Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Institutio(u)n, n. Also: institutione, -utyowne, -ucioun, instytutioun, instetution. [ME. (c 1380) institucion, -tion, L. institūtio.]

1. The formal installing of a clergyman in possession of a benefice; investiture.Also, a formal record of such installation, as by notarial instrument. c1420 Wynt. vii. 722.
Na lawyd patrowne … suld gyve institutyowne Off byschaprykis or abbasyis 1525 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 222.
Ane baillie till pas and gif the said freir John … institution and possessioun [of the chaplainry] 1549 Prot. Bk. J. Crawford 38 b.
The bischop … tuk institution of the samyn be deliuerance to him of the mes bwk a1578 Pitsc. I. 287/6.
[He] past to St. Androis … to gif the bischope institutioun and possessioun of the said bishoperick a1633 Hope Major Pract. I. 23.
In ane action persewit be Mr Jhone Hay parsone at Killellan contra his parrochiners, the lords fand no proces upon the provision becaus the institution wes not producit 1635 Church Life S. Ronaldsay 20.
To go the nexte Sabbath and teache at the Kirke of Forteviot, and give him institution thereto in presence of the parishoniers 1662 Old Ross-shire I. 38.
Presentatione and precept of institution [granted to him by] John bishop of Ross [etc.] 1678 Wemyss Chart. 254.
We require yow … in presence of one notar and famous witnesses … [to] give institution to the said Mr Alexander Monro of the forsaid personage

2. Establishment, foundation. 1540 Acts II. 371/1.
The institutioun of the college of iustice 1578-9 Reg. Privy C. II. 84.
He appoints the toure of Trailtrow to be repairit, according to the first institutioun

3. a. The establishment of a Christian sacrament by Christ. 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 417.
[That they] trewly vse the sacramentis Efter Christis institutionis 1580 Cath. Tr. 48/16.
The oblation … did contravein to the institution of Christ 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 37 b.
All man may se that Caluenis instetution of this sacrament is … contrarious to Christis auin first instetution

b. The institution by Christ of any practice or doctrine. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 45.
All lawis … Inuentit be mennis traditioun, Contrar to Christis institutioun Ib. 5245.
Extolland thare traditionis Abufe Christis institutionis 1590 James VI in Scot Narr. 57.
The Kirk of Geneva ... keep Pasch and Yuille. ... What have they for them? They have no institution for them

4. An established law, custom, or usage in a community. 1563 St. A. Kirk S. 167.
To intret hyr accordyng to the ordinance and institucion of mariaige a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxi. 89.
In dreid sum strange new institutioun Cum and our custome put away Id. Ib. clxxiv. 80.
To … bring all thing agane in guid esteit Followand the first guid institutione 1596 Dalr. I. 53/11.
Because riches … lychtlie corruptes the godlie institutiounis of our elderis

5. Instruction. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 6/1; Ib. 20/5.
This booke of the institution [1603, instructiones] of a prince in … his calling

6. The appointment of an ‘institute’ (Institute n.²). 1681 Stair Inst. iii. viii. § 15.
The essential and chief point of a testament is the nomination of an heir, either by institution or substitution