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.
Esperance, Esperaunce, n. Also: espirance. [ME. esperaunce (c 1430), OF. esperance. In later use chiefly Sc.] Hope.1456 Hay II. 53/16.
Clerkis be esperaunce traistis to have the joy of hevyn Ib. 25.
Esperance gevis knychtis curage to kepe and defend citeis a1500 Henr. III. 103.
Hir slevis suld be of esperance, To keip hir fra dispair 1533 Bell. Livy I. 298/4.
Howbeit thai war vode of all gude esperance 1553 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 41.
My suyr traist and esperance is onelie in ȝour grace a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxi. 12.
I flow from houp to feir, from feir till esperance 1622-6 Bisset I. 50/21.
Ȝe ar the onlie esperance of oure realme
b. Const. of (the thing hoped for).1490 Irland Mir. I. 49/4.
We suld euir life in hope and esperaunce of the mercy of God Id. Asl. MS. I. 61/24.
Hope and esperance of lang lyf 1531 Bell. Boece I. 2.
Apperit thus na esperance of liberte to the said pepill 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1074.
Of his grace I haue gude esperance 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 38.
So remained Huntlie, and his factione, … in esperance of men of weir to be raised 1637 Rothes Affairs Kirk 26.
In esperance of the promised hearing
c. Const. to (with inf.) or that.1490 Irland Mir. I. 25/34.
He gevis ws hop, traist and esperaunce to impetrat and get all that we will desyre 1533 Boece ix. xi. 314.
Ȝe may haue grete esperance that his grace salbe … propiciant to this kinrik 1566 Reg. Privy C. I. 431.
Nor yit haif thai ony espirance to recovir the rest 1570 Sat. P. xvi 14.
He garris the tane put esperance Thay will get daylie help of France a1605 Montg. Son. xlii. 8.
Aspyre I sall, in esperance to speid a1651 Calderwood III. 9.
He … ever stood in assured hope and esperance to recover his owne rowme
