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: 1498-1617
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Reuthful(l, adj. Also: rewth-, ruth-, ruith-, rueth-; rauth-. [ME and e.m.E. reouđful(e (Ancr. R.), reuþful (c1320), ruthful (c1440), etc.; Reuth n.]
1. Of a person or quality: Full of, or informed with, pity or compassion; compassionate (to a person). Also transf. and comb.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 66/74.
Ane lufe … So riche, so rewthfull and discreit … Nevir moir salbe 1563 Reg. Privy C. I 250.
Amangis godly … persones quha of reuthfull compassioun wes helplie unto thame a1568 Bannatyne MS 86b/88.
Profound men … Off pure ay haifand reuthfull remembrance a1568 Ib. 87a/44.
Be reuthfull ay quhar thow seis grit distress a1585 Maitland Quarto MS 159/164.
Let … rather hairt be reuthfulltransf. 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 161.
Inclyne thyne reuthfull eiris … To me a1568 Bannatyne Bannatyne MS 231a/52.
With rewthfull presens of hir visage quhyt c1590 Fowler I 210/1.
quhils with more reuthfull and alluiring eyes Thow wings my hopecomb. a1568 Scott xxxiv 52.
Ȝe rame as ȝe wer rent, And thay ar rewthfull hairtit(2) 1531 Bell. Boece I 16.
The faderis are sa reuthfull to thair childrin
b. Only in Doug., rendering (? irregularly or ? erroneously) L. pius (also, in circumlocutory noun phr., L. pietas).1513 Doug. i vi 125.
Rewthful Ene am I 1513 Ib. viii 91.
Eneas, Ane iustar man … nane was, Nor mair reuthfull 1513 Ib. x xiii 157.
Quhat sall the reuthfull compacient Ene … rendir thé? —1513 Doug. v xii 42.
Gif thi reuthfull clemens takis tent
2. That excites pity or compassion. Also transf.1513 Doug. x ix 68.
That rewthfull harm, and that myschews cace, Felys … my faderis gost 1513 Ib. xi xi 132.
My self … the reuthfull corps … sall cary away 1531 Bell. Boece I 21.
The wiffis … fell on kneis with ruthfullteris a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 347.
The picture of the defunct … payntit with the nomber of the shots and wounds, to appeare the mair horrible and rewthfull to the behalderstransf. 1590–1 Criminal Trials I ii 237.
Be the samin blude That reikit owre the ruithfull rwid … I coniure thé
b. Of a sound: That arouses pity. Passing into: c. Expressive of grief.(a) ?a1500 Obsecro 41.
Thow herd of him with reuthfull voce, … Woundit sair and seik cryand For mannis help 1528 Lynd. Dreme 340.
Mony ane legioun Greitand and gowland with mony reuthful rair 1535 Stewart 4100.
Quhill all the rochis rang With … reuthfull reird a1585 Maitland Quarto MS 202/54. 1600-1610 Melvill 424.
With manie reuthfull reare(b) c1590 Fowler I 90/120.
Your chaistlye wayes … Whiche yow wer wont for to oppone aganis my rauthfull cryes
d. Of a person, also his appearance: Pitiable. Passing into: e. Sorrowful, wretched.1513 Doug. ix iv 123.
Thy maist reuthfull [L. miserae] mother … Quhilk anerly of hir maist tender mynd … Hes followyt thé 1513 Ib. xii xiii 209.
Thir sa gret dolouris mycht I end inhy, And with my reuthfull brother go withall Amangis the dym schaddoys infernall 1533 Bell. Livy I 168/5.
Ane cumpany of reuthful and indigent pepill 1533 Ib. II 8/14.
The reuthfull matrouns … movit the pepil more with … teris than … with ony cryis c1614 Mure Dido & Æneas i 422.
Whence be ȝe … Whose ruethfull looks ȝowr inward sorrows showe?
f. Of a feeling: ? Sorrowful; ? remorseful.a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 1115 (Asl.).
With rewthfull now repentans I record My gret vnthank
