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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.

Compris(e, Comprys(e, v. Also: comprize, -preys. [ME. comprise, -pryse (early 15th c.), F. compris p.t. and p.p. of comprendre comprehend.]

1. tr. To comprehend, understand, grasp. a1400 Leg. S. xxxv. 6.
Fore scho wes of sic bewte That it ma nocht comprisit be c1420 Wynt. v. 4867.
Thai … lowyd ma goddys than nature Or ony wertu mycht comprys Ib. ix. Prol. 17.
Of this matere … I hard said on sa mony wys That al I couth noucht weil compris a1500 Colk. Sow i. 407.
That ilk knaue and ilk cust Comprysit Horlorehust 1513 Doug. xiii. viii. 15 (Sm).
Thai … in thar mynd comprysit his kyn maiste hie 15.. Clar. iv. 597.
It apeiris to me, That none ȝour bewtie did so fare compryse, Bot ȝe deservit more … To beine commendit

2. To include, comprise. 1385 Rotuli Sc. II. 73/2.
Gif thir specialx trewes likes to the erle of the Marche to be comprisit withtin thaime c1420 Wynt. ix. 1020.
Thre yheris trewis war takyn then, Qwhare in the Scottis men and the Kyng Ware comprysyd

3. To attach, to take by legal right, to distrain.(a) 1537 Glasgow Prot. IV. 115.
Faelying paement [in money, then] in landis and heritage to be comprisit for the said sum, … quhilk vj merk of anwell … is comprisit be his consent 1571 Lanark B. Rec. 56.
The clerk and the offecer to … tak and imbring the unlais of the absens … , for xl s., to be onforgevin and tain and comprisset for the said soum 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Attachiament.
The moveabill gudes perteining to the debtour suld be first discussed, thereafter his lands and immoveabill gudes may be comprised 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1671) 132.
I will think it no bondage to be rooped, comprised and possessed by Christ, as his bondman 1652 Lamont Diary 50.
All that Mr. Patrick Glasfoord, in Cuper, had was comprised for debt 1683 Wodrow MSS. XXXVII. No. 6.
They … came with men to comprize his goodis(b) 1572 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 9.
The reddiest of the geir and guidis of thame that … dissobeyis to be poyndit and comprysit thairfoir 1588 Waus Corr. II. 425.
Gif they refuis, gar tak thair geir, and caus comprys thame, and tak the geir comprysit, and sell the same 1622-6 Bisset I. 250/22. Ib. 27.
Gif the landis comprysed war haldin frie burgaige 1625 Bk. Carlaverock II. 71.
Our landis ar not onlie comprysit, bot we ar denuncet his Majesteis rebellis c 1638 Tract. Leg. Naval. 57 b.
And failȝieing of these moveable godes that yee compryse (so it be for ane liquid soume) ther landes and heritages 1649 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 471.
Within fyftene dayes [they] did poynd the said Frances his guidis and geir and comprysed the same on the ground and at the mercate croce 1668 Forbes Baron Ct. 274.
It is … ordained that the said … sall tack poyndis, comprys thair cornes … vithout brak of the said la[w]burrous

4. To appraise, value. 1564 Ham. & Campsie Test. I. 21.
The … comprysaris comprysit the hale gudis and geir inwith the hous 1576 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 28.
Vnto the tyme that the baillies … comprysit the samin [beiff], and putt ane competent pryce thairon 1605 Glasgow Weavers 3.
Give it beis fund wnsufficientlie wrocht … it salbe leasum to thame to compryse the same in the craftismanis handis 1610 Logie Par. Hist. I. 66.
As to my buikis, I ordane thame to be sichtit … and comprisit by my faithfull brother, Mr John Gillaspie 1632 Peebles Gleanings 127.
Gevin to the compryssers who compryssit the corne that was eatten … on Hammiltoun hill 1636 Urie Baron Ct. 79.
The barlaw men sall visseit and compryse that hous … what it is furthe to be worthe at hir deceas 1650 Dundee Chart. 174.
To pas to the ground of the saidis landis, and thair to compreys the saidis haill houses, quhat these are worth 1671 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II. 35.
He caused honest men comprise it and the price was but six pounds