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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Obedient, a. and n. Also: obedyent, -iant, obbedient, obœdient, obediand. [ME. (Ancr. R.) and e.m.E. obedient, obedyent, OF. obédient (11th c. in Godef.), L. obēdiens.]

1. adj. Obedient, submissive, subservient, dutiful. (Cf. Obeisand, Obeisant.)Const. to, till or unto (into) a person, his commands, etc.(1) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 26/29.
Quhen thou sais this orisoune Pater noster, awys gif thou be obedient 1494 Loutfut MS. 78 a.
Ane lytil trecty … be his obedient sone in the office of armes Kintyre purseuant c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 271.
Thou lytill quair, be ewir obedient, Humble, subiect [etc.] Id. xc. 6.
To fast and pray [Christ] was so obedient 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 19.
Vrytin … be your grace … mast obedient servitour 1549 Balcarres P. 308.
Obediant c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1134.
Beistis wylde, Manesyng thame for tyll deuore, Quhilkis all obedient war affore 1551 Hamilton Cat. 156. a1578 Pitsc. I. 142/32.
This Donald obbedient at command … send out sindrie companies [etc.] 1585 Acts III. 383/2.
His obedient, lawtifull and trustie subiectis(b) a1568 Bann. MS. 249 b/10.
Obediand(2) c1420 Wynt. vi. Prol. 29 (W).
We are all till him [sc. the Pope] obedient [R. all tyme obedyent] 1456 Hay II. 46/30.
That he suld stand aw and be obedient till his lord c1460 Thewis Gud Women 27.
Tyll hir frendis obedyent bee 1493 Lindores A. 181.
To be to the said abbot … humill and obedient leil trew men c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1584.
Noye wes … aye to God obedient a1578 Pitsc. I. 289/16.
To be leill and trew and obedient into the Kingis maiestie(3) c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 239.
A man suld … be obedient to comandment 1456 Hay II. 45/21.
Knycht or womman, but drede of schame, may nocht … be obedient to thair ordre 1549 Compl. 140/32.
The maist part of them … ar obedient to there … glaykyt affections 1562-3 Winȝet I. 63/17.
Humill and obœdient sones to all treuth and auctoritie 1596 Dalr. I. 83/16.
Quha leiues with thame obedient to thair command may [etc.] 1610 Highland P. III. 119.
Law byding subiectis, who … ar ansuerable and obedyent to iustice

2. noun. a. One who is obedient or dutiful. b. One who is subject to authority.Appar. chiefly Sc. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3315.
Heir ar we cumde as ȝour obedients For to fulfil ȝour iust commandements 1572 Reg. Privy C. II. 153.
With ane force of his hienes obedient subjectis, quhairthrow the obedientes micht be decernit fra the inobedientes 1661 Ray Remains 203.]
[(In Glasgow are) about 40 students of the first year, which they call obedients