Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Appoint, Appoynt, v. Also: apoint, apoynt; apoinct, appoynct. [ME. apointen, apoynten (14th c.), appointe, appoynte, OF. apointer. See also Appont and Appunct.]

1. tr. To arrange, settle, decide (upon), assign. Freq. in the phrase it is appointit … (that).(1) 1437 Edinb. B. Rec. 5 (it is appointit, consentit, and ordanit that … ). 1472 Reg. Great S. 257/2 (it is appointit, aggreit, and finaly concordit as eftir followis). 1517 Edinb. B. Rec. 167 (it is appoinctit, aggreit, … ). 1558 Reg. Cupar A. II. 267 (it is apointit and finalie aggreit). 1689 Urie Baron Ct. 99 (it is apoynted that … ).(2) 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 118 (as God hes appoyntit his Kirk and Congregatioun to be unit togidder). 1570 Conv. Burghs I. 16 (thair was conventionis appoyntit to be in the toun). a1578 Pitsc. I. 22/10 (at the plaice appointit). 1609 Peebles B. Rec. 76 (I haif appointit the Commissariat to remain in Peblis). 1669 Wemyss Corr. 133 (the hour that ye did apoynt the cocket to be sent).

b. To assign or allocate.1543 Bk. Carlaverock II. 24 (becaus that waye was appoyntit to ws to pass). 1562-3 Winȝet I. 42/28 (ony dignitie appoyntit to thaim). 1671 Forbes Baron Ct. 286 (the master of Forbes did decyd and apoynt tuo rigis to Windis Eye).

2. To select for, assign to, a particular duty, etc.; to elect to office.1496 Ellis Orig. Lett. I. 23 (he has na wach … apoinctit to be about him). 1558-66 Knox II. 66 (he was appoyntit to haif assaultit the northwest quarter). 1584 Acts III. 302 (to appoint ane discreit man to be birnar of the treis). 1596 Dalr. I. 125/2 (our praedecessouris appoyntet sik magistratis). 1640 Kirkcudbright Min. Bk. 10 (the commissioneris are appoyntit in ilk paroche).

3. intr. To make an agreement or arrangement. 1456 Hay I. 141/14.
Gif a capitane … appointis with the king of Fraunce for vj frankis for ilke man 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 258.
Schir Iames Hamiltoun … appointit with the duke concernyng all materis variable betuix thame