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: 1420-1427, 1490-1498, 1566-1694
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Viduit(i)e, Widowitie, n. Also: viduity(e, videwitie, vidowit(ie, widuitie, wiiduit, wyduyté, widowity, widowetie, widouity, vedowaté, wedowetie, wedoet. [e.m.E. viduite (1574, Waterford Archives), viduitie (1620), OF viduité, L. viduitat-, with influence from Wedo(w n. or Wedo(w)hed(e n.]
1. Widowhood.The quots. in (d) may belong in Wedo(w)hed(e n.(a) 1420 Analecta Scotica II 2.
Sir Williame is oblist that he sal nocht trete the forsaid [Alisoun] of Murray … but fraude or gyle, noither in virginite na viduite til [gap in MS] ony parte of hir heritage fra the richtwis airis 1490 Irland Mir. I 154/2.
Eftir Joseph decessit, in hire viduite sche kepit alway virginite 1587 St. A. Baxter Bks. 41.
Johnne Aytoun … is becum bund prenteis to Williame Balfour, baxter, and feilȝeing of him to Beatrix Brown, his spows, duryng hir videwitie 1617 Edinburgh Testaments XLIX 280a.
To suffer hir to duell in the place during hir vidowitie 1626 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 256.
The pretendit chartour … Dame Issobell is alledgit in hir puire vidowitie to have gevin a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 251.
If [a woman] … have bein once married, she will not los her heretadge for incontinency in her viduity a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 18.
That the relict of ane lord of sessione should enjoy the priviledges of the lords of session indureing her viduity 1647 Edinburgh Testaments LXIII 12a.
Viduitie 1682 Stirlings of Keir 472.
The said dame Lillias Colquhoun … he … nominates … to be tutrix … during her viduitie and widowhood 1685 Lauder Observes 224.
They are to get a third more then ther former stipends, and ther relicts to enjoy it during ther viduityes(b) 1427 Melville Chart. 21.
Condicyonys … quhilkis scho is bundyne … to fulfile in hir pur wyduyte 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Arage.
Widuitie 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 39.
Of the mother, quha hes borne ane sonne, in lawfull mariage (and thereafter is become widow) [etc.] … suppose his mother in her widowetie committ huredome 1624 Edinburgh Testaments LII 154b.
During the tyme of hir widowitie 1682 Bk. Carlaverock I 405.
Widouity 1694 Fountainhall Decis. I 587.
Widowity(c) 1498 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 327.
Ane honest matrone Cristiane Foular in hir vedowate 1581 Edinburgh Testaments IX 328b.
He leuis to Johne Ferrie his sone nyne pundis vj s. iiij d. Prouiding that the said Isobell his spous haif the vse thairof during hir wedowetie(d) 1491 Acts Lords of Council I 204/2.
Hir lettres obligatouris mad in hir pur wedoet to the sad George 1566–7 Crail B. Ct. 25 Feb.
The viman that … keipis not thair virginity or wiiduit 1570 Leslie 289.
Sho was ane … chaist ladie … keping hir vidowit with gret honor
2. The state of being destitute. [L. viduus destitute.]1606 Birnie Kirk-b. Pref.
Be intreated (my good Lord) to … abridge your forain tary: that … the viduity of vs … by your fairing away, may be remoued
