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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.

Fidelité, -itie, n. Also: fidelitee, -ietie, -ytie, -ity, fidel(l)itté, fydelitie, -ytie, fied-, fidilietie, fedelietie, -ili(e)tie, -ality. [e.m.E. fidelitie, fydelyté (c 1500), F. fidelité, L.fidēlitas.]

1. Faithful allegiance or service; loyalty. Freq. in athe of fidelité.(1) 1456 Hay I. 126/16.
Sen thai have … maid him the athe of fidelitee 1510 Prestwick B. Rec. 42.
Adame Lepper … has maid the atht of fidelite to the gud toun 1550 Reg. Cupar A. II. 75.
Quhilkis tenentis sal … mak the ayth of fidelite to ws a1578 Pitsc. I. 28/25.
The … ambassadouris in his name gawe thair aithes of fedilitie to the king of France 1632 Peebles B. Rec. 372.
[The jailor] hes gevin his grit aith of fidelitie thairintill 1671 Forbes Baron Ct. 285.
[The] byrlawmen … hes givin thair oath of fedilitie that they sall trewlie … mak report(2) 1521 Liber Melros. 630.
Faitht, lauty, and fydelitie to … the King alanerlie excepit a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xix. 60.
I salbe ferme and stable To thy hienes with all fidelitie

b. Declaration of faithfulness or loyalty. 1596 Dalr. I. 145/6.
He was the first quha crauet fidelitie of his Nobilitie 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. Table 80.
He quha maries ane widow, sould make fidelity to the heire of hir first husband

2. Faithful conduct; religious faith. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 54/30.
That we mot knaw his invart religioun be his fidelitie … in externe materis c1568 Lauder Minor P. iii. 102.
Nor yit the gluttoun, quha fed delicius Could nocht be said to have fidelytie

3. Trust, credit, belief. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6289.
Ane knicht To his wyfes sawis gaue sic fidelitie That he was … hangit like ane theif