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.

Complene, Complein, v. Also: complen, compleyn(e, compline, compleane. [Variant of Complain v. Cf. chene, contene, fene, etc.]

1. intr. To complain, make a complaint.(a) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1032.
Complenand thus to God omnipotent 1489 Reg. Great S. 120/1.
Anentis the outlandis folkis that the said masteris complenit apon c1500 Fyve Bestes 378.
I can nocht fabillis fene, Bot for the commoun proffet I complene c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxv. 6.
Off Fortoun I complenit hevely Ib. xl. 3.
The tane cowth to the tother complene 1513 Doug. i. viii. 118.
Thai murmuryt and complenyt all at anys 1532 Carnwath Baron Ct. 71.
Schir Hew complenit … that he had schorn a but of corn of his and had it away 1566 Peebles B. Rec. 303.
Gif ony nebur … hes just actioun to complen, that thai ma be haird a1568 Scott xxxi. 35.
This is the quhy And caus that I Complene so peteously c1575 Balfour Pract. 301.
Quhairby the defender is compellit … to compeir in judgment … be the partie complenand upon him a1605 Montg. Son. xiv. 1.
Help, Prince, to vhom, on vhom not I complene 1608 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 325.
Quhatsumeuir persone or persones complenis on vtheris(b) a1400 Leg. S. xlvii. 52.
Scho compleynit of the gret offence That he did hir c1475 Wall. ii. 216.
Compleyn, sanctis, thus as ȝour sedull tellis Ib. 223.
Compleyne also, yhe birdis 1513 Doug. xiii. iii. 29.
The remanent … with gret ȝowlyng doith compleyn and meyn 1571 Misc. Bann. C. III. 122.
Letters … compleining on the Erle Lenox for the putting of thais two Erles in vaird 1596 Dalr. I. 64/11.
To the doctour of medicine … na man compleines or makes his mane 1616 Highland P. III. 304.
He appeired to complein that you wer his wnfreind(c) 1558-66 Knox II. 383.
Lett wyese men read, and then accuse us, yf without cause we compleane 1572 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 256.
Mr George Hay, Commissioner of Aberdeen, was compleand upon … as to the Commissionarie 1583 Sat. P. xlv. 217.
To Maister Wyndrome they compleanet 1609 Highland P. III. 117.
I oftymes compleaned of the insolence and heavye oppressioune committed vpoun me 1630 Kirkcaldy Presb. 6.
Compeirit Patrik Murray … compleaning upon George Arnett … for wrangeous possession [etc.] 1668 Corshill Baron Ct. 78.
Jonet Armor … compleaned vpon Williame Wyllie … for … abuseing of her with stroakis(d) 1622-6 Bisset I. 119/15.
The persone complinand salbe punisched with all regour 1659 Blairs P. 88.
If it ware, they walde perhaps compline more at that

2. tr. To complain of, upon, or against; to lament. 1490 Paisley B. Rec. 39.
It is menit and complenit to us of lait … that [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxi. 1.
Quhome to sall I complene my wo? 1513 Doug. i. iv. 108.
Now Amycus harm complenys he 1531 Bell. Boece I. 100.
Aulus Plancius … began to … send letteris complening the falset of Britonis Id. Livy I. 280/10.
Thre legatis [came] … complenyng the iniuris done be the Equis 1549 Compl. 126/11.
I complein and murmyris ther crualte