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.
Quotation dates: 1456-1634
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Incur, v. Also: incurr, -cure, -courr, -cower; p.p. incurrat, inccurrit. [ME. (c 1430, but rare), e.m.E. (1530–1), L. incurrere.]
1. tr. To run into, to land in (something injurious or unpleasant).(1) 1456 Hay I. 238/27.
Thai incur the payne of inobeisance and synnis dedely 1519 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 190.
The personis … hes incurrit the panys contenit in the said act 1543 Edinb. Hammermen 161 b.
The said Johne incurrand the vnlaw for the inobediens done be him 1571 Bann. Memor. 67.
He … past to the horne, and also incurrit the said pane of tressone 1593 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I. 394.
The personis absent at the ceissing of the bell … to incure ane vnlaw 1607 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 33.
Gif the blude be drawin to incure the doubill payment 1614 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs II. 458.
Ilk burgh … negligent in publicating thairof to incure the penultie of ten marks 1634 Black Bk. Taymouth 389.
Gif they … be stowin guidis that they buy … they sall incure the penaltie of thair lyfe(2) a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 460.
Of truble the teynd I can nocht table That we incure be wicious warians 1490 Irland Mir. I. 143/22.
Be hire [sc. Eve] we haue incurrit gret dampnage and scaithe 1531 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 48.
Scho micht haue all dammage and enteres that scho has incurrit … be reson of brekin of the said contract 1557 Peebles B. Rec. 238.
[If] the saidis keparis … ding the saidis stirkis, quhairthrow thai incur ony skaith 1557 Ib. 242.
That thai incure na danger in thair necligence c1550 Rolland Court of Venus ii. 446.
Quhy sufferis thow ane creature mortall, For none defalt to incur sic vnrufe 1588 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 121.
To … incure grit expenssis, labour and pley thair throw 1596 Dalr. I. 96/3.
Excepte thay wil incur al manis danger and hauie offence(3) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 109/11.
Baithe he and all his linage suld incure thi ire and indignacioune 1533 Boece iv. xi. 142 b.
Julius … incurrit ane hevy maladie be ane catar 1533 Ib. vi. ii. 186 b.
Ȝe haue nowdir incurrit haterent na dishonoure c1552 Lynd. Mon. 476.
Without that we, throw lack of faith, Of his godheid incur the wraith c1550 Rolland Court of Venus iii. 149.
That I incur heir nouther schame nor lak a1578 Pitsc. I. 27/14.
Ellis but ony tryall … [thay] sould incur his danger or indignatione 1596 Dalr. II. 91/17.
The kirkmen incuret the hatred and inuie of the commoune peple c1615 Chron. Kings 27.
The Yrland men, fering to incower the haittreat of the Romanis
2. intr. To intervene. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3366.
Withowt that grittar materis do incure [: creatour], For ȝour plesour we sall devyse ane sport
3. intr. To come to notice, present itself, happen, occur. (Cf. Occur v.) 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 89.
I hawe send yow ane clarke off the signet vith syke newis as inccurrit for the present
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"Incur v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/incur>


