A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Spirit, Sprete, Spreit, v. [e.m.E. spirit (1599); Spirit n.] tr. a. passive. To be encouraged be an action; to be inspired with courage. Also, once, reflex. b. Of God: To infuse spirit, ardour, etc. into (a person) for a purpose.a. (1) 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 163.
The Pichtis … spretit be the victorijs quhilkis thai had afoir on the … Romanis, send ambassiadouris to Corbreid(2) 1531 Bell. Boece II 389.
This victorie wes sa plesand to all the army of Scottis, that every man wes spretit with new curagereflex. 1531 Bell. Boece I 149.
Maist vailyeant campionis … spreit yow with curage, and have mair respecte to your eternal glore, than to youre fragill livisb. 1669 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III 643.
He is God … who doth gift and begrace all these worthies that are now gone, and can rease up others in their roum and spirit them for anay work he heth to doe with them 1687 Shields Hind Let Loose 685.
It is true, sometimes they did not resit, when either they were not in a capacity, or did not see a call to such an action, but … were not extraordinarily spirited of the Lord for passive testimonies under a suffering dispensation: but it is as true, that many times they did resist, when the lord capacitated, called, and spirited them for active testimonies 1687 Shields Hind Let Loose 707.
If the Lord promises to fit and spirit his people for action against their oppressing rulers … then it is their duty, and also their honour to resist them c1700 Mrs. Veitch Memoirs (1846) 9.
He prayed for them all, and that his brethren and sisters might be spirited for serving God in their generation 1710 Wodrow Corr. 190.
Any whose heart the Lord shall touch, and whom he shall spirit for an accurate account of his wonderful providences to this valley of vision
