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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
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Sentence, -ens, n. Also: -enc, -ance, -ense, sintens, centence, -ense. [ME sentence (Ancr. R.), sentense (Ayenbite), centens (1446), sentens (c1450), F. sentence (12th c. in Larousse), L. sententia a way of thinking, opinion, judgment, decision.]

I. 1. An opinion, point of view, attitude taken by a person or persons on a subject, freq. arrived at after deliberation, consideration or consultation. Also to take (a person's) sentence, to accept (his) opinion, follow (his) advice.Henr. Test. Cress. 270 may belong in 3 below.(1) a1400 Leg. S. iii 1022.
The bischope thocht … The sentence ganand that scho gafe c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 149.
Othir clerkis halden that the man Has in him-self the chose … To cause his awin fortune … And therefore thus I say to this sentence; Fortune is most and strangest … Quhare lest foreknawing or intelligence Is a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 151.
First of all Saturne gaue his sentence a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 270.
Of rethorick the prettick he micht leir In breif sermone ane pregnant sentence wryte 1513 Doug. ii x 165.
Plat he [sc. Anchises] reffusys anherdyng to his entynt The fyrst sentence haldyng euer ane 1513 Doug. xii v 5.
Iuturna … saw the common wlgar hartis wave In diuers sentencis and ententis seir 1533 Bell. Livy I 177/27, 31, 32.
Ilk man began to gif his counsel mare be noyis and clamoure than be ony gudelie sentence … At last the faderis began to be consultit with bettir ordoure. Eftir lang consultaciouns thre opiniouns & sentence was in this mater. The sentence of Publius Virgineus was nocht generall [etc.] 1533 Bell. Livy I 178/28, 33.
The opinioun and sentence of Largius apperit vnproffittabil becaus he desirit [etc.] … The counsel of Virgineus was thocht mare moderate and ressonabill than ony of thir vthir sentence 1535 Stewart 56947.
Now I sall schaw ȝow heir The same sentence that I fand in his buik Of ane author richt autentik he tuke Maister Johnne Frossard … Quhais sentence is nocht for to impung a1538 Abell 108a.
Ȝe may speir quhen thai ar tua papis … chosin … quhat sall the pepill hald. To this ma be answerit that yow … follo the maist part at yow trowis wis … for it is said … Stand in the sentence of multitude of kirk men and gife credence to thare narratioun c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5284, 5290.
Bot tyll declare thir questionis Thare bene diuers opinionis. Sum wryttaris hes the world deuidit In sex ageis … Bot be the sentence of Elie [sc. Elijah] The warld deuydit is in thre … Elie sayis … The warld sall stand sax thousand ȝeir Off quhome I follow the sentence 1551 Hamilton Cat. 4.
Brether, I beseik yow … that all ye say ane thing and lat na scismes … be amangis yow bot be ye perfite in ane mynd and in ane sentence 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 3.
The sentence and iugement of the maist ancient writaris in medicine 1596 Dalr. I 62/10.
Hector Boyis … ascriues this wondirful worke … to the benifite and nature of the sey. … This in lyke maner wil preiue the sentence of Hect. Boyis to be true 1596 Dalr. I 342/21.
Langschankis craftilie of diuerse laweris collecteng diuerse sentences 1596 Dalr. II 185/4.
Thair counsell endet, thair sentences al tha til ane committed 1596 Dalr. II 186/2.
Quhairfor … lat vs ask the cause … gif it be rycht lat vs consent gif nocht lay al our heides togider and resist [etc.] … The nobilitie al of this sentence of ane mynd cum to the gouernouris tent(b) a1500 Prestis of Peblis 319 (A).
Ȝour conclusioun is quent; And thar attour ȝe mak to ws a plant And in ȝour sentens thus ȝe meyne to say, Leile men ar hurt & theiffis gettis away 1549 Compl. 101/5.
Ve sal mak strait lauis … quhilk ve sal compel them til obeye, ald Herynyus ansuert, that sentens, says he, purchessis na frendis, nor it makis na reconsiliatione of enemes(2) 1596 Dalr. II 305/21.
He consented to Monseur Dos opinioune and tuke his sentence, concludeng vpon that quhilk he said

