Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Devine, Dewine, a. Also: devyne, dewyne, devin, devein, dewein. [ME. devyne (Chaucer), devin(e, OF. devin, early var. of divin Divine a.] Divine, sacred, in various applications.

1. Of attributes, qualities, service, etc.(1) a1400 Leg. S. i. 269 (the micht of my dewine poware). 1490 Irland Mir. I. 150/22 (the devyne sapiens and wisdome). c1515 Asl. MS. I. 271/13 (befor the trone devyne). c1550 Rolland C. Venus iii. 467 (be law deuine); 1567 Sat. P. iii. 105 (Godis worde deuyne). Ib. 128 (be ordinance dewyne). a1585 Maitl. Q. xlv. 11 (the stering spreit … devyne). 1611 Annandale Corr. 15 (lawis both devin and humane). 1622-6 Bisset I. 89/13 (be the devyne prouidence).(2) 1474 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 31 (in augmentatioun of devyne seruice). c 1500 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. 259 (to the vphald of devin service). c1500-c1512 Dunb. x. 27 (and do ȝour observance devyne). 1533 Reg. Great S. 286/2 (for the uphalding of dewyne service). 1569 Prot. Bk. J. Scott (people convenit to devin seruice). 1581 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 407 (in tyme of devin serves, preching or prayeris). 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. 24 b (in tyme of dewein seruice).(3) 1531 Bell. Boece II. 105 (richt resolute in devine letteris). a1578 Pitsc. I. 80/13 (weill sene in devyne lettres).

2. Of the deity, spirits or persons.1490 Irland Mir. I. 5/2 (the gret and devin philosophoure Plato). Id. Asl. MS. I. 22/31 (before the devyne maieste). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxv. 32 (all the hevinly court devyne). 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 110 (lyke creaturis deuyne). 1585 James VI Ess. 20 (the deuine and illuster poete). 1642 Montgomery Mem. 294 (his devein majesty).