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.
Seme, v. Also: seim(e, seym(e, seam(e, seayme, seem(e, semm(e, sime, siem, syem, sheeme. [ME and e.m.E. semenn (Orm), seme(n (Layamon), seeme(n (a1375), seym (1512, north.), seim (1525), ON sœma to honour f. sœmr fitting, seemly.]
I. 1. To be appropriate, suitable, fitting. a. (To) a person to do something. b. (To) a person, estate, etc. c. Const. relative clause, also, with omission of that. d. Const. adverb or adjective, chiefly, weill, mair (than) (to) a person (to do something).a. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1489.
It semis [H. simes] not ȝour celsitude … To fyle ȝour teith or lippis with my blude a1500 Bk. Chess 1304.
It semyt no man nother air nor lait Without reward to pas fro his estait 1513 Doug. xi iii 37.
Gif he pretendis in batale with a brand To end the weir … heir semyt hym vnder scheild With wapynnys to recontre me in feild, That nane bot ane of ws war left levand 1531 Bell. Boece I 42.
I find na thing, maist forcy campionis, that may seme us les, [L. non video quid minus nos deceat] than to lurk heir schamfully as effiminat pepill 1531 Bell. Boece I 267. 1549 Lamb Resonyng 39/13.
Heir now, nebour, the causis quhy the said meting wes disapunctit: it semit nocht to ane kyng to interprys a departing furth of his realme without the adwyis of his thre estatis; it semit nocht a catholik kyng to intercommown with a kyng seuerit fra societie of Christin men; also suld a kyng treat and concluid greit materis without his estatis? 1558–9 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I lxiv
Next himself, it seems him to begin at his awin houshaldb. 1490 Irland Mir. I 134/26.
As semyt a chaist lady and haly virgin 1513 Doug. xii iii 87.
‘To thé this semys and pertenys [L. Perge; decet]', quod sche 1531 Bell. Boece II 120.
This Eugenius … fel in maist schamful vices, rageand in mair lust than semit to ony man 1531 Bell. Boece II 308. 1533 Bell. Livy II 113/7.
Scho was mare galȝeard and trymly cled than [ed. that] semyt hir estate 1533 Bell. Livy II 215/35.
I wald nane of ȝow belevit that I am cumin as ignorant or mysknawing sic thingis as semys to my estatec. a1500 Bk. Chess 363.
It semys nocht crudelite In till a king or in a lord to be 1533 Gau 37/31.
Thane he is veralie God for that seemis noth that ony suld be placit at the richt hand of God the fader bot giff he war Godd. (1) ?1438 Alex. ii 4738.
Wnarmyt war thay euerilk deill And claid in robis that semyt weill a1500 Bk. Chess 530.
Honest and chaist in hir persone to bene abone all thing it semys weile a quene a1500 Bk. Chess 1444.
To keipe frendschipe it semys weile thaim till 1533 Bell. Livy I 133/11.
Ȝit the samyn was mare laitheand than it semyt [L. id quidem spe omnium serius fuit] a1568 Bann. MS 141a/10.
To weir that weid wald weill hir seme a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 23/60.
Be war in giffing of ane heiche counsale … Quhilk be the wirking of the warld may faile Thocht it seme never sa apperandlie(2) 1456 Hay I 15/22.
And alssua suld we wit that be thir angelis is understandin the papis … and sa may it wele seme to be callit, for in haly wrytt God callis the prestis angelis 1531 Bell. Boece II 84.
Becaus na thing semit kingis mair than to keip thair realme be providence and wisdome
II. 2. a. To appear to be (what is contained in the complement), which may or may not be true. b. To pretend to be; to be in the guise of (what is in the complement). Variously const.a., b. (1) pres. a1400 Leg. S. x 218.
"Laydy, ger thire wechis ȝeme That makis thame goddis to seme c1475 Wall. ii 396.
Wallace said … ‘Schir, I am seik … .' Longcastell said ‘Forsuth it beis nocht sa. A felloune freik thow semys in thi fair’ 1490 Irland Mir. I 57/22.