b. specif. An opinion respecting the meaning of a passage of Scripture; an interpretation of Scripture. 1562-3 Winȝet II 7/15, 18.
Na man may sufficientlie schaw … that ony sentence in the haly wreit is the voce and mynd of Christe or the contrare sense consauit be the wickit the voce of the enimie, bot insafer as he may preue the ane sentence, - Oueralquhare, at al tymes, and be al Christanis to hef bene belevit, and the wther as to it planelie contrarious, to hef bene euir refuseit [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet II 18/26.
The sayingis of the samin [sc. Scriptures] wtherways this man and that man interpretis; that almaist quhow mony men thai ar that sa mony sentences apperis may be drawin thairof 1562-3 Winȝet II 19/22.
We sall follow the diffinitioun and sentence of all, or at the leist of almaist all the preistis togiddir and the techearis 1562-3 Winȝet II 20/8.
Than sall he do diligence to inquire and serce the sentences of our forefatheris conferrit amang thame selfis 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 150/14.
Ane man … quha hes studeit lang to the text of the scripturis … is abil to expone onie passage of scripture … Than supponand your self to be sik ane man: gif an vthir man instructed in the sam schuillis … vald … sustene disputatione aganis you mentening ane sentence contrare to youris [etc.] 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 154/27.
Vas thair nocht brethrene quha at that tyme be moniest voittis, micht haue reconcilit you tua in ane sentence, and exponit the vord treulie for you bayth? … I dout gif thair vas onie at that tyme quha could treulie expone the vord of God

c. Buke of the sentence, one of the four books of the Sententiarum libri quatuor of Peter Lombard.Also applied to a commentary on Lombard's work by Duns Scotus. 1490 Irland Mir. I 73/32.
And this mater I have tretit & writtin in the first buk of the sentens in Paris at lenthe, eftir the opynioune of mony doctouris 1490 Irland Mir. II 106/15.
The doctour subtil [sc. Duns Scotus] in his buk of the sentens in the prologe inducis viii maner of wais to preif and persuaid the faith

d. Maister of the sentence, a title applied to Peter Lombard as author of the work cited in c above. 1490 Irland Mir. I 59/7.
And as teichis the maister of the sentens

