A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Suborn(e, v. Also: subern. P.t. also subbornit, suburnit. [e.m.E. suborn(e (1534), F. suborner (late 13th c. in Larousse), L. subornāre.] tr. To induce (a person) to or to do some misdeed; to corrupt, bribe, persuade by underhand means. Variously const. Also fig. Cf. Subornation,n. (1) pres. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 146/14.
The pestilent preacheouris … cumand without authoritie, subuertand, subornand, and circumuenand the symple people 1653 Peebles B. Rec. II 8.
That he suborne not the witnessesp.p. 1533 Boece 66.
Be Dowale thai war subornit 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 31.
Thair was never ane accuser bot subornit be the partie accusit a1578 Pitsc. I 138/21.
Ane Inglischeman … instructit and subornit be the king with bullis and commissiounis as he had bene send frome the Pope of Rome 1595 Reg. Privy C. V 233.
[They] wer subornit, buddit and rewairdit [by the said Heroun and his friends before he was presented to panel](2) 1533 Boece 45b.
Had nocht [Britons] … subornit ȝow to mak slauchter apon ȝour avne blude 1570 Spotsw. Hist. (1677) v 238.
By suborning a mischant to kill him treacherously 1558-66 Knox II 318.
Thei suborned the Quene to geve a gentill answer 1580 Edinb. Test. VII 350b.
He wes tystit & subornit to mak ane prophane & godlie geving ouer in maner of legacie a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 63.
Subbornit 1605 Crim. Trials II 454.
Haifing falslie subornit to periure and mensweir thame selffis(b) a1578 Pitsc. I 86/10.
He suburnit sum blody tyrantis to ly in ane quyit place … awaitand for the slaughter(3) a1578 Pitsc. I 82/16.
They subornit him quyitlie to dissobedience(4) 1533 Boece 83.
The kingis sonnys be tratouris subornit in his murthure war slane 1533 Boece 258b.
He subornit ane parte of the garde in the kingis slauchter promytting infinite ryches(5) a1538 Abell 42b.
Hengist subornit his partye that quhen he maid ane sing … to thame ilk ane … suld stik thare marrofig. 1559 Knox VI 32.
Onles streangearis be brought in to subern and bring in bondaige the liberties of this poore contrey
