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.
Ut(t)erance, Uttrance, Utherance, n.1 [Late ME and e.m.E. utterance (1436); Ut(t)er v.]
1. a. The faculty or power of speech. b. The action or fact of speaking, speech. c. Manner of speaking, mode of speech. d. That which is uttered; spoken words, discourse. e. Spoken declaration or statement.a. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Prol. Rom. 340/22.
The spret, quhilk makis intercessionn to Gode … with graynyngis that passis mannis vtherance, sua that mannis speche can nocht comprehende them a1578 Pitsc. I 116/23.
To mak his prayer … to almichtie God to oppin his mouth to gif him knawledge and vttrance to gif that nobill prince quha was destitute and comfortles of all guid counsall that he micht gif him instructioun [etc.]b. a1570-86 Arbuthnot in Maitl. F. 56/32.
Treuth is iugeit barnelie simplicitie … And vtterance is to forȝet all schamec. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 53.
Thay that haue hard him ar not ignorant of his rude utterance and blockischnes 1679 J. Somerville Mem. II 426.
She had a little haugh in utterance, which was soe farre from makeing it unpleasant that it graced her speechd. 1565 Facs. Nat. MSS III xlix.
It hes plesit the gudnes of God be the vterance of thair awin mouthis … to discovir the poysone. 15.. Clar. i 428.
Clariodus unto his lady went, The uterance to have of hir intent Speiring at hir quhat collour he sould taike [etc.]
2. Exit, egress.1637 Gillespie Eng. Pop. Ceremonies ii iv 22.
Faithfull men … have neither a doore of enterance nor a doore of utterance licentiated to them
