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.

Licentiat, v. and p.p. Also: -tiatt(e, -ciat(e, p.p. also -ciated, -tiated. [e.m.E. licencyat p.p. (1489), licentiate (1565), licentiated (1650), and licentiate pres. t. (1660), med.L. licentiatus p.p. of licentiare f. licentia Licence n.]

1. tr. To grant (chiefly formal or authoritative) permission to (a person) to do something, but also const. noun-clause; to licence, authorize, permit.(a) c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii. 138.
I ȝow protest ȝe wald me licenciat … That I may cheis to me ane forspeikar 1578 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 66.
Thairfor, nochtwithstanding the complaynt, licenciatis thame to werk 1583 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 307.
The provest [etc.] … licentiats and permits the merchants of this burgh to pas … with thair skynnis to the saidis pairts 1658 Peebles B. Rec. II. 45.
The counsell … licentiattes him to cast tua or thrie dayes work of divoittes for the theiking ane hous(c) 1570 St. A. Kirk S. 334.
The quhilk day, the sessioun, ... in respect of the ministeris infirmite, hes licentiat hym for sex oulkis in totum to desiste fra preaching 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 139.
The Queinis majestie … is … licentiat to hauke and hunt, … as pleases her 1594 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 823.
That the samein barrons sall not be licentiat to returne home againe to the saids north parts a1597-1617 Hist. James VI 283.
The nobillmen … are for the maist part licenciat to liue a libertine life in thair youth 1599 Elgin Kirk S. 59.
Some of the gairdineris are licenciat to visie thair ȝairdis on Sondaye 1603 Moysie 119.
Sum wer licenciat to byd at home be ressoun of thair compositionis 1602 Conv. Burghs II. 136.
Quhair ony mariner becums … dissobedient … the skipper … is licentiat to hyre ane vther in his place a1649 W. Drummond Wks. (1711) 133.
Certain verses … being afterwards licentiate to be read … they were forgotten 1641 Dunferm. Kirk S. 9.
Alex^r Drysdale … is licentiate be the session to cause mak a new furme to be set next before the pulpett 1659 Rothesay B. Rec. 33.
Allister M'Conochy haid licentiatt him to tak any thing belongit to him out of the said Allexanders house(b) a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1677) 119.
Meanwhile they were licentiated [1655, -ciated] to use their … service in the vulgar language

b. p.p. Licentiat to depairt, dismissed. 1558-66 Knox II. 74.
As to the bandis of Scottismen of war being at the said place thay sall be brokin and the men of war licentiat to depairt

2. a. To license, authorize (a person or thing).(1) c1575 Balfour Pract. 683.
Fulis, menstrallis, bardis, and all uther sic idill pepill, but gif thay be speciallie licentiat be the King, sall be compellit to win their living 1597 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I. 341.
That na … induellaris in this burgh ressave ony travellouris in thair houses … without thai be tryit be the bailȝeis and licentiat be thame 1672 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 125.
That no freeman … work without the toun … except they be licenciat by the deacon and the incorporation(2) 1632 Lithgow Trav. viii. 367.
They openly lycentiat three thousand common stewes

b. To authorize (a minister) to preach and to occupy a charge. c1680 W. Row Blair 528.
In that sermon he spoke more against the indulgence and the way of licentiating ministers than [etc.] Ib. 530.
Some ministers were licentiate by the council. Mr. John Primrose, and four more, got their own kirks; Mr John Baird was licentiate, and appointed for Paisley

3. a. To grant (a person) authorization of or unto (a privilege, etc.). Also reflex. 1643 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 100.
And sicklyke licentiats the said John of ten dayes in harvest to his awin use 1650 Durye Just Re-prop. 21.
They rashly licentiat themselves unto many things

b. To allow, permit (a privilege, etc.) to a person. 1611 Glasgow Merchants House 108.
Quilks the said Michaell within his awn boundis hes licentiat to him 1637 Gillespie Eng. Pop. Cerem. ii. iv. 22.
Faithfull men … have neither a doore of enterance nor a doore of utterance licentiated to them