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.
Surpas, -pass(e, v. [e.m.E. surpass (1555), OF surpasser (1340 in Larousse).]
1. In literal use: To go beyond, rise over or above.c1650 Spalding II 101.
[The river] Die surpassed in speat the keyheid [of Aberdeen]
2. To be superior to, excel, outdo (another person or thing) in degree or quality (of goodness, evil, etc.).1572 Sat. P. xxxvi 90.
Ȝit, tratour! this vnhonest, bludie blok Surpassis far thy tresounis all of auld 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv Pref. 100.
This Adamsone … [is] Likkest to father Adam, I beleive, Surpassing Cain cursed a1585 Maitl. Q. 275/10.
He now surpassis with his prence In grace and loue all vthers a1585 Maitl. Q. 153/42.
War he this lyvelie goddes grace & bewtie to behauld He wald confes his craft & face Surpast a thousand fauld 1587-99 Hume 19/86.
How far the … saull … dois surpas The mortall … corps, a lowrd and brukill mas c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxiii 3.
I serve ane dame … Quhois teith surpassis the oriant peirle in hew 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 6.
About … [Dornoch] … ar the fairest and largest linkes (or green feilds) of any pairt of Scotland, … they doe surpasse the feilds of Montrose or St. Andrews
3. To be beyond the capacity of, to be too much for.a1689 Cleland 11.
But to discriue them right surpasses, The art of nine Parnassus lasses
