A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Sist(e, v. Also: cist. [L. sistere to cause to stand, redupl. form of stāre to stand. Also in the modern dialect, chiefly in legal use.] tr. and intr.
1. tr. To stop, postpone, prevent. b. specif. in legal use: To suspend (proceedings, a bill) by judicial decree. Also absol.1635 Misc. Hist. Soc. I 106.
This is not the way … to siste the fall and ruyne of that antient … hous 1640 Lithgow Poet. Remains 241.
To siste the traitour, and that treacherous cryme a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 503.
For a time this sisted the persecution 1682 Edinb. City Archives Moses Bundle 254 No. 7741.
Did he ever declaire his willingness to the generall to sist further workingb. a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 263.
Two seaseings upon twa retoures of the wassall's predecessors immediatlie preceiding sists and stopps nonentry of all yeirs preceiding the saids retours 1661 Dunkeld Presb. I 338.
Two of Lord Cowpar's servants appeared, and … requested them to sist procedure until he had been heard 1663 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I 67.
Whether sentence shall be sisted till the discussing thereof before the Judge Ordinary or not 1663 Peebles B. Rec. II 56.
Desyreing him to sist the executioun of the letters of lawburrowes 1681 Stair Inst. iv lii § 16.
That it may be known what sists are granted, the clerks of the bills are ordained to make an alphabetic inventory of bills refused or sisted 1683 Acts Sederunt ii 156.
To refuse the bill of suspension, … notwithstanding of any former warrand sisting execution 1695 Cramond Kirk S. IV 4 Nov. (marg.).
Barntoun sists his complaint, untill he conferr with the Lady Cramondabsol. 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii x 3 (1678) 399.
If a pursuit were intented before them upon a bond, they behoved to sist if the bond were alledged to be false
2. intr. a. Of events, processes, etc.: To cease, be suspended. b. Of persons: To desist, refrain from (at, in) something. Also absol.a. 1637 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. I 369.
Thereefter the process to sist till the colonel be summoned 1655 Cramond Ch. Aberdour 27.
The processes against Andrew Baird and Mr. Alexander Ross are appointed to cist till the result of the said committee a1658 Durham Scandal (1740) 306.
Policarpus came … to stay the division about Easter, which prevailed so far that it sisted for a timeb. a1658 Durham Scandal (1740) 306.
Men would not sist in this, but … they would endeavour … to commend union to these that differ 1658 Declaration of the Brethren who are for the Established Government 4.
We perceived our brethren not sisting at the first cause of their rent, but starting new quarrels 1686 Seafield Corr. 27.
They fell to be equall, and so sisted at the Chanclers woll c1679 Kirkton Hist. 364.
Tho' our council sisted in their persecutions(b) 1690 T. Brown Diary 62.
That he should cist from preaching the Wordabsol. 1547 Cal. Sc. P. I 44.
[It were well you spoke with Lord Bothwell to save the siege at Borthe Crag, but] siste [as yet] 1669 Jus Populi To the Reader 9.
Few thought they should ever have sisted, till they had executed all who were their captives c1680 W. Row Blair 456.
Neither did the persecuting prelate's rage and malice there sist 1696 Cramond Kirk S. IV 20 Dec.
She promised not to be found in the like hereafter, with which the Session was satisfied to sist
3. tr. and reflex. a. To present (oneself) (before, at, in, under a court, tribunal, judge, etc.). Also fig.1643 Acts VI i 5/2.
To charge the Erle of Carnwath to compeir … and sist his persone befor thame 1653 Binning Wks. 343.
That ye may sist yourselves before him a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 408.
The Son of God, being now Man, sisteth Himself as ready to make appearance for such and such sinners 1661 Wodrow Hist. I (1828) 128.
That your honours would … sist yourselves as in the sight and presence of the all-seeing God 1683 Inverness Rec. II 314.
He finding sufficient caution acted in the books of Counsell to sist himself at the Counsell bar 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 477.
I have studied to sist myself under my master's eye 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 473.
He finding cautione to appear and sist his persone in the tolbooth when called forfig. 1687 Shields Hind Let Loose 602.
And let them sist their conscience before the word, and set the word to the conscience
b. To cause or order (a person) to appear (before a court, etc.).1641 Acts V 637/1.
The parliament … appoint the Erle of Galloway to apprehend the said Thomas McKie and sist him befoir thame 1670 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II 479.
The party whom he should have sisted, was sick of a fever, and not able to come out of a bed at the time 1671 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III 281.
[The] bailies … having sent for the said David Gib, … did sist him befor them within their tolbuith 1673 Cramond Kirk S. II 19 Oct.
Untill Janet Ramsay his accuser should finde some cautioners to sist her befor the session and presbitery c1680 McWard Serm. 162.
When they shall be sisted before my tribunal 1690 Cramond Kirk S. III 7 Jan.
There was a woman brought to bed of a childe … and … the session ordained the beddell to … charge Alexr. Red's wife, that she keep her, and sist her befor the session 1690 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 232.
Being sisted before the councill barr
4. To compel, force (a person) (to do something).1679 Aberd. Trades 274.
The said shoomaker traid … wes now sistit to buy the said comodities fra thame … att ane deare and great rait
