A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Mane-, Man-, Menswering, vbl. n. Also: mayn-, maen- and -sweryng, -suering, -yng, -sweir(r)ing, -swearing, -suaring, maensweiring, maynswerin, meinsweiring. [Late ME. manesweryng (c 1440).] Forswearing, in senses of Maneswer(e v.a. Perjuring, perjury, bearing false witness. b. Taking in vain (God's name). c. Disavowal (of a profession of faith).a. (1) 1456 Hay I. 125/23.
To … sustene him in his manesuering Ib. 249/3.
Sen he has brokin the band first, the King … is nocht haldyn … to hald the hecht that he has maid him and but ony breking of athe or manesuering c1420 Bute MS. 161.
Gyf a man be convict of fals mansweryng in wytnes 1474 Reg. Morton II. 224.
Vnder payne of inabilite defamyng & maynsuering [etc.] c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 20/13. 1513 Doug. iv. x. 40.
Baris thou not ȝyt in mynd The maynsweryng of fals Laomedonis kynd Id. Ib. Comm. i. Prol. 425.
This argument excusis nocht the tratory of Eneas na his maynsweryng 1521 Stirling B. Rec. I. 10.
Under the pane of maensweiring [pr. -syeiring] defamacion and inhabilite 1538 Breadalbane Doc. No. 48.
Mensweirring a1538 Abell 8* a.
Maynswerin is rycht havy syn 1551 Hamilton Cat. 62.
Meinsweiring Ib. 64. 1558 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. 81.
Mensvering 1570 Leslie 89.
The greit wrongis … quhilk we haiff sufferit … in upberinge, maynswering, nonredressing of attemptates 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xxix. § 7. (1699) 152.
Man-swearing(2) 1605 Crim. Trials II. 454.
Dilaitit of periurie and mensweiring of thame selffis 1612 Ib. III. 242.b. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 30/25.
Fra louing of God to mansuering of his namec. 1584 Melvill 214.
Vilanie, apostasie and mensuaring of that quhilk the mouthe hes professit
