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: 1470-1696
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Universal(l, adj. (adv.). Also: universale, uneversall, univarsall, -wersall, wniversall, -sale, -saill. [ME and e.m.E. vniversel, -al (both Chaucer), vnyuersall (Trevisa), vniuersale (a1425), vniuersall (1555), OF universel, -al, L. ūniversāl-.]
A. adj. 1. Extending over or affecting the whole of what is specified or implied; of general application to every case, etc.1489 Acts Lords of Council I 123/2.
To haue na daile nor intrometting witht the said benefice … in hurting of laude patronage, & the vniuersale gud of the realme 1502 Acts Lords of Council III 183.
For the gud and universale wele of his liegis 1531 Vaus (1531) 3.
Bot this rewl is nocht vniuersale a1538 Abell 53b.
Wniuersaill pestinence 3 ȝere a1538 Abell 112a.
In his tyme wes wniuersall pestilence in Scotland 1590–1 Criminal Trials I ii 237.
Ȝe sall warne the rest of the sisteris, to raise the wind this day … and … thay sould mak the storme vniuersall thro the see
b. specif. Of a disease: Extending over the whole surface of an individual's body.1682 Cramond Ch. Grange 40.
Debursed to one James Pirie distressed with ane universall cruells 16 s.
c. That embraces everything; all-encompassing.1490 Irland Mir. I 62/6.
This knawlage at I haue spokin of was first vniuersale and syn appliit to particulare thingis
2. Of persons: Having power or jurisdiction over all that is specified or implied in their designation or title.1490 Irland Mir. III 52/8, 9.
That thar be ane vniuersale iuge and louetennand vniuersal of Jhesu 1551 Hamilton Catechism 38.
The universal Lord of all this warld 1567 Reg. Morton I 17.
I haif maid … my said spous the onlie and vniuersall intromissatrice with my guidis c1575 Balfour Pract. 233.
The ȝounger brother-german … sould be servit and retourit air general or universal to him; and not the elder c1590 Fowler II 50/5.
Ȝe haue writin the proud poesy, naming me [sc. Gregory] the vniuarsall Pape, notwithstanding I haue forbiddin it 1632 Lithgow Trav. x 474.
Boniface the third obtained of Phocas … to be called vniuersall bishop a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 209.
Efter [1560] … the king became universall patron of the haill benefices within the kingdome 1681 Stair Inst. iii iv § 23.
Heirs in law are called universal successors … [because] they do wholly represent the defunct and … both succeed to him … in all the rights belonging to him, and … in all the obligations and debts due by him
b. Of a thing: That is common to, or unanimously agreed upon and accepted by those specified.1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 165/4.
I will persuade the samyn be the vniuersale doctryne, interpretatioun, and consent of the auld anceant fatheris 1587 Acts III 438/1.
To sett mak and establishe ane mett mesour and wecht qlk salbe commoun and vniuersall amangis all our souerane lordis lieges
c. Of the Church: That is common to, or that contains, all Christians.1490 Irland Mir. I 48/16.
Mony haly counsalis of the vniuersall kyrk a1538 Abell 108a.
It wes thare concludit at the generall consall lauchfullie gatherit representis vniwersall kirk & hes immediat power of Christ 1551 Hamilton Catechism 3.
The haly spreit quhilk is … governour of the hail universal kirk 1560 Conf. Faith in Acts II 530/2.
Ane Kirk, that is to say, ane cumpany … of men chosin of God, … quhilk kirk is catholick, that is vniuersall
3. Of or pertaining to the whole world.1490 Irland Mir. II 78/1.
For the verite of the final resurreccioun and vniuersale the doctouris makis certane persuasiouns 1513 Doug. vi xii 9.
The hie wysdome dyvyne … movys this warldis hail engyne And by Hys power mydlit is our all This mekil body clepit vniuersal [Sm., Ruddim. vniuersall] 1634 Edinburgh Testaments LVI 367b.
In the hall … ane vniversall cairt [= map] 1647 Edinburgh Testaments LXIII 66.
Ane greatt vniversall cairt with twa mullers
b. That is or may be adopted and used by people everywhere; of world-wide application.1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 180/23.
The mes is said in the Latyne toung, quhilk is ane vniuersale toung 1652 Urquhart Jewel 24.
Bringing all these words within the systeme of a language, which … may … be intituled the universal tongue 1653 Urquhart Logopandect. 13.
So can there be no universal language but this I am about to divulge unto the world … the universal alphabet therefore must be first conceived
4. Entire, whole; all of (what is specified).1470 Prestwick B. Rec. 2.
The forsaid balȝeis maturli avisit be thar vniuersale counsell 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 2/2.
The vniuersal pepil ar be cum distitute … of al verteus bysynes of body ande saul 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 2/25.
[The English] hope to deuoir the vniuersal floc of oure Scottis natione 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 21/21.
The inexorbitant extorsions that [Rome] committit on the vniuersal varld 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 70.
How lang tyme … he had josit the said erildom justlie wele and onschoritlie with thair vniuersall and sungular ilis commoditeis [etc.] 1696 Cullen B. Rec. 77 (19 Sept.).
Having houssis, bigings … pairts, pendickles, & vneversall pertinents pertaining
b. Pertaining to a university.a1538 Abell 58a.
Stude wni[v]ersale of Paris beguth be procuration of Alcuyn, Charlis maistir
B. adv. 1. In all parts; everywhere. = Universal(l)y adv. 2.1560–1 Inverness Rec. I 51.
That ane of the balȝes … pas vniuersall throw the towne to thame that ar byllit fornicatoris c1590 Fowler I 55/213.
Law seveir of Cupidis court … is so ancient, so vniuersall ould, That it conioynes to the heavin earth
2. Quhen … vniuersall, whenever.1550 Perth Guildry 268 (30 May).
Archbald Oliphant … hes actit and oblist hym to scat and lot and pay with the merchandis of Pertht in all taxationis quhen ony occurris vniuersall
