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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.

Fine, Fyne, n. Also: fyn, fyine, fin. [ME. fyn(e, fine, fin (c 1200), OF.fin, L. finis.]

1 End, finish, termination, conclusion. a1400 Leg. S. v. 120.
To tyne The joy, that ma neuir haf fyne c1420 Wynt. v. 3529.
[Thai] wers sa efftyr wers suld say … And Gloria Patri at the fyne a1500 Lanc. 1388.
Deth that neuer shal haf fyne 1513 Doug. v. iv. 152.
Be hys wordis warryn brocht to fyne, … Hys prayeris war except 1533 Boece ii. iv. 89 b.
Ane litill before the fyne of his life Ib. iii. vii. 101.
Of King Evene this was the fyne 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 209.
Geue ȝeindure vnto ȝour fyne 1600 Crim. Trials II. 284.
With Godis grace we sall bring our matter till ane fine

2. Final issue or settlement; result.(a) c1420 Wynt. iv. 312.
Quhat kyne fine Last suld fall off that discorde 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. iii.
Schawand the fine of vicius and virtewis leiffing Ib. II. 48.
To bring his purpos to gud fine 1560 Rolland Seven S. 575.
Thay … wist not quhat wald be the latter fine 1602 Colville Parænese 35.
Thai bot abuse thair self if thai attend any better firmitie or fin(b) 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 203.
We se that euirilk natur of thing cummys to the fyn and perfeccioun that it is ordand for 1513 Doug. i. x. 28.
To quhat fyne … it dredis me Sall turn this plesand gestnyng 1549 Compl. 83/23.
Desyrand to knau the fyne of the veyris … betuix hym and kyng Cirus 1597 in Calderwood V. 667.
Which may bring things yitt to a good fyne and end

3. The end in view; aim, purpose, or object. Freq. with quhat or that.(1) 1456 Hay II. 18/17.
To quhat purpos it was ordanyt, to quhat fyne and quhat entencioun 1513 Doug. ii. iii. 10.
Onto quhat fyne this huge hors was heir … beildit vp 1533 Bell. Livy I. 28/14.
To quhat purpois or fyne Romulus had proclamit ane general refuge c1550 Rolland C. Venus iii. 201.
To quhat effect traist ȝe, or to quhat fine? 1569-73 Bann. Mem. 144.
Hes thow not vsit the said castle … to ane vther vse and fyne nor it was appointed(2) 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 130.
Quhen … thou … luffis ony to that fyne quharby [etc.] 1533 Bell. Livy I. 66/24.
Howbeit I dissimillit, … ȝitthe samyn was done to that fyne [etc.] 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 35.
To that fyne that thay may saciat … thair botumles couatise 1622-6 Bisset I. 45/30.
To that fyne, and end, that thai may the mair easelie serve God

4. An extremity. 1596 Dalr. I. 114/32.
This farther may be consideret, our king nevir to that fine at ony tyme to haue beine brocht

5. To mak (a) fine, to compound, settle. 14.. Acts I. 5/2.
Thai that hingit hym sal mak fine with the kyng 1622-6 Bisset II. 257/12.
They be haldin … to mak ane fyne at the verdese of ane of the maryneris