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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1599
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Commend, Comend, v. Also: cummeind. [ME. commend(e, comend(e (a 1340), L. commendāre.]
1. tr. To commit or consign; to make over (to or till one). a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxii. 225.
On hyre scho can lay The takyne of the croice verray, Commendant [hir] to Criste Ihesu c1420 Wynt. iv. 44.
Till hyr suete wyrgynyte This tretys I commend and me c1420 Ib. v. 815.
He … till hym comendyt hale Off his gret ost the governale c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace xi. 1338.
Hvmbly to God his spreyt he thar comend a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 1008.
Crist … His meike moder … Hertlie commendit to Jhon the ewangelist a1499 Ib. 1065.
His spreit [he] commendit vnto his faderis cure c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1273.
To thé my querrell I do commend 1558 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 124.
To quham, … he commendit his flok and congregatioun
b. To recommend (oneself) to another's kindly remembrance. a1500 Doug. King Hart 914.
To Rere-Supper, be he amang that route, Ȝe me commend c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxv. 3.
We that ar heir in hevins glory To ȝou that ar in purgatory Commendis ws on our hairtly wyis c1500-c1512 Ib. xlii. 4.
Till hir … I me commend … Intill hir bandoun for to rest 15.. Clariodus i. 608.
Then courteslie he tuike his leave and wend, To lord and lady oft doing him commend a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xxxix. 108.
I me commend vnto ȝour nobill grace c 1584 Maxwell Mem. II. 154.
Em, I cummeind me to ȝow
2. To speak of with approbation; to praise. 1375 Barb. x. 296.
Off all vertwis maid was he. I will commend him heir no mar a1400 Legends of the Saints x. 365.
Thane matrimone he can commend c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2189.
Nestor commendit nocht Thare counsale c1420 Wynt. iv. 418.
Quhen the lyffe off man tais end, Than is tyme hym to comend c1420 Ib. v. 2216.
He suld be welle alowyde And commendyt wyth thaim 1456 Hay II. 148/7.
His wit [is] mare prisit … and his jugement mare commendit c1420 Ratis Raving 1569.
Thai thretty ȝe.r are to comende, Fore thai ar gud at athir ende c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ix. 1909.
The wyt of Frans thocht Wallace to commend a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 74.
That … philosophoure Four thingis commendit accordand for a king c1515 Asloan MS I. 217/13.
He tuke the portar & wan the ouyr balȝe … and was commendit for his takin c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 347.
His greit courage he did commend 1562-3 Winȝet II. 82/3.
He is naway to be reprocheit, bot gretumlie to be commendit thairfor a1585 Maitland Quarto MS lxviii. 5.
Catullus Verone did commend as his native countrie 1596 Dalr. I. 126/12.
The maist notable men, and best commendet in justice and prudencie
b. With complement: To praise as something. c1420 Wynt. vi. 382.
The sentens off Boes, That a wys clerk commendyt wes c1420 Ib. vii. 3526.
Lytill Jhon and Robyne Hude Waythmen ware commendyd gud
3. To recommend, advise. a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 198.
Eike I commend ay or ȝe gif sentens … To counsall call … gud consciens 1562-3 Winȝet I. 120/33.
Feruentlie commendand ws peace and concord 1596 Dalr. I. 134/30.
He wil … gyue place to the lawful ȝouth … quhome lykwyse he commendet to the senat and to the people
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"Commend v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/commend_v>
