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.
Obtemper, v. Also: obtempir, -ar, -re; optempir. P.p. also Obtemperat. [e.m.E. obtempre, obtemper (Caxton), otherwise chiefly Sc., F. obtempérer (14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), L. obtemperāre.]
1. tr. To comply with, submit to, obey, esp. a command or order, a legal decree, or an obligation or condition. Also absol.Freq. coupled with synonyms, as fulfill or obey. 1518–9 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 134.
The quhilkis chargis … the said erle was redy to obtemper and obey 1531 Bell. Boece II. 152.
How thay war monist be the angellis to obtemper his wil in al chargis Ib. (M) II. 297.
Becaus he was dilatit sindry tymes of adultery and wald nocht obtempir the correccion of halykirk c 1532 Stirlings of Keir 339.
Till optempir and fulfill to me … the contract indentourly mayd betuix us 1533 Bell. Livy I. 92/10.
And tharefore desirit thame, quhil he war convalescit, to obtempir the command and chargis of Seruius his gudeson 1535 Stewart 20512. 1536 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 140.
Souerte … at scho sall stand thairto and obtempar samyn 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 17. c1575 Balfour Pract. 391. 1585 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 12 Oct.
The said Johne Seytoun baillie [etc.] … in ane voce declarit thai wald obtemper and obey the said charge 1587 Acts III. 462/1. 1598 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 77.
To obtemper obey and giff audience to his doctrine and discipline 1606 Inverurie B. Ct. 21 July.
Quhidder … the said Wm. Andersone was ready to obtemper and fulfill his pairt of the samyn a1633 Hope Major Pract. I. 119. 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 64. 1638 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 411.
The principall … to continow to obtemper the act of the last generall visitatiounin teaching twa lessones in the weike 1655 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 157. 1697 Brown Paisley I. 329. 1702 Corshill Baron Ct. 201.p.p. 1522 Acta Conc. MS. XXXIII. 17 b.
The saidis lettrez was nocht obtemperit nor obeyit be the said William 1531–2 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 51. 1569 Reg. Privy C. II. 32. 1638 Sc. Ant. I. 28. 1660 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 29 May.
This ordinance was solemnlie obtempered 1679 Dunblane Synod 143.
The making of a publick register … [was not] as yet obtempered by all the brethren within the respective presbyteriesabsol. a1538 Abell 95 a.
He obtemperit nocht forthinkand the obligatioun at he maid 1590 Cal. Sc. P. X. 431.
If they obtemper, yet arre they not thereby ather pardoned or licentiat 1600 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 212.
Incase they obtemperit nocht the said proclamatioun and war nocht reddie to obtemper and obey
b. To accede to, grant (a request). 1566 Reg. Privy C. I. 488.
That thai on na wayis admit, allow, obtempir or obey ony sic gift
2. intr. a. To submit to, comply with, obey (a command or charge or the person issuing it).(1) 1533 Boece i. ii. 36.
Chargeing thai suld obtemper to his command Ib. ii. xii. 82 b.
Obtempering to na decrete Ib. ix. v. 297 b.
Obtempering to gude counsale 1664 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 209.
To desyr that they wold not incroch wpon the townes priviledges whervnto, if they refuse to obtemper, to protest(2) 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 115.
Thai suld obtempir to him in all chargis as occurrit Ib. (1821) II. 91.
Kinnatil, devotely obtemperand to Sanct Colme, randered his saule to God 1533 Boece v. ii. 165 b.
To thame all nacions … obtemperis and obeyis
b. To accede to, comply with (also unto) (a request). 1525 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 230.
In cais the prince interpellit … for the said salf conductis refusis to obtempre and graunt to the samin 1531 Bell. Boece II. 482.
Gif thy hienes think nocht expedient … to obtemper to thir our desiris 1582 Cal. Sc. P. VI. 215. 1590–1 Crail B. Ct. MS. 16 Mar.
The saidis bailleis for obtempering to the desyre off the said commissioun ressaweit the bodilie ayth off the said Androw Kay 1678 Cramond Kirk S. II. 22 Sept.
I hope yow … will thinke this noe unreasonable desire and that yow will readilie obtemper to it
3. Erron. put for Attemper v. or Temper v.: To temper, mitigate, moderate. (Cf. also Obtemperat v. b.) 1535 Stewart 22944.
Thir tuo kingis wald nocht heir thair desyre Nor ȝit no way obtemper wald thair ire
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"Obtemper v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/obtemper>