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.
Vigour, n. Also: -oure, -(u)eur. [ME and e.m.E. vygour (14th c.), vigour (Chaucer), vygueur (1554), AF vigour, F. vigueur, L. vigor, vigōr-, f. vigĕre.]
1. The animating force of a person, active physical or moral energy, force or strength. Also transf. b. Applied to a (non-material) thing.There is some confusion with Rigour n. 2 b, see esp. Alex. IV 452, note.(a) 1375 Barb. viii 299.
The king … met thaim with sa gret vigour [1571 rigour] That the best and off maist valour War laid at erd ?1438 Alex. ii 4368.
Wirship, hardement and vigour [F. vigour] ?1438 Alex. ii 5701.
Now may men se quha hes ȝarning To win great honour and louing, Begun throw worship and vigour [F. vigour] ?1438 Alex. ii 6477.
Knichtis of great strenth and vigour [F. Chevaliers grans et fors, corageus et membrus](b) c1590 Fowler I 22.
Man … is indowed with two principall powers and faculteis: the one is a sensuall appetite, the other is a naturall reasoun; the one … haveing soveraintie in his youthe at that tyme when the senses hes most force and vigeur 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 93.
Whither the children at their coming furth of the bellie sould have had the vigueur that Adam hadtransf. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxxviii 19.
London, thou art the flour of cities all … Strong Troy in vigour and in strenuytieb. ?1438 Alex. ii 2531.
Quhilk thre thingis are maist sufficiand To lele lufe … And maist mantemys it in vigour [F. vigour] 1632 Lithgow Trav. vi 293.
The vigour of the day gone and the cooling night come, we aduanced
2. The legal force or validity of an instrument of law or government. Also const. to stand (be) in vigour, to be or remain valid or in force. b. Applied to the manner of execution of laws, etc.: Strong, energetic action.(1) 1490–1 Acta Conc. I 169/1.
The quhilk act beand … considerit & at lenth vnderstandin thai haf consavit be vigour & strenthe of the sammyn that [etc.] 1494 Acta Conc. I 344/2.
That he sulde nocht be iniurit be vigour [of] ony lettrez … purchest aganis him 1549 Lamb Resonyng 139/1.
Of quhat strynth or vigour hald ȝe ane instrument of homage without the name of him that makis this homage 1564–5 Reg. Privy S. V i 549/1.
To direct lettiris … to consent thereto … in siclike forme and vigour as gif he had ane speciall provisioun thairupoun in the court of Rome 1565 Douglas Chart. 257.
To the end that the premisses may tak full vigour and effect a1568 Scott xxvi 67.
The vertew of this writ and vigour(2) 1526 St. P. Henry VIII V 433.
That the sailf conductis ellis grauntit stand in strenth and vigoure 1655 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 158.
The former nominatioun … to stand in full vigour as iff this present claus haid neuer bein insert ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 114.
Discipline and governement should stand in vigour by lawes of this church and kyngdome 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i xxiv 2 (1699) 120.
Then the former act … appointing eight per cent. was in vigour, and so the Lords could not restrict the annualrents to six, against an expresse lawb. c1500-50 Brevis Cronica 337.
The realme was given in keiping to Schir Thomas Randolp, Earle of Murray, who putt the lawis with much vigour in executioun, and held greit justice in the kingdome
