A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1400, 1490-1674
[0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0]
Traditio(u)n(e, n. Also: traditionn, tradicioun, -ion(e. [ME and e.m.E. tradicioun, tradycion (both Wyclif), tradition (1562), OF tradicion, L. trāditiōn.]
1. Religious belief or practice handed down from past times, specif. in the pre-Reformation church, those beliefs, etc. not deriving directly from the Bible.c1520-c1535 Nisbet II 122 marg.
Sick waik ande begerly traditionns as tha … had knawleg affor to be of na walour 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 418.
Thare vaine traditiounis … As … Prayand to grawin Ymagis 1533 Gau 25/25.
As dois the mwnkis … in the obseruance of thair tradicions c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5244.
Extolland thare traditionis Abufe Christis institutionis 1559–60 St. A. Kirk S. 14.
We … renunceis … the Bischop of Romme … his cursed and usurped authorite, power and jurisdictioun, opinioun, traditioneis and lawes 1562-3 Winȝet I 77/25.
Mony thingis … of na necessitie iniunit we to beleue, except thai be of thai traditionis vniuersalie beleuit and obseruit 1562-3 Winȝet I 115/17.
The Apostill St. Paull commandit in sindry places his traditionis to be keipet, als weil the vnwrittin as the writtin 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng 179 (G).
Sic as will pretende to raill thairvpone, mon schawe the traditione thairoff [sc. the sign of the Cross] 1580 Cath. Tr. 39/28.
Sen ye wil gyf na place to traditions, quhat assurance can ye have that sen the natiuitie of Christ, thair is onlie 1580 yeiris c1590 Fowler II 61/16.
If this autoritie of Tertulian be thee alledged be trew thou dois … wickedlie wraist the scripteur of God in confirmation of that quhilk is not writtin, bot as an vncerten traditioun rasauit 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 56.
Thus is the old error and tradition husted and confut
b. The process of handing down beliefs, etc.1490 Irland Mir. III 94/11.
The thingis be tradicioun of the quhilk ordour is gevin as in prestheid [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet II 61/22.
The ane and the samin doctrine quhilk be incorrupt traditioun of the trewth perseueris be al … aiges 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 102.
This conservation of doctrine … is callit tradition at the whilk the ministeris inragis
c. A group of beliefs of a particular sort, a belief system.1562-3 Winȝet I 117/14.
The Lutheranis lenis in this mater rycht wechty to the apostolik traditioun
2. transf. A similar customary practice in another discipline.c1550-c1580 Art of Music 9b.
Thir tabillis … quhairin the form of signis … ar disponit be dyweris personis quhilkis hes nocht sene the traditionis of antiquitie doctouris of music. Quhilk traditionis [etc.]
3. The customary method of transferring possession of property, chiefly be traditioun of a symbol of some sort, usu. relating to the property concerned.1516 Fife Sheriff Ct. 144.
I … westit the said Andro … in actuale reale & corporale possessione of the said landis be tradicione of thak & tre 1545 Chart. Coupar A. II 197.
Our … bailȝe … to give saysing and possessioune … be traditioune of thak and duffat as use is 1549–50 Cupar B. Rec. 10 March.
Possession of the samyn be tradition of erd & stane efter the tenor of the said resignation 1550 Cupar B. Rec. 2 Dec.
Possession … be tradition of ane d. a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 114.
The first possession and traditione hes place in rebus corporalibus 1639 Kirkcaldy Presb. 141.
To appoynt … to the said Mr. Thomas Melvill the whole manss … and ane gleib of four aikers … according to the act of Parliament, and by tradition of earth and stone give him to have possessioun of both 1663 Decis. Lords G. 55.
The tradition of the keys and possession of the house
4. Orally received information, word of mouth.1611 Reg. Panmure I xxviii.
Alexander tuk gryt somes of money withe him as we heawe be traditione, as lykwayes that he past to England bot thearefter newir word wos of theme
5. Actions, events.c1400 Troy-bk. ii 118 (D).
In the tyme of turbacions And dyssawande tradicions [L. ne turbacionis et sedicionis tempore]