2. The judgment or decision of a person or persons in authority, esp., a judge, arbiter, court of justice or the like. Freq. to gif sentence, variously const. Also fig. and fig. context.For sentence absolvitour, arbitrale (arbitrar), condempnatour (condampnatour), diffinitive or interlocutory, and sentence of barratry, cursing or desertioun, see also these words.For many further examples see Balfour Pract. 386-396, and Hope Major Pract. Index, s.v. Sentence Definitive and Interlocutors.(1) c1420 Wynt. v 3837 (see b below). 1456 Hay I 121/12.
And be this caus … King Charles … gert put to dede a chiftane [etc.] … and that he gert do be law of armes, and sentence in judgement 1471–2 Acta Aud. 18/2.
Be a breif of perambulacion & efter the bounding contenit in the samyn sentence & deliuerance a1500 Henr. Fab. 1248.
This sentence … Quhilk dampnit hes the selie innocent 1488–9 Reg. Paisley 406.
Baith the saidis partis … byndis … thaim to stand to the decrete, consale, delyuerance and sentence of thir persons vndir writtyn a1500 Bk. Chess 785. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xiv 51.
Sa mony ane sentence retreitit, for to win Geir and acquentance 1531 Bell. Boece II 449.
Scho gat … ane sentence aganis King David, to annere to hir as his lawchful lady and wiffe 1533 Bell. Livy I 178/19.
Latt ws create ane dictator fra quhais sentence is na appellacion 1535 Stewart 44145.
Without sentence or juge … tha pat thame all to deid 1535 Stewart 47206.
For John Ballioll the sentence plane gaif he Without thair counsall or authoritie 1544 Elgin Rec. I 81.
Lik as instrumentis, sentencis [ed. sententis], actis and wtheris processis … proportis 1559–60 St. A. Kirk S. 26.
The sentence in forme as it wes red oppinlie be Johne Knox minister in presence of the congregatioun c1575 Balfour Pract. 262.
Thre retouris, with saisines followand thairupon … ar sentences in thameselfis 1579–80 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 104.
The quhilk day the juges continewes the sentence betuix Hercules Hay and Johnne Meikill anent the hors to the ix day of Merche nixt 1629 Black Orkn. & Shetl. Folklore 111.
[The assize] remittis sentence to the judge and dome to the dempster a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 277.
The sentence should be conforme to the lybell; and therfoir ane generall sentence upon ane lybell quhilk is speciall is null 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 149/2.
And least I should be mistane, albeit I acknowledgit not their sentence, I removed from Irwing … to Turray 1662 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I 25.
Dilation of dying and penitent witches is of no force because by the sentence they were infamous 1681 Stair Inst. iv xl § 4. 1681 Stair Inst. iv xlvi § 5. 1695 Acts IX App. 110/2.
The Lyon deput … pronunced sentence declaring them ignoblefig. context 1635 Dickson Wr. 206.
Because the conscience is set over the man by God, as judge-depute, therefore it goeth about in the name of God, by and by to execute as it may, the sentence justly pronounced by it(b) 1530 Lennox Mun. 233.
The decreit and sentance of noble persones wnder writing a1578 Pitsc. I 38/30.
Sum prudent man … at quhais arbeittrement and sentance we sall repair all offences bygaine 1665 Rothesay B. Rec. 94.
Compeirit Walter Stewart and protestit that no sentance sould be past unto the tyme the publict war securit for quhat is dew to thame and that they aught … sould in reasoune be preferrit … befoir any creditour quhatsumevir 1680 Carrick Baillie Ct. 2 Dec.
Give need bees to call and persew for the samyne rents and otheris [? dewiteis] and sentances therewpon(c) c1420 Wynt. vii 2668.
Thai … Suld knele, and ask … To be assoylyd off that sentens a1500 Henr. Fab. 1179 (Bann.).
Agane the scheip to procure the sentens 1490 Irland Mir. III 61/32.
The iuge that has gevin the terrible sentens on thame and punysis thame [etc.] 1524 Carnwath Baron Ct. (SHS) 15.
Thai sall abyd & abay the decret deliuerance & sentens of all the debatis betuix thaim(2) c1420 Wynt. v 3849.
Swa sentens gywyn lauchfully Sall hald and bynd all sykyrly a1500 Henr. Hasty Credence 38.
Serche the caus weill or thow gif sentence a1500 Bernardus 93.
Wrang iugment thow geffys and sentence blynde a1500 K. Hart 624.
Ressoun cum heir ȝe sall our iuge be And in this caus gif sentence ws betwene a1500 Bk. Chess 1802.
He gaif a sentens plane To hing this theif ?a1500 Dewoit Exerc. 190.
Quhen the fals iuge gaif wrange sentence aganis ȝow 1524 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 390.
[To] giff doume and sentens of court 1526 Carnwath Baron Ct. (SHS) 56.
Thomas Howeson said … that thair is ane fals sentens gyffin aganis him 1544 Maxwell Mem. I 287.
[They shall] sentence furth gif, efter faith, lauty and gvid conscience c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 770.
My sisters sayis thay can not gif sentence Sa breuiatlie 1560 St. A. Kirk S. 50.
To ansuer in the said caus of divorce, to the finall end and sentence geving therin c1650 Spalding II 16.
At last sentens is givin out, ordaning [etc.](b) 1472 Bamff Chart. 29.
To gif our decret and sintens in the said clamys — 1485–6 Prot. Bk. J. Young 9.
I … giffis for sentens … that [etc.] 1492 Reg. Episc. Morav. 244.
We … decretis deliveris and ordanis and gyfis for sentenc that the houssis that ar biggit betuix the kirk and the vod of Croy be castin downfig. context a1500 Bernardus 88.
He comawndis betwens glutony And thi purs be striffe … And be sa wer al tym in thyne expens Betwene thame twa thar thow gef rycht sentence(3) 1535 Acts II 342/2.
It is declarit … that nane appellatioun fra sentence of desertioun of appellationis befor interponit sall stop the geving of sick lettres 1542 Acts II 416/1.
To here and se the decrete laude and sentence of forfaltour gevin 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 70.
And decernis sentence of divorce to be put in forme, and the sam to be publesit this nixt Sundaye 1566–7 St. A. Kirk S. 293 marg.
Sentence of adherence betuix Wyliam Cristeson and Issobell Lyndesay 1690 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 229.
Nothing either of malversatione lybelled or proven, nor yet any legal sentance of deprivatione against him — 1607 Inverness Rec. II 50.
The judges … caussit incluse the inquest in the cunsaill house till they haid giffin sentence of affirmitiwe or negatiwefig. a1500 Bk. Chess 763.
Sentence of luif euermore bein blind(4) 1492 Reg. Episc. Morav. 245.
And ordanis baith the parteis til observe and kep all thir punctis abouf wrettin … be this our sentenc arbitrour and decret 1513 Crawford Mun. Invent. II 14 (1 Feb.).
[Discharge for £30 Scots] in compleit payment of a mar sowm in the quhilk he wes adiugit to me be twa sentencis diffinitife 1559–60 St. A. Kirk S. 26.
Maister Johne Ruthirfurd hais pronunceit ane sentence absolvatour for Elizabeth Gedde 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 101.
And sentence condempnator of infame gevyn tharfor upon the sayd Schyr Jhon