And thou mycht se it [sc. the soul] cleire without syn in the propir natur, it wauld seme a werray hevinly and a godlie creature c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 444.
I sane me as I war ane sanct and semys ane angell 1513 Doug. i vi 18.
Hys moder … Semand a maid in vissage and aray 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 19.(b) a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 213.
A foul slut under ane blak hat seimes somquhat(c) a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1428 (Wr.).
Sturt followes all extreames; Retaine then the meane then, The surest way it seemes(d) 1627 Haddington Corr. 156.
That quhilk … may seam a mistrust of his maiestiep.t. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1714.
It semed quhilis day, quhylis nycht a1568 Mersar Bann. MS 269a/23.
All grows in glas that semit gold(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 147/24.
He thocht ane houre seimeit ay ane ȝeir 1596 Dalr. I 23/30.
Nathir gif ȝe take mony sal thay appeir the fewar, nather gif ȝe take nocht ane, sal thay seim the mae(c) 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas i 609.
Her fore-head … Of majesty and mildenes seam't the seate(d) a1578 Pitsc. I 258/18.
He semmit ane man of lij ȝeiris(2) pres. c1450 Cr. Deyng (STS) 2.
The passage of this vrechit warlde … semys harde 1456 Hay I 6/16.
The schynyng of the licht … disteynȝeid all the lave … that thai semyt all dym in the regarde of him a1500 Henr. Fab. 402 (Ch.).
The foxe semis craftie 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4113 (B).
Thocht that ȝe blaw lene mvttone & beif, To gard seme [Ch. That thay seime] fat & fair a1568 Scott i 121.
For sum ar sene at sermonis seme sa halye(b) 1375 Barb. xv 22.
Tharfor I rede our cariage For-owtyn ony man or page Be thaim selwyn arayit be And thai sall seyme fer ma than we 1560 St. A. Kirk S. 37.
To mary in the Lord, as maist gudelie may seyme expedient a1570-86 Maitl. F. 421/84.
Quhen syt and sorrow seimis superlatiwe Sagis suld seim leist sucius and sorie. The greter greif the gretar is the glorie Quhane it is maisterd with magnanimie mynd 1639 Spalding I 221.
To call so many of suche nott, … seimis strange(c) 1584–5 Laing MSS 38.
Bot baith thir uther devises seamyng difficill and langsum to be brocht to pas 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 163/13.
The man … dois seame to bolde 1600 Crim. Trials II 255.
Please your majestie, let it not seame tedious c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxiv 18.
Thocht it seames lang, Ane compt … tak he must 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. ix 2.
Those eyes quhos smyls seame voyd of wraith 1629 Justiciary Cases I 115.
Albeit thay had seamit penitent(d) c1520-c1535 Nisbet III 327/17.
Semmep.t. 1492 Myll Spect. 291/30.
Scho … pullit the haire of his heid That he semyt all beld c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 211.
Me thoucht scho semyt lustiar of chere a1570-86 Kennedy Maitl. F. 234/17.
O bittir ȝouth that seymit delitious O swetest age that sum tym seymit sowir 1629 Elgin Rec. II 211.
Ther faces seimed whyt and as lane(3) c1420 Wynt. v 5538.
That ymage … tuk hys set in a cheyare All lyk a juge he semyd thare c1450-2 Howlat 793 (A).
It semyt as sa(4) a1400 Leg. S. xxi 334.
I haf pite of ȝow That semys wele that erris now a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 529.
Ane scheld wroght all of weir, Semyt wele vpone feir 1567 G. Ball. 192.
Wo be vnto ȝow hypocritis That on the Lord sa loudlie leis … God wat sa weill it semis, The nycht is neir gone(5) c1515 Asl. MS I 159/20.
This paradys is couerit with a wall that semys all growing our with mos a1568 Bann. MS 229b/34.
Phebus … dois the eist so bricht attyre That all semis birnyng in a fyre a1578 Pitsc. I 44/26.
