A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1572, 1630
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Undoing, vbl. n. Also: undoyng(e, -doying, -doeing, -deying, wndoyng(e, ondoing, -doyng. [ME and e.m.E. unduing (a1330), vndoyng (Wyclif), ondoynge (Prompt. Parv.); Undo v.]
1. The action, or an instance, of damaging, harming, hurting or bringing about the downfall of (another). Chiefly, with of or possess. pron.(1) 1409 Slater Early Sc. Texts 72.
Nane of the forsaide lordis sal do na suffir to be done … to nouthir of thaim sl[achtir] … na vndoing be na manere of way a1500 Golagros and Gawane 497.
May nane do thame na deir with vndoyng(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 33 (C).
To folow thare wyles feyned Which yharnyt hys wndoyng c1420 Wynt. ii 630.
Cycrope … Off Egypte drede the wndoyng [C. vndoynge, W. vndoying] 1445 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 311.
Nouthir to consent to na conseele the vndoing of thair personis 1456 Hay I 200/2.
Law naturale has grauntit … till all creature naturale, to gaynstand and resist to thair undoyng 1572 Reg. Morton I 76.
Ony sinister meenyng or vndew devise … tending to your vndoeing or ouerthrow 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I 335.
To the wreck and undoeing of us
b. The cause of (one's) harm or downfall.1513 Doug. iv Prol. 106.
Gyf luf be vertu, than is it lefull thing; Gif it be vyce, it is ȝour ondoyng [Sm. ondoing, Ruddim. vndoing] a1540 Freiris Berw. 367 (M).
Get Symon wit, it war my vndoing
2. In fig. context: The action of unlocking.a1400 Legends of the Saints vi 477.
The oy[n]ment of the ee That helpis men clerly to se, & of that ee the vndoynge Is of oure harte & vndirstandinge
3. Annulling, cancelling.1487 Acts II 178/1.
Articles … for the vndoing and doun putting of the lettre of marque gevin be the king of Romanis upoun our souerane lordis liegis 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 88.
To the undoing of all lawis and the ouerthraw of all human societie
4. Understanding; interpretation.c1420 Wynt. iv 2550.
Discriptyowne is wrytyng In tyll owre propyr wndoyng [C. vndoynge, W. oure langage vndeying] c1420 Wynt. ii 1254.
Ovide … his Methamorphosi That is the Buke off Changynge In tyll our propyr wndoyng [W. vndoying, C. wndoynge]
