A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1456, 1581, 1636-1662
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,0,0,0]
Oppos(e, v. Also: oppoise, opose. [ME. oppose (Chaucer, Gower), F. opposer, OF. oposer (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.): cf. Oppone v. (also Appose v.).]
1. tr. To oppose or resist by force; also, to obstruct or restrain. 1456 Hay I. 134/7.
It is bath rycht and honest … to oppos a man and gaynsay all … violence unlauchfully usurpit 1644 Inverness Rec. II. 184.
That this brucht of Innernes prowe not … deficient to thair power to oppoise the said publick enimie in mantinance of the said lait subscrivit covenant 1661 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries X. 246.
The watchmen … did opose and strike at hir with their swords
2. reflex. To set (oneself) in opposition to, be at variance with. 1581 Burne Disput. 13 b.
Opposing ȝour selfis to the hail ancient doctors
3. To oppose or resist by argument, to speak against (some proposed action); also, to obstruct by argument or action.(1) 1636 Dumbarton B. Rec. 51.
Com[missione]rs to ryd to Edinburgh for opposing the passing of the Glasgow signator 1658 Baillie III. 356.
That Mr Guthrie opposed my Lord Waristouns resuming his place of Register(2) c1650 Spalding I. 132.
That the Marques opposit all thair doinges in a maner by publishing the Kingis proclamationis
4. To examine, interrogate, question. 1662 Forbes Baron Ct. 234.
The haill tenentis … about the maines vez convenit and oppossit vpon thair oath for carr meill
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Oppos v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/oppose>
