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 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mony-, Monifald, -fauld, a., n. and adv. Also: monye-, monie-, money- and -fawld, -fold. [North. ME. mony-falde (c 1400), and cf. west midl. and southwest. ME. monivold (13th c.), -folde, OE. moniᵹf(e)ald. The regular Sc. form: cf. also Manyfald, Menifald and Manifold.]

1. adj. Manifold. a. With sing. (non-material) noun: Multiple and varied in character. b. With plur. noun: Numerous and varied.a. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Eph. iii. 10.
That the monyfald wisdom of God be knawne c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3987.
Ryche men behuffit tyll eait thare gold, Syne deit of hunger mony fold a1578 Pitsc. I. 45/12.
Behalding this money fauld treassone 1588 King Cat. 86 b.
Quhat fruict haue we of this sacrament being deulie receauit? Verray gryt and monifaldb. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1793.
Of all thir … contrar casis mony-fald In-to this nixt buke sall be tald ?1438 Alex. Col. 17. 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 247.
Hys errouris … beyn so playn and eik sa monyfald The hundreth part tharof I leif ontald 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 270.
I am sorry for the monyfald dangers and displeasouris that I heir ye ar in 1566 Reg. Privy C. I. 480.
The monyfauld crymes ? 1572 Sat. P. xxxvi. 14.
God wait how we ar … blamit for monye tressounis moniefauld 1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix. 25.
To call to mynd hir mony fauld gude dedis a1585 Maitl. Q. xl. 10.
Quho so ȝour bewtie wald behauld Must neidis in ȝow delyit Bot I regaird mair monifauld Ȝour properties perfyit Ib. lxviii. 36.
Monyefauld 1590 (c 1650) Dundee B. Laws 44.
The monyfold abussis … dailie kything 1621 Acts IV. 613/2.
The monyfold evillis … whiche ensew upoun carding and dyceing

2. n. In phr. be monyfald, many times over. 1567 G. Ball. 191.
Preistis will tak, and his price mak, For les be mony fauld

3. adv. Many times over, in many and various ways. a1400 Leg. S. xvii. 283.
Thai … in ȝerde ar … lowit mony-faulde For thare gud ded of ȝung & aulde Ib. xl. 413.
Mony-fald c1420 Wynt. viii. 6693.
How youre worschip … Suld be encressit mony fauld 1513 Doug. v. ix. 48.
The dow … with hir weyngis sorand monyfald 15.. Clar. ii. 1771.
Sir Pennent he rewairdit moniefold 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4364 (B).
Of hir hurdeis scho had na hawld Quhill scho had temid hir monyfawld c1552 Id. Mon. 1093.
Than grew thair dolour monyfauld 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1340.
Scho cryit, schoutit and murnit monyfald Ib. 5537.
Galiene … excellit his vncle monyfald In phisick airt 1567 G. Ball. 122.
Sinnand rycht mony fald a1578 Pitsc. I. 22/23.
Gif our discentione haue ony fordar prograce it wilbe monyfold mair noysum to ws nor [etc.]