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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.

Large-, Lairge-, Larg-, Lairgnes, n. Also: largines, largisnes, lergenes, largnas. [ME. and e.m.E. largenes(se (Cursor M.); f. Larg a., Large a.]

1. Liberality, generosity. ?1438 Alex. ii. 2131.
Alexander de Lere, quhare all largenes [F. largesce] Florisheth and spredis in all noblenes Ib. 3142.
Ȝour courtasy and ȝour largnes [F. largeté] Is bot mesure c1475 Wall. x. 575.
In thé lawte, in thé was gret largnas a1500 Bernardus 97.
Largenes thow tak … For he cane spende in tym and do na skatht a1500 Seven S. 1693.
Thai askit gold and that thai gaf … with all largenes c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlvi. 84.
Luve makis wrechis full of lergenes [M. largnes] c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 95 b/4.
To put his lergnes to preif For lerges of this New Ȝeirday Id. Cron. 35051.
Helplike he wes to euerie man in neid, Full of largnes and liberalitie Ib. 51656.

2. a. Extensiveness, spaciousness; extent, breadth, width c1420 Wynt. vii. 878 (A).
[Swylk a cloystyr as than was Noucht swylk] as now in largisnes [C. largenes] 1427 Acts II. 15/1.
Swa that … thare be sende chosyn … twa or ma wismen efter the largenes of the schirefdome 1488 Ib. 211/1.
As anent the cruffis in fresche wateris that thai be maid of sic largines … as is contenit in the actis 1549 Compl. 56/2.
The space or largenes … betuix his tua een 15.. Clar. v. 1779.
The triumph hall … On lenth and breid [on] height and [on] lairgnes Of riche apparralling 1580-92 James VI Lusus Reg. 45.
This lairgenes & this breadth so long, this hienes so profound c1590 Fowler II. 108/19.
The largenes of the plaines 1627 Rep. Parishes 70.
The lairgnes of this parochin in lenth thrie mylis, in bredth two myles all moss 1685-8 Renwick Serm. (1776) 432.
It is a place of marrow and fatness; it is a place of room and larginess 1680 Dunkeld Presb. I. 225.
Some of ther number … to take notice … of the largnes and capacity of the two said kirks 1684 Misc. Bann. C. III. 330.
All kind of materialls, … such as fyne strong tykeing, of sufficient largenesse

b. Capacity. 1579 Conv. Burghs I. 81.
Sua that all fourletis … war maid of the lairgnes of the heipit mett

c. Amplitude, greatness (in the non-material sense). Arundel MS. 242/132.
Thankis be to thé for the … maist largnes of thy marcy