b. Passing into the condemnation by a judge or court, etc., to a specified punishment; the punishment itself. a1400 Leg. S. i 647.
Thane the prefet … Gaf sentence … that he suld be … crucifit on the tre c1400 Troy-bk. ii 959.
He … Enduced so the forsayd kynges That of thame changed the sentence [sc. of death] Gevin to Helenys offence c1420 Wynt. v 3841.
I will now thow ger dyte And wyth hast in lettrys wryte The sentens … Wryte als … that full thretty dayis Sentens off dede or banysyng Be haldyin in wryte but publyssyng c1500 Fyve Bestes 40.
Be this sentence he jugit baith to de a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 907 (Wr.).
Your sentence repentance Shall leave you, I believe 1649 Dunfermline Ann. 317.
Sentance … was pronounced against him [sc. Charles I] … to be put to death a1651 Calderwood VII 265, 266.
The sentence of suspension from the ministrie … was pronounced … Then said Mr. David … ‘Neither can ye suspend or deprive me in this court [etc.] … That is not, nor can not be done in this court; therefore, I misken your sentence' 1661 Laing MSS 322.
Yesterneight the sentance off death was pronounced contra Archibald Cambell 1663 Dunlop P. III 3.
I was helped … to lay my account with receiving a sentence of banishment on Tuesday last 1678 Fountainhall Decis. I 30.
He then received sentence, to witt, for his malversation in his office, they deprived him of his office

c. specif. The sentence or punishment of excommunication. 1382–3 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 163.]
[Absolutio Johannis de Camera … a sentencia excommunicationis c1420 Wynt. ii 1087.
Achor … ran in sentens off courssyng c1420 Wynt. vii 2695.
Clerkys gret in to tha yheris, That bwndyn war in that sentens [sc. of excommunication] 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 108.
Ane of your fermouris … hes lyin curst and denuncit … and makis ane rycht hevy main that he sould be sa lang wnder the sentens 1565–6 St. A. Kirk S. 260.
The ministerie wald proceid … to the finall executing of the sentence of excommunicacion 1602 Anal. Scot. I 212.
Finding the brethren … halalie disposit to proceed againes hir with excommunicatione … she … appelit fra their sentence to have been pronuncit in the said mater a1650 Row 130.
Mr. Patrik Adamson was excommunicat, whilk sentence of excommunication [etc.] … wherefore the question was proponed if it was expedient to absolve him from the said sentence? … It was concluded … that he shall be lowsed fra the said sentence

d. The judgment or decision, or the outcome, punishment or reward entailed, of God, Christ or the Holy Trinity, or of a pagan deity or deities. Also applied to divine retribution.(1) 1456 Hay I 67/33.
Quhen Adam had synnit God gave the sentence sone agaynis him, that [etc.] c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 406.
God strikis his sentens sudanly vpone wykyt men a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 309.
This duleful sentence Saturne tuik on hand, And passit doun quhair cairfull Cresseid lay … Than lawfullie … can he say ‘Thy greit fairnes … Heir I exclude fra thé for euermair' a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 679 (Asl.).
In saull and body we sall resaif to wage A sentens quhilk is passing sowr or sweit Outher hell or hevin perpetuall heretage a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 857 (Asl.).
Syne efter sentence of generale jugement This warld sall rially be renowate 1490 Irland Mir. I 79/25.
The schynand … suerd, that stoppis oure gait to paradice, is the just sentens of the diuinite agane the man 1490 Irland Mir. I 118 h. of ch.
The mercifull sentens of the hevinly wisdome and blissit ordinance of mercifull Jhesu 1513 Doug. xiii x 109. a1568 Bell. Bann. MS 2b/98.
[Christ] Off God and man the blissit mediateur Be sentence of the blissit trinitie 1533 Gau 51/26.
The fathir sal giff hime power to punis al his inimis with terribil sentence and euerlestand condamnatione c1520-c1535 Nisbet III 341/32.
Except thou haue bornne the croce of aduersite … thow cann neuir melle with the sentence of predestinatiounn without thi awin harmme 1535 Stewart 47221. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5064.
Off dolent deith this sore sentence Wes gyffin throw inobedience Off our parentis c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 33.
The crewell pane, The sorrowfull sentence and terribill decreit … That is prepaird for wekit creaturs 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Georgics iv 452.
Sic fatis ora resolvit, sic loquutis est fataliter, fatalem orationem proferens, telling the sentence of the goddis 1580 Hay in Cath. Tr. 49/15. a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 741.
As if with John you saw this great court fenced, this judgement set, and the sentence pronounced(2) 1490 Irland Mir. I 123/5.
And than the fader of hevin … gave his sentens diffinitive conforme to his dochtir dame Mercy

e. transf. That which is awarded in judgment, a judicial award. 1723 Rothesay Par. Rec. 377.
18 s. Scots, balance John Hamilton bestowd of the remains of a smal sentence he had against Isobel McCurdy widow

