3204.
Infinite repungis to figure 1536 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 22.
We judge mariage … to repugne to holynes of no ordre 1560 Conf. Faith in Acts II 531/2.
We dar not ressaue nor admit ony interpretatioun quhilk repugnis to ony … plaine text of Scripture, or ȝit vnto the reule of cheritie 1567 Ib. III 19/2.
Gif than the … sentence of ony … counsall, repugne to the plaine worde of God [etc.] 1558-66 Knox II 128. Ib. I 191.
Everie thing that repugned to thair corrupt affectionis, was termed in thair mockage, ‘devote imaginationis’ 1574 Comm. Univ. III (St. A.) 188.
Not repunging to the word of God & reformit religioun 1581 Reg. Privy C. III 432.
It wald be considerit how far the samin repugnis to nature 1600-1610 Melvill 112.
That maner of proceiding hes na ground in the word of God, bot repugnes flatlie to the saming 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 21.
The scriptures treulie exponit … repugnes directlie to thair adulterous interpretations Ib. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 243.
This heresie … repugnes to the trew law of God

c. To be unable (to (till) exist) (because to do so would involve a contradiction or inconsistency). 1535 Stewart 3215.
For multitude withoutin vnitie … repungis in ane god till ring, Quhairfoir I hald it bot ane folie thing To put in godheid sic pluralitie

2. To feel, express or offer opposition (to a person or thing); to resist; to object.Chiefly, with personal subject.(1) 1533 Boece 204.
Quhen nane repugnit to his corruptit maneris, … he eschamyt nocht … to persew … nobillis in thare persouns and gudis 1562-3 Winȝet I 88/4. 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 24.
Let ws geif credit, and repugne nocht to God 1581 Burne Disput. 10.
Ȝe repugne to S. Paull quha sayis that ve ar al borne the sonnis of vraith a1599 Rollock Wks. I 396.
Ane malitious, false, infidell hart repugning to the Gospel 1600-1610 Melvill 286.
This mater sall proceide sa fearlie and cleirlie, that nan can repung thairto 1622-6 Bisset I 50/24.
Thair is sindrie evill disposed persones in this realme, ay repugnand to the weill thairof(2) 1558-66 Knox II 341.
Yf any think that a competent lyving is to be assigned to thame, we repugne not 1596 Dalr. I 184/16.
Donald … finding na man to repugne, ascriues vnto him selfe the dignitie of the king(3) 1602 Colville Paraenese 88.
Sens and naturall raison sall raige and repung

3. To repugn against, to fight or contend against; to be in conflict with; to militate against; to contradict.In the Balfour Pract. quot. the sense is obscured by the fact that thay has two possible antecedents. c1575 Balfour Pract. 8.
I sall … the law and statutis … keip … to all my liegis, in all thingis, swa that thay repugne not aganis the faith 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 83.
It [sc. transubstantiation] repugnes directlie against the articles of our beleife; … therefore this transubstantiation fights directlie against the articles of our beleife

4. tr. a. To resist or repel (a person). c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts v 39.
For gif this connsale … is of God, ye may nocht vndo thame, or perauenture ye be fundin to repugne God a1538 Abell 126a.
Bot ane abbay with his assistants repugnit thame & chasit thame awa 1596 Dalr. I 234/7.
He repugned S. Augustine vehementlie in sum ceremonies at the first beginning Brus iv 93 (H).
Repugned [E. ruschyt]

b. To oppose, refuse to accept (a thing, idea, etc.). a1538 Abell 10b.
All the cete wes aganis the sentence & repugnit it 1549 Compl. 28/21.
Ane ox that repungnis the brod of his hird, he gettis doubil broddis

c. To blame; to reject. 1622-6 Bisset I 18/20.
Althought I rin arreir, Be rymeing rudlie, quhilk ȝe may repung [: tung, ȝung]

5. Of an idea: To contradict; to go against, be opposed to. a1578 Pitsc. II 59/19.
Heriesie is ane fallis oppinioun defendit witht pertinnacie cleirlie repugning the word of God Ib.60/10.
Quhilk propossitioun the gospell appeirit to repung 1596 Dalr. II 398/27.
Prayeris … in ony vthir toung … than in the Latine toung … vttirlie repungs the Catholick traditiounis