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: 1399-1400, 1490, 1600-1633
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Retribution(e, -ucio(u)n(e, n. [ME and e.m.E. retribucioun (Wyclif), OF retribution (c1120 in Larousse), L. retribūtiōn-, f. retribuere Retribute v.] Repayment, return or reward for merit, some service, etc. — a1400 Legends of the Saints iii 708.
Na thinge here wes … Bot ewynly recompensacion Mycht mak to the retribucione Of the joy and gret delyte 1490 Irland Mir. II 97/4.
Honour and retribucioun for gud deidis and punycioune for euill werkis c1600 M. Napier Mem. J. Napier 297.
In retribution of your frendlie and verteous advice 1633 Breadalbane Lett. No. 493.
That we may haue some vennisone and caperkealȝies from ȝow. … So sall we be most reddye to mak retributione, as ȝow sall haue occasione
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"Retribution n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/retributione>
