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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.

Constrenȝe, -streinȝe, v. Also: -strenȝhe, -yhe, -streynȝe. [OF. constreign-, stem of constreindre, with nȝ for F. gn. Cf. complenȝe, chenȝe, fenȝe, etc.]

1. tr. = Constrene v. 1. 1453 Stirlings of Keir 225.
Nocht … compellit, na constrenyhete, bot of myn awyn pure … will 1456 Hay I. 103/22.
We suld nocht force na constrenȝe na mistrowaris … to trowe in our faith 1485 Peebles B. Rec. 192.
Euere man be his awn vox, nan constrenȝeit bot frely consentit [etc.] a1500 Bk. Chess 808.
Thir sympill folk ar by the law constrenȝeit 1490 Lennox Mun. 136.
Gif ony of thaim salbe constrenȝheit be neyde or othir ways to sell … ony of thar partis c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matt. v. 41.
Quhaeuir constrenyeis thee a thousand pasis Ib. xxvii. 32.
Thai constreynyeit him to tak his croce 1527 Lennox Mun. 228.
I wyll gif hir this of my awne fre wyll, nocht choakyt nor constrenȝeit be na man 1549 Compl. 32/11.
Oure cupidite constrenȝeis vs to desire prolongatione of oure dais Ib. 48/15. 1559 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 265.
I wes constreinȝit … to oppone my self to this wickit lymmaris heresie

2. = Constrene v. 2. 1456 Hay II. 123/14.
Than war it spedefull that he suld ete sum part of metis constrictives that war constrenȝeand