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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.

Depute, Deput, v. (also p.t. and p.p.). [ME. depute p.p. (Wyclif) and v. (a 1440), OF. deputer, L. dēputāre.]

1. tr. To appoint, assign, ordain.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxi. 803.
Thai fand twenty thousand men & mare, … that … til heu maubre deputyt ware 1513 Doug. v. xii. 158.
Than al the folk, quhilk list bide in that land, … Thai deput, and thai ordand for this town a1578 Pitsc. I. 142/34.
Efter that he had takin the place to him and his folkis that was deputtit for thame(b) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 996.
Betuix twa theiffis thai deput him to de a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 93.
Silit he wes vnder schaddew of syn, Quhilk him deput euer with deid to duell(c) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 104/3.
This lady had a gret multitud of … angellis … ordand and deput for hir keping 1487 Acts II. 183/2.
That the said crovnaris sal haue davntit hors depute to werk & nocht to the sadill a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 809.
With ewill men he is deput to pyne 1513 Doug. vi. ix. 180.
Quhat sort of pane is deput ay For ilk trespas 1533 Bell. Livy II. 209/24.
The auld men, knawing thame self assignit and depute to the deith 1586 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 459.
That the saidis ministeris and bretherein sall haif deput and assignet vnto thame ane sufficient tempill

2. To appoint (a person) as one's substitute or representative, or to act in some official capacity.(a) 1461 Liber Plusc. 393.
Sic men as thou deputis vnder thé, … Al men wil traist that sic lyk man thou be 1465 Lennox Mun. 78.
We haue gevin to … Iohnne Lorde Dernle, [power] … to mak and deput vndir him, connestablis, portaris, wachemen, garitouris 1487 Acts II. 182/2.
That his hieness deput … ane vthir [man] to be wissar & changeour 1503 Ib. 242/2.
At the kingis hienes deput … certan cersouris in euerilk toun, quhilk is ane port, quhilk sal haue power to cerss the salaris [etc.] 1516 Reg. Privy S. I. 4391.
Gevand him powar portaris, gevillouris, and all utheris officiaris necessar for the keping of the said castell to deput c1550 Rolland C. Venus i. 908.
I most deput ane iuge mair competent 1560 Reg. Privy S. MS. XXX. 39.
The said Thomas to depute and … substitute vnder him deputis ane or ma for the trew exerceing and vsing of the said office of custumarie(b) a1400 Leg. S. xli. 250.
The prefet … deput in his sted thare, The law to hald thaim, a vicare c1420 Wynt. vii. 1173.
Als he depute hys counsale The erle of Fyfe mast specyale c1550 Rolland C. Venus i. 761.
Thay … Deput ane to gif diffinitiue Answer agane with all thair haill consent(c) 1440 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 193.
Thir arre the names of thaim … depute be the hale generale counsaile apon this and othiris diuers materies 1466 Misc. Spald. C. IV. 180.
Thai sail be decidit and determinit be thre of thar weilset consaell on athyr syde, deput and chosine thairto 1473–4 Treas. Acc. I. i.
Compt of … Iohnne bischope of Glasgow, thesaurare, … before … noble lordis of oure sad Souerane Lordis counsale, be his hienes specialie deput and ordanit thairto 1513 Doug. ix. iv. 15.
Thame Eneas, at his departyng, Had deput rewlaris to his ȝong son deir 1525 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 222.
Without thai haif command thairto be the sersouris ordanit and deput for the samyn 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 206.
To pas to sa money of the eldaris as salbe deput to syt together for that purpos 1579 Conv. Burghs I. 86.
The haill commissioneris … hes depute and chosin thir personis … as iugis for Hadingtoun 1599 Ib. II. 48.
We haue thocht expedient … that ane of our awin sal be depute to mak residence at Londoun as conseruatour of our preuelegeis