f. comb. Sentence-money, -silver, a court fee payable when sentence was given, assessed at a fixed rate on the basis of the sum awarded. 1633 Acts V 43/1.
Quhensoever the saids lords sall decerne and ordaine tuelff pennies of the pund to be payit in any decreit or sentence to be givin or pronuncit by thame … The same sall nowayes be payit by the pairties purchasers and obtiners of the saids decreits and sentences bot by thes pairties allanerlie against quhome the saids decreits and sentences sall happin to be obtained and purchased(1) 1659 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 211 (29 July).
The said complener to be compleitlie peyit of the said sowme of xxx libs. … togidder with threttie s. for sentence money and this precept 1666 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 127.
Extracting of absolvitours, paying of sentence money, imploying procuratours and other dewes imposed upon them 1669 Peebles B. Rec. II 81.
The counsell to advyse anent the sentence money betuixt the baillies and the clerk, and in the mean tyme the samyn sentence money to be payed as formerlie 1680 Peebles B. Rec. II 98.
The counsell … allowes the haill thrie [sc. officers] to be equall in infeftments, sentence money, javeller fie, and wairnings to the court 1683 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 85.
Appoynts the sentence money that is gotten at the town court to be uplifted be the baillies for the use of the good toun in tyme comeing c1684 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 198.
I gave in ane shilling of sentence money with fowr shilling to the oficers that daye 1686 Mackenzie Observ. (1687) 142.
Judges may lawfully take the quota allowed by law to judges, which we call sentence-money 1700 Corshill Baron Ct. 198.
18d. against the said Agnes Wyllie, of sentance money 1701 Aberd. Journal N. & Q. VI 184.
For sentense moy. and extracting ane decreit agt. John Young [and others](2) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3076 (B).
For centence silver thay cryit at the last 1622-6 Bisset I 226/20.
Ane of the lordis hepdomadaris … sall modifie ane certane summe to be payed to the saidis lordis as sentence silver 1662 Melrose Reg. Rec. II 23.
Decreet James Archbald contra David Uns unbooked becas they payed not the sentance silver 1671 Lauder Notices Affairs I 31.
Then sentence-silver was abolisht by Act 55 in anno 1641 which Parliament was funditus reschinded in 1661 1675 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II 183.
Because the tenths being the honorary or salary due to the admiral … he was not liable for repetition, more than inferior judges are liable for sentence-silver, which is the twentieth part 1708 Hannay College of Justice 89.]
[(The prelatical contributions, the quot silver and the sentence silver had been) of great difficultie and very odious in the exaction

II. 3. The meaning or sense of a word or passage, specif. of an instance of language.Esp. with reference to the difficulties of translation or the inability of the poet to express his meaning as precisely as he would like.Some examples, esp. Doug. Direct. 45, 95 may belong in 4 below.(a) ?1438 Alex. Colophon 5.
This buke to translait I began … Bot thocht I failȝeit of ryming Or meter or sentence … Forgif me ?1438 Alex. Colophon 10.
Thocht … I seuin ȝeir had sittin, To mak it on sa gude manere, Sa oppin sentence and sa clere As is the Frenche, I micht have failȝeit 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 2162.
Breif buriall quair, of eloquence all quite, With russet weid and sentence imperfite 1513 Doug. i Prol. 396.
Sanct Gregor eik forbyddis ws to translait Word eftir word bot sentence follow algait 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 109.
He wes sa far distant fra hyr he mycht nocht heyr the sentence of hyr word(b) c1505-8 Donatus 1b.
Qwhat is a coniunctione a part of oresone the quilk Knitis ordour & sentens 1513 Doug. i Prol. 133.
Lawrens of the Vaill … Grantis quhen twelf ȝheris he had beyn diligent To study Virgill skant knew quhat he ment Than thou or I quhen we best weyn to haue Virgile red, vnderstand and seyn The rycht sentens perchance is fer to seik 1513 Doug. i Prol. 147.
That syk a buke but sentens or engyne Suldbe intitillit eftir the poet dyvyne; Hys [sc. Virgil's] … versis … I spittit for dispyte to se swa spilt With sych a wyght quhilk … Knew neuer thre wordis at all quhat Virgill ment 1513 Doug. i Prol. 289.
To follow a fixt sentens or mater Is … far strater … Than forto write all ways at liberte 1513 Doug. i Prol. 309.
My studyus brayn to comprehend his sentens Leit me nevir taist hys flude of eloquens 1513 Doug. i Prol. 352.
Syndry expositouris seir Makis on a text sentens diuers to heir, As thame apperis … All this is ganand … Bot a sentens to follow may suffice me 1513 Doug. i Prol. 365.
Latyn wordis … That in our leyd ganand translatioun has nane Les than we mynys thar sentens and grauyte 1513 Doug. i Prol. 122. 1513 Doug. i Prol. 398 (see Properté n. 6 (3)). 1513 Doug. Direct. 45.
It salbe reput a neidfull wark To thame wald Virgill to childryn expone For quha lyst note my versys one by one Sall fynd tharin hys sentens euery deill And al maste word by word 1513 Doug. Direct. 95.
Kepand na facund rethoryk castis fair Bot haymly playn termys famyliar Na thing alterit in substans the sentens, Thocht scant perfyte observyt beyn eloquens 1513 Doug. Direct. 107.
To pyke the sentens as I couth als playn And bryng it to my purpos 1549 Compl. 169/24.
I sal rehers the exposition of them in our Scottis tong, as neir the sentens of the text as I can