It may be weill said of this man that saifgaird it self [L. Salus ipsa] … could not preserue this man from destructioun … and sa semmes continuallie provocand this man to his deid a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 670.
Houpe of rewarde causes paine to seme pleasand —1513 Doug. ii x 111.
Terribil figuris … Of gret goddis, semand with Troy agrevit 1513 Doug. iv vi 98.
Than semyt I nocht … Aluterly dissauyt nor dissolate 1558-66 Knox II 423.
Semeit 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 2235.
Nothing laicking seem'd(6) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 200.
He is at Venus werkis na war na he semys a1570-86 J. Maitland Maitl. F. 287/62.
Thai … sweiris ȝe ar far schrewdar nor ȝe seme 1603 Philotus 884.
Thy prayer is not half sa holie, House-lurdane as it semis(7) 1460 Hay Alex. 2726.
Ane gret castell … Quhilk was so hie it semit in the sky 1460 Hay Alex. 14374.
Thai war … Semying of threttie Ȝere be thare parage c1515 Asl. MS I 315/4.
Our lady with child semyng of mannis seid & scho a virgin a1570-86 Maitl. F. 421/79.
Sa thoghe ȝe seim a seasoun in suspence Ȝour resoune rype will rychtly ȝow resolwe
c. Const. to or till a person.(1) 1460 Hay Alex. 291.
Nectanabus … Was neirest him and maister of his teching Throw quhilk thair rais a sclander … That he suld be his father … Off quhilk the quene was gretumlie misdemit Quhilk nothing till Alexander it semit. Sa … Nectanabus furth went Forto behauld … the stern of his [sc. Nectanabus's] natiuitie [etc.] … Than Alexander to the sclander tuke hed c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 146/13.
This seimes to me ane guidlie companie 1513 Doug. i vi 8.
Al semyt bot wildernes til hym then 1606 Reg. Privy C. VII 271.
Or sic other necessar werk as to the awnairis sall seayme expedient 1607 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 103.
If it sall seme expedient to ȝor maiestie [etc.](b) 1656 Blairs P. 178.
I am in the land of cayks wher all miseryes doe sheeme to me mirth and gioyfulnes(2) 1456 Hay I 33/13.
It wald seme to folk that I wald speke of the thingis that pertenis to Goddis privetee … the quhilk na erdely man may do … bot gif it war revelit till him 1456 Hay II 135/30.
I say that it semys me that a man that lyvis sobirly lyf … suld … nocht dout of no malady c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 213/37.
Bot wist thir folkis that uthir demis How that thair sawis to uthir semis 1611 Melvill Dream in Fugitive Poetry II ii 5/18.
I saw manie sett Vpon a garding dyk, as it me seim'd
d. Followed by as, as if, as … as.1535 Stewart 31840.
As cleir harnes it semit 15.. Clar. ii 52.
They seamit as two dragounis wode and keine c1615 Chron. Kings 109.
Bothuell … syemit as gif he had knawine no thing 1647 Durh. Univ. J. XXXIV 62.
A number of kats that simed as greate as sheipe
3. Const. infinitive: To appear to be or to do (what is contained in the complement). a. Where the implication is that the appearance is true; sometimes apparently simply a description of what was evidently so. b. Where there is an implication of pretence or falsity; to give the appearance of. c. Where the appearance may or may not be true.a. (1) 1375 Barb. xiv 185.
Thai tauld thar lordis that wer thar That Scottis-men semyt to be Worthi ?1438 Alex. i 82.
In Josaphas thay fand the ky … Bot hyrdis semit thay nocht to be, For thay raid armit … On startand steidis of Arabie c1420 Wynt. viii 3588.
That semyd ane hare wode for to be a1500 Henr. Fab. 2508.
For he wes mekill and semit to be stout a1500 Colk. Sow iii 152. c1515 Asl. MS I 191/29.
It semys nocht to be suth that [etc.] c1515 Asl. MS I 237/4.
