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.
Blis, Blys, v. Also: blise, blyse; p.t. and p.p. blissit, -id, blyssit, -yt, -yd, bleissit; blist(e. [ME. blis(s, blisse(n, blysse, var. of blesse(n, etc., Bles v. The change of vowel was prob. due to association with Blis n.]
1. tr. To bless.a1400 Leg. S. i. 429.
He can it ta, And blissit it Ib. xviii. 297.
It afferis thé To blyse … me c1420 Wynt. ii. 154.
God hym blyssyd specyally c1450-2 Howlat 243.
The Pape gaf his benesoun, and blissit thaim all a1500 Henr. Fab. 2571.
I sall gar my freindis blis ȝour banis Id. III. 153/85.
Thay sall blis ȝow, or ellis bittirly ȝow ban 1513 Doug. i. xi. 86.
The cowpe … Apon the burd scho blyssit Ib. xi. vii. 12.
With reuerens … blyssand the Goddis mycht Ib. xii. Prol. 304.
I … gan me blys, syne in my wedis dres 1533 Gau 21/28.
Thow sal … blis the nayme of God 1567 G. Ball. 20.
Blis vs, gude Lord, into thir giftis gude a1578 Pitsc. I. 414/14.
God sall ȝow blis that ȝe inhereit the land 1596 Dalr. I. 64/1.
A special benefite of God, quhairwith thay are bliste 1606 Highland P. III. 88.
I beseik God to blis ȝour hienes, with a long … ring 1661 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. 696/1.
I send you my blissing … which I houpe the Lord will blis wnto youabsol. c1475 Wall. ii. 292.
And so he told, thocht at thai blis or ban
b. Used in wishes or ejaculations.a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 814.
Abeoufe al wemen blist thou be c1450-2 Howlat 728.
Blissit mot thow be For thi barne teme! c1475 Wall. viii. 1644.
Blyssyt be thi fud 1489 Lennox Mun. 131.
This realme quhilk, blissit be God, has [etc.] c1515 Kennedy Asl. MS. II. 274/53.
Blist be thi sydis and wame … , blist be thy body all c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxviii. 8.
Tailȝouris and sowtaris, blist be ȝe a1570-86 Kennedy Maitl. F. lxxi. 15.
Bleissit be God, my ȝouthheid is away Ib. lvi. 54.
Blyssit be that natiuitas c1590 Fowler I. 183.
Blist be that houer 1643 Grant Chart. 236.
Blissid be God
2. To consecrate with a benediction.a1400 Leg. S. x. 422.
The apostil … thai madynnis all Blyssit, & gefe tham waile & pall c1420 Wynt. vii. 688.
Twa yhere thai let ourepas Or he confermyd, or blyssyd was 1489 Acta Aud. 134/2.
The said Dene Bernard is nocht as ȝit blissit nor confermit abbot of the said abbacy c1515 Asl. MS. I. 250/12.
Sanct Colme was monist be the angell to blis Aiadane
