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.
Tedi(o)us, Tid(d)ious, adj. Also: tediouse, -ieous, -eus, teydious, teudious, tidi(e)ous, tide(o)us, tiddius, tyde(o)us, tadious. [Late ME and e.m.E. tedious (Lydgate), tidiose (c1485), tedeous (1526), OF tedieus, late L. tædiōs-.] Wearisome, due to the laborious, repetitive or time-consuming nature of the task, etc.; lacking in interest more generally, dreary.(a) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 273 (Asl.).
The tyme of sawying is callit tedious … Sa of gud lyf begynnyng is lauborus 1526 Acta Conc. MS XXXVI 53a.
It is tedius to bring the said gold … to be sald till us dalie in smallis 1531 Bell. Boece I xxxvi.
In Angus ar … sa gret noumer of castellis, that it wer ouir tedius laubour to writ thaim all 1535 Stewart 114.
The kingis grace … is nocht perfite In Latyn toung … in sic dyte It wilbe tedious … To reid the thing he can nocht vnderstand 1537 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 460.
That in tymes bipast … diettis of justice courtis hes bene sa … oft usit … quhilk hes bene rycht tedius, nevsom and sumptuus to all our soverane lordis legis throw … summoning … of thame … owt of the far partis … tharfor … swa that our … legis be nocht put to frustrat lawbour [etc.] 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 540.
Be lang, irksum, and tedious travell … we ar … weryit 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 5.
It war difficill & tediouse to descryue all the causis of ane pestilence 1570 Leslie 123.
The Duik of Albany considering that the wearis betuix Scotland and Ingland wes teudious to the noble men of the realme principallie thay beand tane on for pleasour of the king of Fraunce 1577 Fam. Innes 132.
Ye haif hard at leynth alreddy quhow [etc.] … the quhilk war verie langsum and tedeus to writt a1578 Pitsc. I 147/21.
Money wtheris quhoise names war tedieous to report 1580 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 451.
It was longsome and tedious to deduce the whole matter before the Assembly 1676 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 10.
A long and teydious debat 1680 Red Bk. Grandtully II 252.
Craving pardon for this tedious lybell(b) 1535 Stewart 21504.
The causis quhy ar langsum to rehers And tydeous this tyme to put in vers 1549 Compl. 62/27.
I pray thé to decist fra that tideus melancolic orison 1549 Compl. 92/1.
Tideous c1552 Lynd. Mon. 386.
Thow sall nocht fynd in non estatis … Bot tiddious restles besynes c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4065.
Tiddius a1578 Pitsc. I 102/25.
Tidieous 1581 Sempill in Sat. P. xliii 26.
To pen the speciallis it passis mony a hunder, And makis the tyme ouer tidious to declare 1650 Misc. Maitl. C. II 484.
Parliment met and send som of ther owine number and som ministeris to examine him [sc. Montrose] … He desyred that nyght till be at rest, for he was wearied with a longsom jorney, and he said the compliment they had put upon him that day was som thing tydeus(c) 1649 Strathendrick 134.
That the wirship of God be not rendered tadious and wearisome both to him and them
b. Of a person: Weary, bored, depressed.1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 395.
For quhen a man is wraith or furious, Melancholik … or tedious, Than is all plesance till him maist contrair c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 619.
The ȝoungkeir said … With austeir voice, as tirant tedious: Sair mouit in minde, in hart halfwo begone c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 291.
Thay luik sa gryme with peruerst vult austeir … So tedious thay ar be countenance [etc.]
