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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.

Consait, Consate, n. Also: consayt; conseit, -set, -seate. [ME. consayte, conseyt(e, -seit(e, etc. (late 14th c.), variant of conceite, etc., Conceat n.]

1. A device or scheme; a stratagem. c1420 Wynt. vi. 1259.
Be sum consayt yhit than agayne The Empryowre wald he had bene slayne 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2866.
He vmbethocht him self of ane consait … to taint thame with ane trane a1578 Pitsc. I. 18/27.
With ane merwellous conseit scho hes taine away hir sone and brocht him now to ws

2. An idea, thought, fancy.(a) c1420 Wynt. viii. 2876.
The Brws than be this payment Consayt had off the Erlys intent 1491 Acta Conc. 173/1.
For the quhilk [cause] thai tuk ane consait of suspicioune of the said mater a1500 Colk. Sow iii. 83.
As oft woman is, Quhile passionat that all consaitis kennis 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 338.
Als oft as ȝe hym reid, … Ȝhe fynd ilke tyme sum mery new consait Ib. x. 37.
Hark my consait, quhat wys this may be done 1549 Compl. 6/31.
I … hes tane ane temerare consait to present to ȝour nobil grace ane tracteit 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2828.
Now I haue tane in thocht Ane gude consait a1568 Scott xxvi. 3.
I muse and mervellis … Quhat way to wryt … The quent consaitis of wemenkynd a1578 Pitsc. I. 87/1.
Thir mutuall iniurieis and dispytfull consaittis movit on ewerie syde exasperit baitht the parties 1622-6 Bisset I. 64/2.
All the said Makbaithis devillische consaittis wes overthrawin(b) 1513 Doug. v. Prol. 16.
Quhou mony hedis als feil consatis beyn 1533 Boece iv. xvi. 151 b.
I haue ane gude consate that this iournay … sall this day deliuer all Britan to liberte 1533 Bell. Livy I. 206/17.
The vane beleif of thir and siclike consatis armyt the Ethruschis aganis the Romanis(c) a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxx. 33.
Lo heir a toy and licht conset And loveris new devyce, Both for the auld and sage vnfet 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xvi.
That not onely for a religious respect were they separated from the places of God, but in a politick conseate also from their owne

b. An idea or opinion of one. 1533 Boece vi. vi. 196 b.
The king … enbraissing Carance … exhortit he suld of him haue gude consate Ib. vii. i. 220 b.
That the pepill mycht haue ane consate and opinioun of his nobilite, he gaif him to be manerlie and curtes in cumpany a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xciv. 74.
Be na dansar, for this dangeir Off ȝou be tane ane ill consait That ȝe ar able to waist geir 1579 Acts III. 176/1.
To put ȝow in suspitioun and wrang consait of thame that hes euir faythfullie seruit ȝour progenitoris 1614 Lett. Eccles. Affairs II. 372.
His Lordschipis consait of me, whilk I neuer merited

c. A fanciful device; a fancy article. 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xxix.
To sit thair, On sick consaits to glaik 1608 Crim. Trials III. 11.
Haveing maid some consaitis of pastyme in the house 1673 Leith Customs MS. 48.
Some consaits of glase worke, shelues trenchers & spons

3. Power of thought, or imagination; intelligence, mind, judgement.(a) c1450-2 Howlat 284.
So that the spirituale staite And the secular consait Mycht all gang in a gait c1420 Ratis R. 140.
Heringe of thine eris twa That gevys consait to thé alsua a1500 Colk. Sow ii. 81.
He coppeit this ȝoing wench attentely In his consait with sad degestioun 1513 Doug. i. xi. 39.
Dydo … Mycht not refreyn nor satisfy hir consait Ib. ii. ii. 71.
Knawyng hym self gylty, by hys consait c1550 Rolland C. Venus iv. 652.
Thame to rehers it excedis my consait 1562-3 Winȝet II. 73/11.
Euery man efter his consait consauis sindry opiniounis a1578 Pitsc. I. 50/21.
This William, … creipand peace and peace in to the kingis consait, tairreit wpoun opertwnitie of tyme to be revengit wpoun his enemeis a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 944.
Na thing he saw In age, bot anger, slack and slaw, And cankerit of consait(b) 1513 Doug. vii. vi. 40.
With huge complaynt for … Troiane wedlok contrar hir consate Ib. xi. i. 42.
Provydand in ȝour consatis for bargane a1500 Colk. Sow i. 316.
Vthir sum in consate At leser drest to dance a1568 Scott i. 33.
Cast thy consate be counsale of the sage

b. In consate of, in the opinion of. In consate with, in favour with. Out of consate with, dissatisfied with. 1533 Boece i. i. 33 b.
The Grekis seing thare chiftane sa weill cherist, thai belevit him to be sa hie in consate of the king that [etc.] Ib. ix. i. 287.
Subtelly to be in consate with the king … he spend certane dayis in [preparing] serupis plesing to the taist 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 184.
I suspect thir lesyngis be maid to put ws out of consate with France