A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1513
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Sembland, -ant, n. Also: sembla(u)nde, semland, -ant. [ME and e.m.E. samblant (a1225), semblaunt (Ancr. R.), semblant (c1230), sembland (Cursor M.), sem(e)lant (Wyclif), semelande (c1425), seymland (Towneley Myst.), semlande (Cath. Angl.), semblaunte (1548), OF semblant (10th c. in Larousse), pres. p. of sembler to seem. Cf. Semblance n.]
1. Appearance, demeanour; an instance of this.Freq. fare or fals sembland.(1) ?1438 Alex. II 1920.
He was … Ȝong, simple and of fare sembland ?1438 Alex. ii 6842.
He mycht have knawin at leif-taking, Be thare sembland and be thare fare, Quha that war lufit and luffaris war ?1438 Alex. ii 10273.
The great vertew that Porrus had Confortit thame sa fellonly That all the cowartis commonly Wald throw sembland formest be ?1438 Alex. ii 10455.
Sueit sembland and courtas talking … Quhairthrow luffaris beginnis to leir To lufe weill c1420 Wynt. viii 6465.
He Throw wyte, and his debonareté, And tha gyfftis off fare sembland [C. semblande], Thare hartis full tilt hym thai band c1420 Wynt. viii 6579.
The Scottis passyd hame wyth blyth sembland 1456 Hay I 30/16.
Romaynes … makis faire sembland before as thai war symple as a dow … but behynd bak thai stang as ane edder a1500 Golagros and Gawane 428.
Than said the syre of the sail, with sad sembland [etc.] 1513 Doug. i vi 171.
Quhy art thou cruell to thy son … Dissavand hym sa oft with fals sembland [L. Quid natum … falsis Ludis imaginibus]? 1513 Doug. ii ix 32.
Thus said scho and with sik sembland as mycht be Hym towart hir has brocht, but ony threte 1513 Doug. iv ix 8.
Schawand by hir cheir gude hope and glad sembland [L. Consilium vultu tegit ac spem fronte serenat](b) 1513 Doug. vii iv 5.
With glaid semlant [Sm., Ruddim. semblant] and vissage ful benyng(2) c1420 Ratis Raving 1079.
Befor that sicht supprisit bee Of swet seruice and gret bewtee … With fair sembland of suet lufinge 1456 Hay II 146/22.
Wenand to blyndfell God with fals semblaunde of justice 1513 Doug. vi xiii 35.
Behald … Quhat gud semblant thai schaw of chevalre(3) ?1438 Alex. i 2351.
The duke … Said to him with ane wraith sembland [etc.] 1456 Hay I 18/3.
The devill … in his armyng of ypocrysie … with a coverit fals sembland of vertue and halynes a1500 Golagros and Gawane 1282.
The king … Tuke him vp by the hand, With ane fair sembland
b. The likeness or semblance (of a person). Also be sembland, in appearance.(1) 1513 Doug. xii xi 24.
Scho that was turnyt … In semlant of Metiscus [L. in faciem … Metisci] the cartar 1513 Doug. xii xii 220.
Juturna … Changit agane … Into Metiscus semlant and lyknes [L. Rursus in aurigae faciem mutata Metisci](2) ?1438 Alex. ii 4953.
Him semes stark and … be sembland, ioly 1513 Doug. i xi 43.
Cupyd … fenȝeand luf full fals, By semlant [Sm. sembland] as he his fader had beyn [L. Et magnum falsi implevit genitoris amorem] 1513 Doug. x xi 87.
The quhilk wondyrus monstre … With Troiane wapynnys and armour grathis sche … Be semlant [Sm. semland, Ruddim. semblance] lyke Eneas godlyhed
2. To mak sembland, to give an appearance, show signs of (something); to threaten to do (something).1375 Barb. viii 238.
Lordis now ȝe se How ȝon men throw thar gret poweste, Wald, and thai mycht fulfill thar will, Sla ws, & makys sembland thar-till ?1438 Alex. ii 8851.
Ȝone man … mananses that my suerd salbe Reft … out of myne hand! Till tak it now he makis sembland!
b. To make a show of some sort, give the appearance of (something) by one's actions or demeanour; to give a particular impression.1375 Barb. ix 251.
The discourrouris saw thaim [sc. the enemy] cummand … And ȝeid to thar lord in hy That gert arme hys men hastily & thaim arayit for battaile Behind thaim set thai thar [merdale] And maid gud sembland for to fycht a1400 Legends of the Saints xxi 495.
Faustyniane, wenand that he With his resawit suld wel be, Gud semland mad hyme hamly ?1438 Alex. ii 5107.
Fesonas … Come in, Makand richt fare sembland, … And lauchand 1460 Hay Alex. 4129.
Quhan Alexander … saw … all war lost his schippis and his men He made na grete semblant that men micht ken, To gif his men discoimfort na wanhope
