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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.

Instant, adj. (adv.). Also: instantt, instand. [Late ME. instant (c 1477, Caxton), L. instans.]

1. Of the present time, present, contemporary, now in existence. a. Denoting the current year or month.In this sense app. much earlier in Scottish than in English use.(1) 1442 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 7.
The proffitt … of the said … custume of this instant yeir that cummis and for na langer 1491 Acta Aud. 158/1.
Nyne barellis … of this instant ȝeris proffitis of the said fisching 1494 Ib. 204/1.
The proffitis … of the landis … of this ȝere instant 1516 Rec. Earld. Orkney 91.
[He] passit to Ȝetland in the instant yeyr of the said Schir Dauidis disses 1553 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 336.
Summa of the … chandlers for this instant ȝeir 1574–5 Prestwick B. Rec. 75.
The … steilling … out of the saidis Jonnettis … kill this instant ȝeir 1597 Misc. Spald. C. II. 141.
To compeir … Vitsondayis ewin last, this instant yeir of God 15.. Ib. 31.
Chossin prowest ... and that for that instant yeir1649 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 107.(2) 1442 Coldingham Priory cliii. 139.
Writtyn … in Halis, the xiii day of this instant monthe of Aprill 1502–3 Treas. Acc. II. 202.
Fra the xxiiij day of August bipast to the xxiiij day of that instant moneth of Februar(3) 1544 Ex. Processes No. iii.
To compeir befoir thame … the secund day of September instant 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 27.
Bonar v. Sheriff of Perth. [They] hes laitlie upone the 16 day of Marche instant creuellie invadit [etc.] 1620 Ib. 180.
To ane certane day in the moneth of July instant

b. With ellipsis of the year or month. 1564 Reg. Morton I. ii.
To be into Edinbrhwite the xx day of this instand 1572 Prestwick B. Rec. 72.
Chosin to be thair … prowest for this instant John Vallace 1589 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 130.
As the said act of the dait the ferd instant beris 1595 Misc. Spald. C. II. 131.
Fra Sonday last, the auchtene of this instant 1648 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 140.
The said act … of … the tent day of this instant and inactit in this buik on the threttein day therof

c. In other applications.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2683.
This is the law, this is the instant gyis c 1570 Breadalbane Lett. (Reg. H.).
I heir thair is sum drynes instant beuix my lord & ȝow(2) 1513 Doug. xii. ii. 57.
At this tyme instant my messinger … my credens hecht to ber 1549 Compl. 121/15.
Kyng Alexander cam at that instant tyme quhen Darins vas in the … deitht thrau 1596 Crim. Trials I. ii. 376.
[They] wer all kepit at anis and at the same instant in waird ... and put [to] tortouris att the same instant tyme(3) 1552 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 483.
This crope instant is disponit 1558 Reg. Cupar A. II. 268.
[He] sall ere … Robertsonis land for this instant crope 1643 Misc. Spald. C. III. 146.
All … service silver [etc.] sall be given up as rent for this instant crope

2. a. Present, correlative of ‘absent’. b. Done at once, immediate, prompt.a. 1541 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 107.
[He] fand na contradictioun amangis the hale nychtbouris bot be tua personis, that is to say Hew Douglas and Gilbert Lauder than instant than present ganesayandb. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5602.
Angellis sall … bryng thame … And with one instant diligence Present thame to his excellence 1594 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 58.
To mak him ready ane instant paiment … of that sowme

3. a. Of things: Pressing, urgent; imminent, impending. b. Of persons: Pressing, insistent.a. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 62.
Gif me caus instant necessitie Termes to find Ib. 1225. 1533 Boece i. v. 44; Ib. ix. i. 286 b.
That this trubill of instant weris suld nocht haistelie supprise the pepill without ane cheif 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 233.
Haiffand respect of the grete hurt of the saidis mylnis now instant and apperandlie tocum thairto 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1284.
Beleuing na vther thing instant, Bot haistie deidb. a1500 Sir Eger 832.
Sir Grahame, Was right instant at the making 1521 Selkirk B. Ct. MS. 88 b.
At this Wotsondaye now instant 1591 Crim. Trials I. ii. 246.
Foure honest-like womene wer very ernist and instant to haif itt c 1600 Moysie 70.
The King wes werie instant with the lordis to have the erle of Arrane relewit of his waird 1632 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 371.
The lords wilbe verie instant to have that busines endit

4. adv. At this present moment, here and now. Cf. Instantly adv. 3. 1513 Doug. viii. iii. 185.
Accustom ȝou from thens and now instant Our tabillis as ȝour frendly burdis hant