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: 1400, 1494-1668
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Sertan(e, adj. Also: serthane, serten(e, scerten, sertten. [Var. of Certane adj.]
1. Sure; reliable; dependable. = Certane adj. 1. c1400 Troy-bk. i 534.
The lestand God … Of hevinly thingis has wroutht and done … And set thame be sertan asyse c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxiv 99.
As sur and sertene argument, That all to it sell turne 1644 11th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. vi 55.
Thair is nothing heir serten bot deith
2. Sure, confident. = Certane adj. 2. 1668 Laing MSS 372.
The honour … is not more pleasing than the continowance of your favour which I am now as sure of as that I am scerten I have never designed any thing in prejudice nor unworthie of it
3. Not specially designated or enumerated. = Certane adj. 3.Also const. of.(1) 1494 Treasurer's Accounts I 245.
Expensis maid apone sertane wrychtis 1525 Wigtown B. Ct. fol. 223a.
That he coft serthane guddis to the vayll of iiii crounis 1535–6 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I 191.
For … cullering of … sertane mullouris with asure 1560 Edinb. Old Acc. II 117.
For sertane stains to the newe durr a1568 Lynd. Sat. in Bannatyne MS 168a heading.
Sertane mirry Interludis thairof verry plesand 1581 Misc. Spald. C. II 54.
Sertten and prensipell onest men c1600 Inverurie 215.
Sertan horsmen to the noumer of fifte 1604 Urie Baron Ct. 9.
Sertane pennalteis decernit to be payit(2) 1548–9 Corr. M. Lorraine 291.
Thar is cumit serten of Inglis men to Beryk ma nor wes of befor 1580 Analecta Scotica I 275.
He beand at the huntris with sertane of his lordes
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"Sertan adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/sertane_adj>
