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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Delyt(e, Delit(e, v. Also: dellyte, delitt. [ME. delyte, delite, -liten (a 1225), OF. delitier.]

1. refl. To give (oneself) lively pleasure or enjoyment; to enjoy (oneself) greatly. a1400 Leg. S. i. 640.
Is thu nocht he That sa gretly delittis thé In wemen [etc.] 1456 Hay I. 78/27.
The tane delytis him in all pes, the tothir all in were Ib. II. 97/7.
Gyf thou will delyte thé in syk plesaunces c1460 Thewis Wysmen 343.
Wysmen delitis thaim euer in wyt a1568 Scott xiii. 8.
Sum luvaris thame delytis till indyte Fair facound speich 1570 Maitl. F. xxix. 128.
I … me delyte in modest schamefastnes

2. intr. To take great pleasure, to enjoy greatly.(a) c1420 Wynt. i. 249.
Twbalkayin delytyt … to wyrk mettalle 1456 Hay I. 78/31.
The tane delytis to rys tymely, the tothir to slepe lang a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 456.
Quhar God delytis to mak his residens c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxvii. 12.
Thairfoir I pray ȝow … Not to delyt in daynteis seir 1560 Acts II. 534/2.
Sik as now delyte in vanitie, creueltie … or idolatrie a1578 Pitsc. I. 163/3.
He … delytit mair in musik … nor he did in the goverment of his realme 1600 Rep. Menzies MSS. 11.
The disordourit and brokin men … quha delytis in … murthor(b) c1460 Thewis Wysmen 22.
Quha conselys wysdome or wyt And nochit delitis to tech of it a1500 Bernardus 77.
Qwhat man delitis … On glotony to waste 1533 Gau 29/16.
This is my deir sone in quhom I delit 1531 Bell. Boece I. 198.
Deliting in doctrine of letterit men 1587-99 Hume Introd. 6.
Greatumly to delite in poesie

3. tr. To give (one) pleasure; to please highly. 1513 Doug. iv. vi. 136.
Gif thé of Cartage the burgh … Delytis 1562-3 Winȝet II. 55/25.
Leir it … secreitlie, for it sal delyte ȝow