Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Waiken, -in, Waken, -in, v. Also: weaken. P.t. and p.p. also waikned, -ende, walknit, weikned, weakned. [ME and e.m.E. p.t. waykned (14th c.), wayken (1530), weken (1536), weyken (1541), weaken (1560), Norw. veikna, MSw. vekna; Waik adj.] tr. a. To cause to become weak; to reduce in strength, power, or efficacity; to diminish, hinder or harm (a cause, etc.). b. To enfeeble or debilitate (a person's health, etc.). c. To reduce the material strength of (something).a. 1570 Bann. Trans. 27.
Ye sall admonis thame that they doe not … hinder or waiken thair awin cause 1600-1610 Melvill 371.
The … protestants … is over stark and controlles the king, they mon be waikned and brought law 1600-1610 Melvill 730.
The Bisschoppes … waikinit and bure doun, and by deprivatioun waikinit the heartis and terrifieit a great number of the ministerie 1613 Misc. Maitl. C. III 30.
Thay ar now so waikned and overthrawne be the Clanhenyee [etc.] 1631 Justiciary Cases I 196.
[His] depositioun … in effect is bot ane denyell that can nather liberat him selff nor waiken the pannell his depositioun 1666 Rothesay B. Rec. 124.
Factions … may … waikin the authoritie of magistracie(b) 1657 Dumfries Kirk S. 6 Aug.
It is her custome to mock the young man, and to wakin his hands in the work of God(c) 1632 Red Bk. Menteith II 146.
Albeit thay ar muche walknit be exacting from tham of the annuitie(d) 1669–70 Lauder Jrnl. 230.
His majesty … hes nobilitat them and … weakned the house of commons 1692 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 171.
The school is very much weakenedb. 1630 Old Ross-shire I 33.
Thro aige and infirmities I am sumquhat waikende 1654 Nicoll Diary 136.
Much cold and distres … waikned thair bodyis 1596 Dalr. I 290/16.
His strenth was now sa wakenit with Bachus and Venus(b) 1584 Gowrie P. 41.
Till sche were of mor strength, being weikned throught chyld last delyveriec. 1659 Glasgow B. Rec. II 421.
Quhen they [sc. fleshours] flee their scheip they leive the substance … of the skinn wpon the bouk, and therby … wakines the skineis and holles them