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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.

Mortify, Mortefy, v. Also: morti-, mortefie, -fé. P.p. morti-, mortefyit, -fiit, -feit, -fiet, -fied, mortiefied, mortifyt, -fyde; morifiet, -fied. [ME. and e.m.E. morti-, mortefie(n, -fye (14–15th c.), F. mortifier (L. mortificāre).]

1. a. p.p. Of a religious person: Rendered or become dead to (fra) earthly desires etc. by abstinence or asceticism. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1117 (Bann.).
[As monks] In wilful pouertee, fra pomp and all pryde, And fra this warld in mynd ar mortifyde

b. To bring into subjection (the mind or the flesh) by self-control, self-discipline or ascetic practices. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1129 (H).
Fleschlie lust away fra thé sall fle, Fra thow begin thy mynd to mortifie c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. Prol. 340/13.
Quhilk spret … subdewis ande mortifyis the fleis 1588 King Cat. 163.
In that thay abstein fra flesh thay do it to mortifie the body, thairby to humill the mynd fra sensual affections

c. To subdue, overcome, put an end to (sin, sinful desires or the like). c1520-c1535 Nisbet III. 340/17.
Sua lang as we … feigthtis aganis synne, and slayis and mortifyis it c1540 Lynd. Kitteis Conf. 118.
Or wickit vicis regne in thé, The quhilk thow can nocht mortifie 1549 Compl. 155/8.
Quhilk vordis suld be occasione to gar ȝou mortife ȝour vane consait of ȝour pretendit gentreis c1568 Lauder Minor P. iii. 117.
Lat [leude affectionis and all impieteis Be mortefiit in to our membris all a1568 Bann. MS. p. 60.
God … for prayar givis grace to mortifie our lust Ib. 20 b/45.
Our synfull lyvis to mortify 1567 G. Ball. 146.
The haly spreit … may our auld man mortifie That our new man may leue Ib. 14.

d. To overcome (grief or the like). a1568 Weddirburne Bann. MS. 287 b/12.
Quhair is thy strenth sowld mortefy distres

e. To destroy the vitality of, to deaden. c1580-90 Rules of Health.
Abstene … fra … ewill saweris, … be ressoun thei invenome the body and dullis the spritis and mortefyis them

2. To cancel, nullify, make void. 1456 Hay I. 147/26.
And sen the knycht in his default has lousit that obligacioun, the king is free to geve him oucht or nocht at his lyking, for mortifyit and adnullit is the condicioun but culp of the king

3. To assign or bequeath in perpetuity lands, property or moneys, a. before the Reformation, to an ecclesiastical foundation for religious purposes, b. after the Reformation, to any corporate body or institution for religious, educational or charitable purposes.Also with specification of the use to which the lands etc. are to be applied.(1) 1479 Misc. Bann. C. III. 431.
[A tax on lands] except the landis being in our handis and the landis mortifiit to the kirk 1498 Exch. R. XI. 81 n.
We haue geuin and perpetualy mortifyt to the cathedrale kirk of Orkna … the … ile of Burra … as our charter of gift and mortification … mar fullily purportis 1533 Boece x. iv. 355.
Sa mony rentis as Vngus mortifyit to the kirk c1575 Balfour Pract. 128. 1579 Acts III. 170/1.
Vpoun euery ane of the saidis donationis as mortifijt to the said hospitall in maner foirsaid 1595 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 64. 1597 Frasers of Philorth 264.
Mortefeand, dottand, and disponand to the saidis college … the saidis personagis 1600-1610 Melvill 54.
Mortefeing 1622-6 Bisset II. 128/4.
The cloisteris of nunries … quha had doitted gifted and mortified to thame mony landis rentis and levingis as followes 1622 Misc. Bann. C. III. 202.
Thair was awin … to … Mr. John Dauidsone, quhilk he mortefeit to the skole of Prestounepanis [£466/13/4] 1627 Orkney Rentals iii. 47. 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 331. 1634 Dundonald Par. Rec. 386.
Johne Fullartoune … dotis and mortifeis and disponis from him and his airis … als much of … his yaird … as … may be ane sufficient rowme to place the said schoole wpon 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. 157.
Th' old wifes and matrons … made their horned husbands to … mortifie so much unto this saint and unto that 1643 Stirling B. Rec. I. 185. 1644 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 30. 1646 Moray Synod 77.
Concerning a mans and gleib mortified to one of the ministers of Invernes c1650 Spalding II. 317.
And becaus he had mortifeit his hous in the Chaplanes to his successour without reservatioun of his awin lifrent, he causis remove his plenishing and bookis a1650 Row 48.
That gleebs and manses be mortified to the Kirk by the King's majestie 1658 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 167. 16.. Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 194.
Antiently a pairt of the abbacie of Paslay mortiefied by the Earles of Lennox and erected in a regality 1695 Cullen Kirk S. 13 Jan.
The deceased William Lautie … did a long while agoe mortifie a croaft of land(b) 1627 Conv. Burghs III. 253.
Quhatsumeuir hes bein dotted or morified to theme(2) 1566 Reg. Privy S. V. ii. 151/1.
Quhilkis sowmes ordanit to be mortifeit and distributid in pios usus 1605 Glasgow Prot. II. 119.
That sum ressonabill moyan and rent … be providit, doitit, mortifiet and perpetuallie gevin be ws [etc.] 1613 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 317.
Sieing the foirsaidis restis ar mortifiet to the bigging of ane ward hous 1621 Acts IV. 600/2.
Annuelrentis dew to be … mortified for … uphalding of kirkis and bridges 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 319.
For making the same [monies] … furthcumand to the precise uses whairunto thay ar left and mortifiet 1633 Ib. 380. 1640 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 418.
I have dotit, annexit, mortefeit and disponit the tenement of land following … to be edified … ane perfyt hospitall 1642 S. Leith Rec. 40. 1650 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 115. 1659 Ib. 182. 1671 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 95.
David Boyd [etc.] … offered to build … ane chamber in the colledge of this burgh … and mortified the same for the use of the students 1680 Alford Rec. 316.
Of money mortified for the use of the poor 1692 Misc. B. Rec. 129. 1695 Elgin Rec. I. 357. 1696 Morison Dict. Decis. 9108.(b) 1633 Acts V. 56/1.
The lands … dotted and morifiet be his majesties father … to the vse of his majesties chappell royall in Striveling(3) c1650 Spalding II. 124.
Sie how the rest is mortifeit befoir

c. Similarly to assign or bequeath in perpetuity a piece of movable property. 1591 Misc. Spald. C. III. 160.
Ane latron dotit and mortifeit be the communitie to Sanct Nicholas [etc.] 1659 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 180.
Certane books mortified and left … for the wse and behoue of the gramar scooll within this burgh 1679 Robertson Cullen Ch. Ann. 80.
[Nicholas Dunbar] mortified a large stamped bason of brass to the church of Cullen for … the celebration of the holy sacrament 1683 Craven Ch. in Orkney 105.
Th at a press be builded … for the books mortified by Mr. William Baikie 1695 Cullen Kirk S. 13 Jan.
The fornamed gentlman … hath mortified … two large silver cups … and they serve for holding the consecrat wine to the communicants at the Lord's table 1718 Rothesay Par. Rec. 328.
She willingly gave linnens to the ensuing communion occasion and mortified the same for that use in this parish in all time coming

d. Loosely: To assign or allocate (revenue etc.) temporarily. 1692 Stirling B. Rec. II. 66.
[They had] doted and mortified the second ministeris stipend, being vaccand anno 1690, to James Finlaysone, writter in Stirling, touards the reparation of the bridge