b. The import or signification of, chiefly, a written or literary work, story, prayer, etc., also, rarely, of other things. Also pl.(1) 1375 Barb. iv 260.
He … said till hyr … ‘Rex ruet in bello … mea cara Minerua [etc.]’ … This wes the spek he maid … And is in Inglis toung … ‘The king sall fall [etc.] … And … Mynerve my der [etc.]’ … This is the sentence off this saw That the Latyn gan hyr schaw. He callyt hyr his Mynerwe For Mynerwe [etc.] c1420 Wynt. iv 319.
Crescens perdet Alini [etc.] … The creyhsceand sall gret landys tyne [etc.] … This sentence off this wers wes thare For the Kyng off Lidis bare, … Thre creyhsceandis in his armys a1500 Henr. Fab. 117.
The inward sentence and intent Of this fabill a1500 Henr. Fab. 2590. a1500 Seven S. 1278.
Than said scho … Schir ȝe wnderstand weile my taile Ȝa quod he thi sentens all hale c1490 Irland Asl. MS 44/4.
It is mekle better that the persone that prayis haue attencioun thocht and mynd of the sentence and significacoun of the prayere na of the wordis c1490 Irland Asl. MS 44/8. 1490 Irland Mir. I 16/13.
Oftymes the sentens of a conclusioune is schawin and manifest in the probacioune of it 1490 Irland Mir. I 24/3.
Becaus this hevinly orisoune … is sa preignant and full of mater and hevinly sentens, I will … declare euirilk partikile of it c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 61/30.
‘O merle,’ quod scho, ‘O fule, stynt of thy taill, For in thy song gud sentens is thair none’ 1513 Doug. vi Prol. 13.
Quhat wenys fulys this saxt buke be bot iapis … Reid, reid agane this volume mair than twys: Consider quhat hyd sentence tharin lyis 1549 Compl. 23/28.
The sentens ande conteneu of thyr said cheptours of the bibil c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 564.
My sawis … ar richt suith and ar of sentence fow 1551 Hamilton Cat. 16/1. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 248.
This prayar is schort in wordis, yit it is exceding lang and profound in sentence a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 17.
Ane new charter … conforme in wourd and sentence to the charter aboue written c1575 Balfour Pract. 371.
Contractis, [etc.] … beand interlynit in ony part quhilk is not ane substancial point, nor ȝit alteris the sentence thairof, ar sufficient and autentique in the selfpl. 1558-66 Knox I 381.
We proclamed nathing whiche [was] nocht finallie aggreit upoun in word and promeis betuix us and thame with quhame the appointment was maid whatsoevir thair scribeis had efter writtin quha in verray deid had alterit, bayth in wordis and sentenceis, oure Articles as thay war first consavit 1596 Dalr. I 341/9.
His forspeikings … war in … sik obskuir verce sa inuoluet and rowet vp in allegories & dark sentences that [etc.](2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 173/2.
I seik about this warld unstabille, To find ane sentence convenabille, Bot I can nocht in all my wit, Sa trew ane sentence fynd off it As say, it is dessaveabille 1549 Compl. 69/28.
The pleisand verkmenschips that vas in the middis of hyr mantil vas seperat fra vthirs, ande altrit fra the fyrst fassone, that na man culd extract ony profitabil sentens nor gude exempil furtht of ony part of it 1562-3 Winȝet I 72/5.
The trew and propir sentence … of this part of our Catholik beleif

c. Morall (sweit, gude) sentence, meaning of an instructive sort, applicable to morality or good conduct. See also Moral(l adj. 3 b. a1500 Henr. Fab. 12.
As throw a bustious eird … Springis the flouris … Sa springis thair ane morall sweit sentence Oute of the subtell dyte of poetry 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7524.
Into this taill richt small I can persaue To be extract of morall gude sentence

