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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.

Inimy, Inymy, n. Also: inimi, innimy, -ie; inymie, innymy, -ie. [Common Sc. variant of Enemy n. Cf. Inemy.]

1. An enemy, a foe. a. A military enemy. c1420 Wynt. ii. 388.
He … on thame threpyt thai ware spyis Or to the Kyng kyd innymys Ib. iv. 711.
For tyll assayle thare inymys 1456 Hay I. 83/29.
He that bydis his inymy in felde Ib. 232/9.
All men of were ar free to do thair spede apon the kingis inymyes, but excepcioun of lytill or mekle inymy

b. An adversary, opponent, in general. c1400 Troy-bk. i. 422.
Hyr innymyis als in-to the see … Scho wald rase wedderis one thame 1456 Hay I. 17/6.
Sanct Augustyne … with mony othir quhilkis warrayd the inymyes of the faith Ib. 187/29.
We have nane samekle a fa … as a familier inymy a1500 Bernardus 132.
Geff that it happynnis … Thé for to haf a dedly inimy 1533 Gau 86/12.
That ve mak noth Thé our inime Ib. 94/29.
The deuil … quhilk is our crwel inimi 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 448.
Neuer to rewele … the secreits … of this guyd toun … to ewaid … trubill of thair innymeis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 78/7.
Christis grete mercy schawin to His inimeis

c. Used in apposition in sing. without article, usu. const. to or till. 1456 Hay I. 6/33.
Quhare he is ȝit principale inymy till all mankynde Ib. 227/19.
Sen he was inymy in his hele 1461 Liber Plusc. I. 395.
Couatice, The quhilk to law is mortale inymy 1522 Douglas Corr. 83.
The Duke of Albany … is capitalle and dedelie inimye to me

d. As a collective: The hostile force, the enemy. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xviii. 31.
Ȝe will … Mak weir on thame as commoun inimie 1622-6 Bisset II. 237/16.
Albeit throw cuming of sum schipis, the innimie rander to ane, quhome with they conbat

2. In specific uses. a. pl. The English. Usually our auld inymeis. c1420 Wynt. viii. 3020.
Be … fals suggestyowne That was made hym … Be oure capytale innymys 1513 Acta Conc. MS. XXVI. 12.
That balis be maid apon all partis of the bordouris … for warnyng … of thar innimyis 1517 Reg. Privy S. I. 447/1.
[He] anerdis to the auld innimys of Ingland 1545 Stirlings of Keir 393.
For saifty … furth of the landis of oure auld inymies of Ingland 1548 Melrose Reg. Rec. III. 220.
Our said Abbay … brint be our auld inymeis of Ingland 1550 Dundee Chart. No. 53.
Throu the greit heirschippis and douncastis … thai haif gottin be oure saidis auld inymeis

b. pl. The inymyes of God, Goddis inymyes, usu. = the Saracens, the infidels. c1420 Wynt. vii. 3146.
Lowys To werray Goddys innymyis Passyd in till the Haly Land 1456 Hay I. 170/5.
Quhen the peple of God suld have fouchtyn with the inymyes of God of the generacioun of Benjamyn Ib. 187/22.
Gif that haly kirk may move were agaynis the Jowis, Goddis inymyes c1510 Prester John 310.
Tyll distroye be batell the innymeis of this faitht ve propone tyll wesy the graif our lorde Jesu Christ, … till expung his inimeis

c. The inymy of man(kind), the Devil. 1456 Hay II. 5/28.
Betuix him and the inymy of mankynde 1622-6 Bisset I. 26/37.
The prydefull innimie of man … that causit the … law of God to be brekin