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.
Vacancy, -ie, Vacantcy, n. Also: vaccancy, -ie. [e.m.E. vacantie (c1580), vacancie (1599), vacancy (1615), med. L. vacantia.] a. = Vacance n. 1 a, c. b. fig. Emptiness, implying, freedom, peace, space. c. = Vacance n. 2. Also const. from a task.a. (1) 1646 Acts Sederunt ii 55.
Upoun the vaccancie of anie place in that judicatorie, to proceid … in filling those places by your advice 1658 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 177.
For sindrie yeirs not so much as sein in the place … which is conceavit to be much occasioned by the long vacancie of the ministrie heir 1670 Dunkeld Presb. II 100.
The sessione takeing to their consideratione the vacancie of the school, haveing … desired the minister to pitch upon ane scoolmaster [etc.] 1682 Sc. Ant. XVI 4.
A younge man, to supplie the supposed vacancie untill the first of January 1687 Dunferm. Kirk S. 79.
For the keeping the kirk registers in the vacancie of the clerk 1689 Cramond Kirk S. III 7 May (6 Dec.).
To have the vacancy … supplyed by such ministers as will [etc.](2) 1689 Acts XII 60/2.
Anent the vaccancy of the throneb. 1653 Binning Wks. 578.
This freedom and vacancy from the unsupportable yoke of guilt 1653 Binning Wks. 581.
Faith has a kind of present vacancy and quietness in it 1653 Binning Wks. 582.
This method hath a double advantage … for … carrying of Christ's yoke. It gives vacancy and room for it [etc.]c. (1) 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XI 644.
In this vacantcy when the Chancellor … cannot have occasioun here 1642 Comm. Univ. III (St. A.) App. 205.
For exciteing the students to diligence in there studies, not only while they are in the colledges … but also in the tyme of the vacancy, it is ordained, that … there be also a second examination … after there returneing 1671 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II 566.
To sit five or six months together, and all the remanent of the year to be vacancy a1686 Turner Mem. 204.
The Lords to goe to the countrey in the beginning of March, the ordinarie time of vacancie 1688 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 237.
The councell grants vaccancie to the schollars of the high schooll 1695 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 233.
He shall not give his schoolars a vaccancie without the special allowance of the session(2) 1640 Maister George Blacke His Masterlesse Men 6.
His leasure of vacancie from his great imployments of the kingdome and state
