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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.

Exemple, Exempil(l, n. Also: exempyll, -ile. [ME. exemple (Chaucer), OF. exemple, L. exemplum. Rare in ME. but common in Sc.]

1. = Example n. 1.(a) c1420 Ratis R. 247.
As I sal the exemple tell, That Gothra the Bulȝone fell 1490 Irland Mir. I. 56/15.
The exemplis of the haly writ and haly men puttis all trubile away 1513 Doug. xi. Prol. 5.
Weill auchtin eldris exemplis ws to steir c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 125.
Ȝour exemple mak be me 1562-3 Winȝet II. 3/1.
Amangis the mony comfortable exemplis of the haly Scriptuir 1585 James VI Ess. 57.
As for exemple, that ȝe make not proue and reproue ryme together 1615 Mure Misc. P. xiv. 16.
Quho wischeth that this wretches fait May giwe exemple wnto ewery stait(b) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 5/15.
To gif kingis … exempill hou thai suld … gouerne thar pepill 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 256.
The … symylitudis and exempilis all Quharin Virgill beris the palm 1531 Bell. Boece I. 199.
Young men, be his wikit exempil, war ilk day mair drownit in lust c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3264.
Sic kyngis I discommend at all, Exempyll of Sardanapall 1567 G. Ball. 181.
All the exempillis of the Law Ar writtin … For our saikis a1585 Maitl. Q. xxv. 184.
Of loue maist leill … exempill wes Thisbe

2. a. To tak exemple = Example n. 2 a. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1647.
Exempill tak be thir jolie flouris Rycht sweit of smell 1535 Stewart 29989.
That euerie man … Wisdome may leir, and suith exempill tak Honour to win 1573 Sat. P. xl. 314.
Taking exempill of this propheit plane

b. In exemple of = Example n. 2 b. 1476 Acta Aud. 42/1.
To … ger ane officiar stryke him throw the hande … in exemple of punitioun of sic lyke cryme 1578 Inverness B. Rec. I. 264.
To be banneist of this burcht and brynt on the cheikis in exempill of vtheris 1623 Falkirk Par. Rec. I. 39.
Sche salbe requyrit … to humblie confess … hir … falt, to the glorie of God and exempill to utheris to comitt the lyk