A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Imagin(e, Ymagin(e, v. Also: imagyne, -ene, -ein, ymagyn(e, -ein. [ME. imagine (c 1426), ymagene (1377), -ine, -yn(e (1340), F. imaginer (1297), L. imāgināri, -āre.]
1. tr. To picture to oneself, conceive, imagine.a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 821.
Quha may ymagin the grevand gravité Of dedlie dome Ib. 1350. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 108/19.
We may ymagin the hie maieste in godheid … sittand for juge c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 390.
I … in mynd ane other man ymagynit that I haid 1549 Compl. 48/26.
Ȝe sal ymagyn ane lyne that passis throucht the spere 1551 Hamilton Cat. 134.
God forbid that we ymagein God to be ane makar of his workis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6554.
We thairfoir sall die The maist vyle deid that can imaginit be
b. To consider, ponder.Also intr.1535 Stewart 31086.
The watchis … Grit wonder had vpone that cors to luke, .. Imaginand than quhat that cors suld meneintr.1549 Compl. 7/5.
Ymaginant vitht in the cabinet of my interior thochtis
2. To devise, as a fiction; to fabricate, invent.1549 Compl. 22/34.
Fortune is … ane vane consait ymaginet in the bartis of onfaythtful men 1562-3 Winȝet I. 83.
Note heir thai ar compellit to … imagein a Kirk inuisibil
3. To devise, think out, contrive, scheme, plot.1445 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 311.
To warn him … that sic thingis be ymaginit or spokin to be done againnis him 1456 Hay I. 259/19.
Gif a man chalangis his wyf that scho has ymagynit and devisit his dede c1460 Wisd. Sol. 360.
Thar is na wyt of man that can ymagyne na dewys to gyf a resone for al thingis that God has maid c1552 Lynd. Mon. 897.
Sathan, ..Imagenyng sum craftye wyle Quhow he mycht Adam best begyle 1568 Buch. Indict. 38.
Sche … euer … imaginit and devisit how to cut him away
b. intr. To take thought, cast about in the mind.1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 176.
Imagining … for sum defence In contrair sauage beistis
