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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.

Leving, Leiving, pres. p. and ppl. adj. Also: levin, -yng, leveing, lewing; leiveing, leiwing; lieving; leeving; leaving. [f. Leve v.⁴, chiefly late, after e.m.E.: cf. Levand and Living, and ME. (15th c.) levynge.] Living.

1. Pres. p., in senses of the verb.(1) c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 262.
Onye … on lyfe that leuing is 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 30.
The said Erll of Murray leving, thay could nowther do the said harme [etc.] 1616 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 189.
Slane … at the doun going of the soone and therfor nather deid nor leiving(2) 1513 Doug. iii. vii. 37.
The lykast thing levyng And verray ymage of my Astianax ȝyng! 1515 Douglas Corr. 72.
Our servys salbe hys before all uther mann levyng 1570 Bann. Memor. 74.
As wold haue irritate … the most patient fleshe leving(3) 1622-6 Bisset II. 311/18.
Sche levin ellevin ȝeiris(4) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxii. 82.
As saule is heir in purgatory Leving [M. Leifand] in pane and hope of glory 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 93.
Hir Majestie is now destitute of ane husband, leuing solitarie in the stait of wedowheid 1610 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 154.
Leeving lang strangers in ane strange cuntrie c1650 Spalding I. 77.
The ministrie and … laitie leiving yeirlie wnder the bondage of the lordis of erectionis(5) 1591 Boyd Fam. P. No. 75 (22 Dec.).
I, Johnne Chalmer … leving within Carrik 1670 Salmon Borrowstounness 94.
No persone … leaving … within the … brught … [is] to persew any of the … inhabitants(6) 1572 Reg. Privy C. II. 132.
Rascall people … leaving upon unlauchfull meanys 1625 Kinghorn Kirk S. 28.
Lewing onlie upon bread and small drink

2. ppl. adj. = Levand adj. 2.(1) 1551 Hamilton Cat. 208.
I am the leving breid that is come doune fra hevin 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 89.
Of matrimoniall lufe thair is almaist na leuing creature that hes not sum feilling 1611 Crim. Trials III. 161.
[Solomon commanded] the houris child to be devyded betuix hir and hir neighbour Who claimed the leving bairne 1629 Justiciary Cases I. 103.
Ane seiknes can nocht be inharent bot in ane leveing creatour(b) 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I. 93.
Wenem, quhilk na leiwing creatur culd preive [= taste] 1675 Argyll Justic. Rec. I. 50.
The said stollen kow wes satisfied be him by restoreing ane leiving kow 1676 Dunbar Social Life I. 293.
If I be ane leiveing man I shall be about with him(2) absol. c1490 Porteous Noblenes 176/11 (Asl.).
Sen the charge of euery leving suld be mesurit with richt 1622-6 Bisset II. 148/10.
It is … necesser to pray for all the leving 1626 Garden Worthies 77.
A matchless man … Whose lyfe among the leiving bred such love 1669 Laing MSS. I. 373.
[Not speaking a word of the matter] to any lieving(3) 1558 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 152.
And als I beseik the levyng God, that [etc.] 1581 Burne Disput. 37.
As the leuing father hes send me c1590 J. Stewart 259/233.
O ȝe beluiffit of the lewing Lord(4) c1590 Fowler I. 95/342.
It dois me greiff my natiwe soyle & birth place is so bas, From whiche I had my levinge lyfe, in which I gendred was