4. The content, subject-matter, theme, esp. of a work of literature, etc., also of thought, speech, etc. Also pl.Some examples may belong in sense 3 above.(a) c1450-2 Howlat 36.
Thar names to nevyn … war prolixt … And I haue mekle mater in meter to glos Of ane nother sentence a1500 Colk. Sow Prol. 51.
Pardoun the fulich face of this mad metir Sen the sentence to feill is fantastike Lat the lettir and langage be such like 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1401.
Considder wonders, and be vigilant That thow may better endyten efterwart Things quhilkis I sall thé schaw or we depart. Thow sall haue fouth of sentence and not scant c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 72/8.
To dyt thocht I begowthe to dres The sentence lay full evill till find, Unsleipit in my heid c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 180/75.
Merseir … That did … so lifly write … of sentence hie c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 248.
God my spreit now inspir and my speche quykkin And send me sentence to say substantious and noble a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 314.
Sen thow on me thus lymmar leis and trattillis And fyndis sentence foundit of invy a1568 Kennedy Bann. MS 52b/4.
Ane aigit man … This sentence sett and song it in gud tone Omnipotent and eterne God … To be content and lufe thé I haif caus c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 499.
That buik he maid to ane vther sentence c1552 Lynd. Mon. 210.
Myne intentioun Bene tyll deplore the mortall misereis [etc.] … Bot sad sentence sulde haue ane sad indyte So termes brycht I lyste nocht for to borrow 1562-3 Winȝet I 25/1.
To quhome I vsit to propone … sum theme, argument, or sentence, of the quhilk I wald haif thaim intending to mak orisone or epistil in Latin tong 1562-3 Winȝet I 60/25.
[That] this tractate … micht be maid tueching the style mair plesing and persuading, and in sentence fer mair strenthy and difficill to our aduersaris to mak anssuer thairto 1567 Sat. P. vii 5.
Twa leirnit men in priuie I hard talk And eich of thame his taill in ordoure tauld I vnderstuid thair sentence quhat thay wald, And thocht it guid to put in memorie 1596 Dalr. II 179/31.
In translateng the Æneids of Virgil in Scotis; sa rycht and with sik grace that ilk Scotis verse concordet with the Latin; sa graue in sentence that quha vndirstandes our language wil mervel(b) c1420 Ratis R. 1806.
Ratis Raving … I … hald Bot for rycht wys and gud teching And weill declaris syndry thinge That is rycht nedfull for to knaw, As the sentens it wyll schaw c1475 Wall. xi 1451.
Go nobill buk, fulfillyt off gud sentens, Suppos thow be baran off eloquens. Go worthi buk fullfillit of suthfast deid [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. I 74/8.
I haue now tretit part of this mater for it pertenis mare to my crafft than to Chauceire that has tretit this mater in the buk of Troylus … And suppos his … langage be … sueit in metire & well componit, ȝit in gret sentens this maner of speking is mare lovit and acceptabile 1490 Irland Mir. III 114/10.
This cheptur is lang in wourdis gretar in sentens and foundament of all that folowis c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 60/7.
I hard a merle … sing A sang of lufe … This wes hir sentens sueit … A lusty lyfe in luves service bene 1513 Doug. ix Prol. 26, 31.
The ryall style clepyt heroycall … Suldbe compilit … Observand bewte, sentens and grauyte. The sayar eik suld weil considir thys, Hys mater and quhamto it entitilit is … we aucht tak tent That baith accord … The man, the sentens, and the knychtlyke stilepl. a1585 Polwart Flyt. 685 (T).
Thy reasonis sawres of reik … Thy sentences of swit richt sweitlie smellis, Thow [sat] neir the chymlay [nuik] that maid thame 1596 Dalr. II 180/7.
The sueitnes of the verses, waicht and grauitie of the sentences, significatiounis of the wordes, and the strenth of ilk accent, expremet … perfytlie in Scotis

b. Passing into the text or book containing such subject-matter. c1420 Wynt. v 1364.
Quhen Schyre Adrane regnyde thus, The phylosophyre Secundus Wes in hys flourys and his state, Bot hys sentens all he wrate, For strayte sylence he held ay c1515 Asl. MS I 328/29.
Vpon the New Testament dependis also the bukis and commendis of … Jerom, Gregour, Ambros and Augustyne the masteris of historijs and sentens and generally all bukis, prophesis and scripturis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4594.
This prophecy of Marling, Quhairof I sall schaw the sentence … Flan Fran resurgent [etc.] 1576–7 Reg. Privy S. VII 122/1.
[Licence … to print] certane select workis … ane onomastik, certane select sentences, the Catechisme, [etc.]

