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.
Semble, Sembill, Semle, v. Also: sembyl(l, semil. [ME and e.m.E. semel(en (c1250), sembel (Cursor M.), semble (a1352), sembyll (a1400), OF sanllé p.p. ‘gathered, come together’, (bataille) semblée ‘(battle) engaged, fought’ (a1300 and 1160 in Godefroy); aphetic f. Assemble v.]
1. tr. Of persons or animals, etc.: To be or be brought together in or into a group, to be gathered together; to be drawn up, brought together, arrayed (for battle). b. Of the parties in a dispute: To be brought together (in court) apon (a dispute). = Assemble v. 1 c.a1400 Leg. S. xii 302.
All the apostolis semblyt vare In til a howse ?1438 Alex. i 880.
With that thay war on athir side All reddy semblit for to ryde c1420 Wynt. i 672 (W).
Thai … gerris the kyne Be semblit [R. Gaddryde be] therto, mare and myne c1450-2 Howlat 123 (A).
I sall call my cardinallis & my counsall … Thai salbe semblit full sone 1456 Hay II 152/17.
For sumquhile all mon be semblit for generale poyntis of the communitee and othir poyntis of commoun proffit 1460 Hay Alex. 1170.
Quhan Alexander his ost all semblit saw c1475 Wall. ii 302.
Quhar Scottis and Inglis semblit bene on raw, Was neuir ȝit … Bot othir a Scott wald [etc.] c1475 Wall. viii 995.
Mony trew Scot was semblyt in that land, To Wallace com weill ma than ix thowsand 1513 Doug. xi x 72.
In the how slak … I sall my men of armys hyde … Set thou apon the Tuscan horsyt rowt, With pynsellis semlyt sammyn 1535 Stewart 46171.
Als bald bernis … As thow hes heir sone semblit in thi sicht a1570-86 Clapperton Maitl. F. 243/3.
In Bowdoun on blak Monunday Quhen all was gadderit to the play Bayth men and women semblit thair I hard [etc.]b. 1494 Loutfut MS 1a.
Apon the quhilk difference the saidis parteis ar semblit & cummyn befor ws diuers tymis requirand ws as thair juge
c. To be semblit on one's feet, ? to be summoned to an assembly, ? to be in the process of attending an assembly.a1570-86 Maitl. F. 241/23.
Fra I be semblit on my feit The outhorne is cryde
2. To have (persons) assemble, to gather (people) together; to array or group (persons) in a particular place. = Assemble v. 1.(1) 1456 Hay I 50/29.
He semblit his folk and maid him to mete him in faire felde 1456 Hay I 54/22.
The king of Perunche … semblit a grete ost of men 1460 Hay Alex. 3340.
Thai … tald the Duke Betis the maner And he gart sembill sone a gret powar, With ane chiftane was callit Ochtrye … Thay blew thare bewgillis … And semblit comownis ma than ten thousand c1475 Wall. i 58.
Fra tyme that he had semblit his barnage c1475 Wall. ix 532.
Off Franchmen thai semblyt a battaill, xxty thousand lele legis off France(2) 1460 Hay Alex. 1304.
Sembill ȝour douzepeiris in ȝour middillwarde
3. intr. Of a person or persons: To gather together (for a purpose; to a summons); to form up or re-form (in battle).There is some overlap with sense 4.a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 800.
Quhen the day Wes cumyne to resafe the stane The Sarazenis semlit ilkane Treuand to se [etc.] ?1438 Alex. ii 8456.
Thay had gane doun … Na war Philot that to the fecht Come prekand … And thay of Inde on ather party That battellis mellit commonly. Thair first battell thusgait can semble [F. Les batailles s'assemblent] Quhair hardy can gar the couartis trimble c1450-2 Howlat 134 (A).
The Pape commandit … For all statis of kirk … To semble to his summondis 1456 Hay I 164/34.
To geve thame the werr felde, outhir lawar or in a myne, quhare thai may nocht wele semble 1460 Hay Alex. 3321.
To governe thair sevin hundreth knichtis was Ordand Emenedus … Leonides [etc.] … Thus semilit [ed. semlit] thai and to the forray gane a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 10.
Dukis and digne lordis, douchty and deir, Sembillit to his summovne a1500 K. Hart 124.
Ane legioun liell war at hir leding Quhen hir court leist semble 15.. Clar. iv 786.
The king hes him aquentit … With all the knightis … And thay have with the kingis court also Aquentit them, and semblit two and two
b. To rally to a leader.c1475 Wall. ix 693.
The trew Ruwan come als with outyn baid … Barklay be that [McD. Besat, 1570 Bissat] to Wallace semblyt fast
4. To meet with, encounter (an enemy) in fecht; to come togidder in battle. b. To mount an attack on. = Assemble v. 2 b.(1) c1420 Wynt. iv 2022.
The Romanys … In were and batayle movyd wes Agayne syndry regyownys … That set … thare intent … The Romanys till hawe wndone And thare apon thai semlyd sone In fecht … Foure score of thoussanddis wes slayne 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 60.
Sum ledys langis … To sembyll [Ruddim. sembyl] with thar schaftis 1513 Doug. xi xvi 6.
The bargane walxis mair cruell … The Tyrrheyn dukis semlyt [L. Incurrunt densi] all at anys [etc.](2) c1420 Wynt. viii 2191 (W).
Thare William Wallace tuke on hand … To sembill with this king in fecht c1450-2 Howlat 484 (A).
Now bot I semble for thi saull with Sarazenis mycht c1475 Wall. v 964.
The burly blaide was braid … In sonder kerwyt … Throwch bayne and brawne … Dede with that dynt to the erd doun him draiff Be that Wallace was semland with the laiff 1513 Doug. xi xii 39.
Tyrrhenus tho … And Acontevs, a Rutilyane full stowt, Togidder semblyt with thar speris ranb. c1475 Wall. ii 46.
The Inglis men semblit on Wallace thair a1500 Colk. Sow i 417.
Full oft the fulis thay defyd And on thame semblit attonis 15.. Clar. iv 2087.
Foure knightis … Whilke semblit on him hes so cruellie … That [etc.]
c. To appear in one's sicht.a1500 Rauf C. 590.
Fairand ouir the feildis full few thair I fand Saif anerly ane man that semblit in my sicht, Thair was na leid on lyfe lent in this land
5. With non-material subject: (To be) brought together with; to clash with or encounter.a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 236 (Asl.).
And solace semblit with surchargis of scharpe schouris