The cors hale in hyde & hewe as it semyte bot of xviij ȝeris of age 1540 Lynd. Sat. 927 (B).
Ȝe seme to be thre men of gude 1551 Hamilton Cat. 151.
The word of the crosse semis to be daftnes and folie to thame 1629 Boyd Last B. 218.
These wordes seeme to bee difficile 1631 Justiciary Cases I 167.
The said James Scott seameing to be weill pleisit [etc.] 1650 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. LI (1975) 54.
She seamit to be more sensible of that nor of the pin quhairwith shoe was prickit a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 570.
There is one thing yet to be cleared, without which all that is said seemeth to be manck 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 40.
They burn … wood, which seimes indeed to be wholsomer for dressing of meat than coall(2) a1578 Pitsc. I 357/17.
His companie quhilk seimett to him to be ane greit airme(3) 1375 Barb. xi 252.
Be liklynes the mast cowart Semyt full weill to do his part a1500 Rauf C. 806.
Ane knicht on ane cameill come cantly at hand … He semit baldly to abyde with Birny and with brand 1535 Stewart 219.
This Gathelus Strang of nature, corsie and corageous … semit weill to weir ane buirlie brand 1599 Colville Lett. 196.
Whereupon he did seam to pense marveluslie, and in the end said [etc.] 1605 Melvill 579.
That thai meddilit with no particularis whatsumevir; only electit the Moderator, callit the rollis and continowit the Assemblie till ane uthir dyat: Quhilk thingis, being indifferentlie considerit, thai (not dischairgit) wald seime most lawfullie to be done 1693 Culross Kirk S. in Sc. Ant. IV 83.
The disease … was a spleen, which he siemd to the session to understandb. (1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxv 29.
[He] fenȝit hyme semand to be Ful of joy & jolyte a1568 Bann. MS 79a/6.
Fleschly desyre and gestly nvrissing In till a persone all semyne to be wrocht Watter and fyre togidder in kendling It may weill ryme bot it accordis nocht c1590 Fowler II 41/13.
Les nor I sould seeme to be tedious(2) a1400 Leg. S. i 240.
Ymagis … of bras and stane That semyt to laucht all elane a1400 Leg. S. viii 70.
Nocht bot fantassy it wes That Criste semyte for to hafe flesche c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 225.
With that I seme for to swoune thought I na swerf tak 1513 Doug. iii viii 134.
Vpspring the blesis … Quhilk semyt forto lik the starnys hie 1531 Bell. Boece II 206.
He grew sa leine, that his body semit haistely to evanis 1597 Reg. Privy C. V 397.
Albeit the said Johnne Urquhart seameit at that tyme to have obeyit the tennour of the letters direct to this effect … [yet] it wes bot a cullourit obedience c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxvi 1.
First serve, syne sute, quhiles seme to lichlie luif, Gif thow intend to win thy ladyis grace 1611-57 Mure Sonn. iv 3.
Alace that fortoune ewer seimd to ease My endles woes 1639 Spalding I 221.
As we ar most vnwilling to fall vpone any question whiche may seim to import the leist contradictioun with his majestie 1653 J. Hope Diary (1919) 161.
I thoght so much fell that the jeesting seamed to hang in the aire, so that wee wer forced to under-prope them 1635-64 Hist. Fragm. III 86.
To single out ainy off them … leist that should siem to wrong the rest 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) i 89.
He girnd so, that he seem'd to laff —1513 Doug. xi xvi 2.
Ane huge clamour … That semyt smyte the goldyn starnys brychtc. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 5.
That the king suld not persaif that thay lothit him 1585 Lett. Jas. VI to Eliz. 15.
It seamid rather to haue proceidit from sum alter ego than from any strainge and forraine prince
4. To appear to exist, seem to be present; to be apparent.c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe. 216.
Quhy was thou blyndit Resoun? Quhi, allace! And gert ane hell my paradise appere And mercy seme quhare that I fand no grace a1568 Bannatyne Bann. MS 231a/51.