5. A wise or philosophical saying, chiefly quoted from some eminent person; a dictum; a maxim.There is some overlap with 4 above. c1420 Wynt. vi 381.
Dignyté wyth-owt wertu Is litill repute off walu; This is the sentens off Boes 1456 Hay II 116/17.
Bot to kepe wele hele thou mon us temperaunce … And traist this tobe veray suthe, for I fand never ȝit philosophour that discordit to thir conclusionis and sentencis c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 60/15.
This wes hir song, and of a sentens trew: All luve is lost bot upone God allone c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 213/48.
Gude James the ferd … In sentens said full subtillie, ‘Do weill, and sett not by demyng, For no man sall undemit be’ 1513 Doug. v Prol. 41.
Hys sawys beyn full of sentencis [Sm., Ruddim. sentence] euery deill, Of morale doctryne, that men suld vycis fle 1562-3 Winȝet ii 49/24.
Quha … wald … nocht rather vse this sentence: that he had leuir erre with Origene than with wtheris to vndirstand the trewth? 1567 Sat. P. iv 133.
Quhair Venus anis gettis in hir gouernance … Wisdome is exilit … This sentence trew we may persaue … In sindrie authoris 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 425.
When he would be lying as we supposed in a sleip, then was he at his meditatione, as his manifold sentences may weill declair, as … whairin he … wald often burst foorth, ‘lyve in Christ’ and ‘Lord grant vs the ryght and parfyte hetread of syn’ … Anes, ‘Lord mak ane end of truble’ … with innewmerable sic lyke sentences a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 408 (W).
Wisdome wisses thee to wie The sentence of philosophie … Quhilk is, in tyme for to tak tent a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1243 (Wr.).
This maxime then they made To wit: the man with wit should wey What philosophs had said. Which sentence [etc.] c1590 Fowler I 15.
Cicero … is mowed in his oraisoun for Archia Poeta to sett doun for a setled sentence that by nature we ar all driwen to a desire of praise c1590 Fowler I 16.
Fraughted in statelye verse with morall sentences, godlye sayings [etc.] 1632 Lithgow Trav. ix 386.
The Sycilians … are full of witty sentences

6. Something written or said, (a portion of) a text or discourse; (a passage from) a (literary) work.There is some overlap with 4 above. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2426.
Ȝyt men may find ane gude moralitie In this sentence thocht it ane fabill be c1475 Wall. viii 975.
To my sentence breyffly will I pass. Quhen Wallace [etc.] c1475 Wall. xi 1440 (McD.).
In this sentence I had na will to le a1500 Colk. Sow iii 151.
In this sentence maid on revill raill, Quhich semys most to be a wyfis taill a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 683 (Asl.).
Of this dome the principale proces … In sentens schort I preis to mak expres c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 146.
Quhen that the semely had said hir sentence to end 1513 Doug. i Prol. 39.
That thy facund sentence mycht be song In our langage alsweill as Latyn tong … with thy leif, Virgile, … I wald … Wryte sum savoryng of thyne Eneados 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 14.
Thir poetis … Quhose sweit sentence throuch Albione bene song 1596 Dalr. II 8/18.
De planctu cudo metrum [etc.] … Quhilk in Scotis is nocht far frome this sentence as followis: Of dule, of dolour [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II 186/4.
Arran in name of the rest in this sentence beginis, ‘Honorable and noble Gouernour [etc.]’ [marg. Arranis orisone afor the gouernour]pl. 1616–17 Misc. Hist. Soc. X 92.
Att the beginning of morning prayer the minister or reder sal read distinctly one of these sentenceis of scriptor

7. ? Passing into a sentence in the usual modern sense of a grammatical unit, a short stretch of text functioning as a unit and freq. punctuated as such.Some of these, esp. the first four or five examples may belong in sense 6. 15.. Clar. ii 464.
Ȝour letteris, quhilk sum centensis dois conteine, Within few dayis that Clariodus Salbe … heir with ws a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 133/14.
And this is the true menynge of thir vordes, as the hail sentence precedand and efter folovand plainlye declaris 1562-3 Winȝet II 64/16.
Na thing of thair awin almaist euir produce thai quhilk thai intend nocht to schaddow oure also with the wordis of Scriptuir. Reid the tractatis of Paul Samozatenus [etc.] … thow may se an infinit of exemplis, na quair almaist omittit, quhilk is nocht feinȝetlie pyntit and colorit with the sentenceis of the new or auld testament 1558-66 Knox (1949) I 371 marg. n.
I think this sentence manck, but I will alter no word a1585 Maitland Mait. Q. 84/12.
Thir 8 lynes ȝe may begin at ony nuik ȝe will and reid bakwart or fordwart and ȝe sall find the lyike sentence and meter 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 74/30.
The wordis, sentences, and phrasis necessair for a poete to vse in his verse 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 75/21.
Ȝe man also take heid to frame ȝour wordis and sentencis according to the mater: as in flyting … ȝour wordis to be cuttit short [etc.] 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 76/13.
Vocabula artis … is likewayis neidfull to be vsit in sentences als weill as in wordis. As gif ȝour subiect be heich and learnit to vse learnit and infallible reasonis … Gif ȝour subiect be of loue, to vse wilfull reasonis, proceeding … from passioun 1653 Binning Wks. 22.
There is some hidden secret that you must search for that is enclosed within the covering of words and sentences

b. A clause of an agreement or contract. 1596 Dalr. I 132/9.
The sentences of this contracte in marmor war hewin, in hieroglyphical or mistical lettiris