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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.

Act, Ac(k, Ak, n. Also: actt, auct; accke, aick; akk; hac. [ME. acte (a 1400), OF. acte, L. actus m., actum n. The spelling act is sometimes used where the rhyme indicates the pronunc. ack.]

1. A formal agreement, resolution, or decision; a record of such in a document or register. To put in act, to put on record. Act of adjournal: see Adjournal.(a) 1398 Acts I. 211/1.
Articlys that beys done or executyt in the said office sal be putte in act with the day & place a1500 Henr. Fab. 1231.
Lowrence the actis and the proces wrait 1483 Acta Conc. II. Introd. 114.
Quhilk some was recoverit … befor the Auditouris of causes … as in thair act maid thairupon mare fullely is proportit 1510 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II. 390.
The quhilk inquest, avisit with the act of his condempnatione, fand the said Alane in the wrang 1539 Reg. Cupar A. II. 298.
The said James … askit Act of Court, and the said abbot oblist him … neuir to contravene the samin 1576 Reg. Privy C. II. 480 (see Act v. 3). 1622-6 Bisset I. 146/19.
Ane of the lordis sall pas to the uttirhouse, and first call all the actis(b) 1477 Peebles B. Rec. 182.
Heirapon the said Thomas askyt an ac and rolment of the cowrt 1531 Glasgow Prot. IV. 43.
In the akkis of the cowrt bwk of Glasgow 1566 Stirlings of Keir 418.
Contrackis, aickis or obligationis 1653 Irvine Mun. II. 255.
Givin to the clarke for extrek of the accke

2. An act of a legislative or administrative body; an ordinance or statute.(a) 1425 Acts II. 11/2 (the tenor of this act). 1475 Edinb. B. Rec. 32 (actis, statutis, or ordinancis). 1504 Edinb. Chart. 188 (our lawis, actis, or statutis). 1516 Edinb. B. Rec. 160 (according to the first act maid thairupoun). 1541 Reg. Privy S. II. 654/1 (that all oure actis be publist). a1570-86 Maitl. M. Fol. xxi. 67 (to mak actis we haue sum feill).(b) 1497 Aberd. B. Rec. 60 (efter the tenour of the ak). c 1525 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 390 (the ackys, summondis, and continuatiounys). 1544 Prestwick Rec. 59 (the ac maid abefor). 1553 Lanark B. Rec. 26 (eftyr the makyn of this ak). 1581 Acts III. 268/1 (the ac of secrete counsell).

b. Freq. in act(s) of parliament.1471 Acts II. 100/1 (eftir the tenor of the … act of parlyament). 1472 Reg. Cupar A. I. 163 (the ackis of the parliament). 1537 Glasgow Prot. IV. 115 (efter the akkis of the Kingis parliament). 1581 Burne in Cath. Tr. 156 (onie act of parliament vranguslie maid).

3. An act, action, deed.1456 Hay II. 15/19 (dedis of armes and actes honourable). 1527 Wigtown B. Ct. 5 Dec.
Nycoll Fressell Thovme M^cCrystyne challans fore the vranguis hac iiij s.1531 Bell. Boece II. 297 (mony nobil actis). 1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix. 235 (ane vailȝeant ak). a1578 Pitsc. I. 31/8 (sum hardie witie actt). c1590 J. Stewart 54/42 (to vitnes neuir cam his ak).1626 A. Garden Worthies 78.
King Arthours acts [: takes = taks].1604-31 Craig v. 33.
this last exequall act [: take = tak].

4. The public maintaining of a thesis by a candidate for a degree.1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 12 (to repet and pas thair actis); 14 (the assistandis to this act).