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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.

Commoun wele, Common weil, n. (For forms see Commoun a. and Wele n.) [e.m.E. commune we(a)le, ME. comyn, comen wele (c 1330).]

1. The good or welfare of the community or country as a whole.(a) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiv. 48.
Sa mony estait, for commoun weill sa quhene 1531 Bell. Boece I. 34.
He wald leif na thing undone that micht avance the commounweill Ib. 42.
In mair dammaige of our commoun weill, he hes [etc.] 1535 Stewart 1617.
His afald will, He schew that tyme thair for the commoun weill 1544 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 199.
The hail consell … ordanit Thomas Menȝeis … to ryd to Dundy to the lordis, for consultatioun to be maid for the commound weill 1560 Rolland Seven S. 747.
Caus it was the commoun weill, he durst not deny it 1570 Leslie 107.
To haif … the noble men unyt togiddir for the commoun weaill a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cvii. 10.
To helpe the commoun weill tak cure(b) 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 142.
That thai suld haif na occasioun to do agane the common wayll 1547 Elgin Rec. I. 91.
The vmcheving of the apperand schayth and damagh of the haill commond veill 1549 Compl. 112/31.
Ȝour particular veil is bot ane accessor of ȝour comont veil a1578 Pitsc. I. 34/6.
Ewerie man that servit the commone weill estemed him as ane manifest enemie 1596 Dalr. I. 2/2.
The historie quhilke I write to the vtilitie and proffite of the commone weil

2. The general good, welfare or profit of a country, town, etc.(a) 1517 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 169.
Quharthrow … the thesaurar in the tovnis name makis merkat for the commoun wele of the realme 1531 Bell. Boece I. 7.
The message … concernit the commounweil baith … of the Scottis of Spanye and Ireland 1535 Acts II. 349/1.
Gif the samin be spendit for the commoun wele of the burcht 1556 Mun. Univ. Glasg. I. 61.
The commowne weill of oure realme 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 22.
Sic thingis as seme … to redound to … rewyne of the haill commoun weill of Scotland 1580 Inverness B. Rec. I. 274.
Thingis … concernyng the commoun weill of the said burcht and nychtbouris and inhabitantis of the samyn 1600 Elgin Rec. II. 81.
Using sic insolens … as mycht brangill and hurt the estait of the commoun weill of this burgh(b) 1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 395.
For commond weill of owre sowerane lordis legis makand resort in … owre said burght 1543 Reg. Cupar A. II. 25.
The said Jonet, … sall defend the common wele and liberte of the realme, … and specealy the common wele of our said abbay 1552 Conv. Burghs I. 2.
It wes vnderstand … that the haill borrowis … suld convene … anis in the ȝeir to consult vpoun sic effaris and commone weillis of borrowis 1567 Ann. Banff II. 383.
To the wtilitie and commond weill of the said burcht a1578 Pitsc. I. 116/19.
I will … pray to God for ȝow and the common weill of this cuntrie 1637 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 301.
Their … amerciamentis and echeats … to vpetak and inbring to the commone weill and wtillitie of the saids crafts

3. A commonwealth. 1549 Compl. 16/5.
To vndirtak to correct the imperfectione of ane comont veil Ib. 44/36.
Perecles, quha hed the gouuerning of the comont veil of Athenes xxxvj ȝeiris 1560 Rolland Seven S. 14.
Thair commoun weill sa meruellous riche they maid 1570 Sat. P. xviii. 12.
Had thow bene hangit, … This commoun weill had borne the laurell blume a1578 Pitsc. I. 18/14.
Wicked limmaris and perturbaris of the commonweillis 1581 Cath. Tr. 148/31.
As in al commoneveil … thair is sum iudgis apoynted 1610 Melrose P. 78.
Your maiesteis most … faderlie regaird, towardis … everye waik … member of this commounweele 1629 Ann. Banff I. 61.
Mariorie Hay … was wardit … quhill scho suld find sufficient cautioun for hir Cristiane lyif in kirk and comowneweill