The grit delyte That semyt in hir bewty naturall
5. To be seen; to be manifest or evident.a1400 Leg. S. xliii 325.
That semys & is nocht [L. Quod videtur esse et non est] Is al that in this warld is wrocht a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 223.
Bot in hir face semit greit variance, Quhyles perfyte treuth and quhyles inconstance a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 340 (Asl.).
To get devocioun dasit is oure deligens In euery stait it semes in certane c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xvii 25.
Jesus com before him, and said, Symon, quhat semes [W., P. semeth] to thee? [L. quid tibi videtur?] c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxv 29.
Alsa that that it semes that he has [W. that he semeth to haue; P. that hym semeth to haue] salbe tane away fra him 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 76.
And, that the moir frendschip suld seym [L. ut videbatur] in him, [he] callit thame all within hir castell of Berigon
6. In impersonal const.: It semis (also, to a person) (that, at), with following clause.(1) 1456 Hay I 228/31.
It semys that ȝha, it may be leffully done a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1121.
It semyt be thair contenance that kendillit wes care c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 241.
For rede it semyt that the raynbow brak 1513 Doug. v iv 136.
Becaus it semyt to thame at so thai mycht 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 5.
Gif it sall seame to hir majestie that the conference of any twa, thre or four of the nobill men … may [etc.] 1663 Rothesay B. Rec. 299.
The baillies … finds that it wald seim … that the said gavill is buildit sumquhat neir the said Robert Mwir his tenement 1683 Edinb. City Archives Letters Vol. II (23)
It simes that now when the pet is of you I have gote two letters(2) 1375 Barb. iii 170.
It semys it likis thé perfay That [etc.] ?1438 Alex. i 367.
On sic ane wys That it semis thay sparhalkis war And we lawrokis c1420 Wynt. viii 4706.
It semyd thai luwyd hym noucht grettumly a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1264. 1513 Doug. vii i 107.
In hir syde hair It semyt the hait fyre kyndillit bricht 15.. Clar. iii 168.
It seamit his heart sould breke 1611 Melvill Dream in Fugitive Poetry II ii 5/17.
The town, To which in haist it seimed they were bown 1668 Lauderdale P. II 103.
It seams the pretend only to doe it in the time of diwine worshipe
b. Without it.1375 Barb. iii 168.
And tournys sa mony tyme his stede That semys off ws he had na dred ?1438 Alex. i 316.
Ma thay war and sik perfay That semit thay wald be at assay ?1438 Alex. ii 3281.
And be ȝon semis richt wele that he Of wit hes ȝarnessing plente
c. With preceding personal pronoun, the indirect object functioning as if it were the subject.1375 Barb. xii 147 (C).
Thame semyt men forsuth, I hicht, That had fayndit thair fayis in ficht ?1438 Alex. ii 258.
Him semis sture and stith to feill ?1438 Alex. ii 4135.
Him semit be douchty in dede ?1438 Alex. ii 313, etc. 1513 Doug. ix Prol. 46.
Quhat forsis hym the bussart on the brer, Set weil hym semys the falcon heroner?
d. In parenthetic use.(1) c1450-2 Howlat 772 (A).
He gart thaim se as it semyt in the samyn houre c1515 Asl. MS I 237/4.
And the cors hale in hyde & hewe as it semyte bot of xviij ȝeris of age 1649 Ruthven Corr. 114.
Bot, it seims, out of sight out of langer(2) 1513 Doug. xi vii 114.
That mater quhilk, as semys me, Is nother dyrk nor dowtsum 1583 Cal. Sc. P. VI 665.
So far off the contentis off this lettir, as shall seyme to your honour, may be communicated c1600 Pont Cunningham 22.
The forsaid Richard being, as vald seime, touched vith compunctione 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 416.
Bot Alexr. Grant, and divers others of his complices, escaped, reserved, as sould seim, to make more work
III. 7. tr. To think, have as one's opinion (of something).1492 Myll Spect. 274/29.
Ane askit him [sc. Socrates] quhat he semyt of a woman
