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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.

Impugn(e, Impung, v. Also: impuing, impungne, impugene; inpung, -pungn(e. [ME. impugne (1415), inpugne (1362), -pungne, F. impugner, L. impugnāre, to attack, assail.]

1. tr. To question the truth or validity of. a. To raise objections to (a legal document, etc.) as false or invalid. 1478 Acta Aud. 84/2.
The lordis … assignis … the x day of Maij … to fals and inpung the said instrument ciuily 1496 Acta Conc. II. 19.
The saide Wilȝeam had na place til impung the sade assignacione nor say agane the sammyn 1535 Acts II. 349/1.
All thai quha likis to cum for examyng of the saidis comptis that thai may argwn and impugne the samin 15.. Clar. iv. 2503.
Nothing we can ȝour speache as now impunge [: tonge]

b. To question or deny the truth or accuracy of (a statement, doctrine, etc.).(a) 1535 Stewart 59947.
Maister Johnne Frossard … Quhais sentence is nocht for to impung [: toung] 1613 Misc. Spald. C. V. 217.
It was ordanit … that quhatsumeuer he be that impungis ony manis aith … he sall pay … tene pound 1622-6 Bisset II. 398/7.
Quhilk manefestlie impunges the certantie of this allegeance(b) 1558 Q. Kennedy Tract. 118.
Thair is nocht ane article of oure faith bot it hes bene impugnit and brocht in dout be heretikis 1568 Lyndesay Pref. 6.
He steirit up the auld … doctouris to impugne and stranglie to confute all heresyis 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 284.
Sathan wantis not his servantis to impugne the truth 1619 Garden Elphinston 1626.
Thair aduersars' opinions They publicklie impugne

c. absol. and intr.(1) 1501–2 Acta Conc. III. 127.
To propone, allege, obiect, impugn or impreif aganis the sadis chartir 1521 Fife Sheriff Ct. 216.
Thar come na persone to obiect nor impung incontrare the said preuis 1585 Acts III. 386/2.
That na … persoun … pretend to argun, impung, trauell … or lawbour for the … abrogatioun or derogatioun thairof [sc. of the statute](2) 1562 Q. Kennedy Ressoning 14.
It is ȝour pairt to impung, and myne to defend

2. To question the propriety of, censure, oppose, assail (a proceeding, state of affairs, etc.).(a) 1535 Stewart 111.
Preis thé nocht my purpois till impung [: toung] 1549 Compl. 12/19.
Quhou beit that detractione be … reddy … tyl impung ane verteous verk 1596 Dalr. II. 158/11.
Mairouer sche began to impung quhat perteynet to the Duke 16.. Herries Mem. 1.
This commission was mightily impunged 1654 Lanark B. Rec. 154.
He micht be hard to quarell and impung the saids lichts(b) 1540 Acts II. 370/1.
That na maner of persoune argvne nor impugn the papis autorite 1588 King Cat. 162.
Thame quha impugnes and dispraises the law of the fasting 1596 Dalr. II. 382/2.
The religioune quhilk impugnet tha had afore, now tha be vttirlie to put it away 1656 Lanark B. Rec. II. 156.
But prejudice … to the baillies to quarrell and impugene [v.r., p. 157, impuing] any libertie or commoditie usit by the saidis tredis

3. To cast imputations upon, assail, accuse (a person). c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1045.
And Anthenore that wele gan se Hym of Agamenone to be Impungned and of vtheres sere Of Gregeois [L. ab Agamenone et alijs Grecorum regibus pregrauari] 1533 Bell. Livy I. 302/23.
He had na litill admiration how … it was happynnyt that thir ten men suld be impugnit [v.r. inpungnit] 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 13.
Quho dar presume thir poetis tyll impung Quhose sweit sentence throuch Albione bene song?