A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Abais, Abase, v. Also: abays, abaise, abaze; abas; abaish. [ME. abaisse, abaysse (14th c.), Anglo-F. abaïss-, = OF. ebaïss-, esbaïss-, extended stem of esbaïr to astound. The ME. variant abaisshe gives the mod. abash.]
1. tr. To deprive of confidence or courage; to make downcast or astounded; to dismay. (Usually in p.p.; see Abaisit.)1375 Barb. viii. 247.
Thouch that thai be ma than we, That suld abais ws litill thing ?1438 Alex. i. 741.
Thair sall na thing abase me sa, That I first of the field sall ga c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 30/4.
The raddour of deid wald abaise the sa gretly c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 112.
The luf-blenkis of that bogill … abasit my spreit 1533 Boece iv. xviii. 158 b.
This abassit mekill the corage of diuers Romanis Ib. vi. xi. 208.
It suld nocht abas thare curage 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 49.
To keip ay thevis … in courage and to abase the hartis of trew subiectis c1590 Fowler I. 48/37.
Bold Hanniball … , Whome Rome thought not in manye yeares nor Italie might abaise [: lace] c1590 J. Stewart 232, st. 128.
As travelit man abaishing all [that] dois heir The curious carots quhilk thy breath sall blaw1626 Garden Worthies 59.
My few forces … Abazed the Brutans
2. intr. To be taken aback or surprised.1513 Doug. v. ii. 95.
Eneas of the syght abasyt sum deill
