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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.

Situatioun, -ion(e, n. Also: situacioun(e, -ion, scituatione, sitwation, cituation. [e.m.E. setuacyon (Caxton), sytuacion (1509), scituacion (1542-3), situation (1553), F. situation (1375 in Larousse), f. situer v. (cf. Situat(e p.p.).]

1. The position or locality of a city, country, etc., in relation to its surroundings. 1456 Hay I 113/12.
All gude constable suld put … the schip men efter the place and the situacioun of the toun [etc.] 1528 Lynd. Dreme 754.
Than schew scho me the situatioun Off that precelland place, full of delyte 1531 Bell. Boece I xviii.
Concernyng the figure and situation of Scotland with the maneris of the pepill thairof 1533 Boece 74.
King Ptholome had devisit to discrive be instrumentis of astronomy the situacion of the hale warld, of ilis … , firthis, cieteis [etc.] … the situacion, the lenth and latitude of the samyn 1566 Prot. Bk. Thomas Johnsoun 151.
All merches standis … eftir the first situation of the said burgh 1596 Dalr. I 140/22.
To Britannie cumis legatis … to … explore the situatione of the cuntrey [etc.] 1673 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XVIII 47.
The toun of Restalrige and the toun of Caltoun being a part and pendicle of the said barronie of Restalrig by reasoun of the place and sitwation thereof

b. In phrases without of. 1490 Irland Mir. I 78/25.
Mony trowis that it [sc. Paradise] is vndir the cirkile equenoxiale … richt hie in the situacioune 1533 Boece 352b.
Paris … in situacion tranquil & lowne c1575 Balfour Pract. 275.
Landis lyand within ane schirefdome or jurisdictioun be natural situatioun a1599 Rollock Wks. I 305.
Men regardis mekill situatioun in buylding

2. The place occupied; the site (of a building). 1622-6 Bisset II 433/7.
This Charter house [of Perth] is soe allutterly decayed now … that the bounds of the cituatioun is presentli cornefeild land

3. The placing or positioning of people relative to each other, or to their surroundings. 1502–3 Mill Mediæv. Plays 118.
James Crukschank was conuict … for the breking of commone ordinance in the situacioun & ordoure of the processioun ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 74.
By such a scitvatione of presbyter and people, both are engadged for to praye with ther faces towards the easte