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

Part-, Parcialité, -ie, -y, n. Also: pert-, percial-, persial-, perseal- and -yté, -ytie, -itty, -atie. [Late ME. (Lydgate) and e.m.E. parcialite(e, e.m.E. partialitie (1526), OF. parc-, partialité, med. L. partialitas.]

Partiality, bias; unfairness.Common in legal contexts.For further examples, see Maisterschip n. 1 b.(a) 1487 Acts II. 178/2.
Parcialite a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 158 (H). 1498 Acta Conc. II. 280.
Because of … the parcialite done be him to thame in the execution of his office 1522 Fife Sheriff Ct. 175.
Our said schiref perseuerand in his parcialite 1532–3 Acta Conc. & Sess. 153. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv. 25. 1563 St. A. Kirk S. 161.
He purgis hym of all parcialite 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvii. 105.
To pvneis part is parcialitie 1600 Glasgow Wrights 41.
Secluding of partialite that thai [the masons] micht haue to thairis as we to oure craftismen 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. iii.
So equally proportioned to all by death without partiality in mettage 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 267.
Partialatie 1683 Edinb. B. Rec. XI. 82.
Partialitty(b) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 188 (Arund.).
Corruppit men to suffer on no wise Be fals affectioun or persialite To execut the office of iustry 1528 Douglas Corr. 17.
That the … rycht ordoure of justice withoute pertialite may be ministrat universalie 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 434.
Percialytie 1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix. 331.
Persealytie 1574 Reg. Privy C. II. 413.
Hes usit greit partialitie, laying the greittast burding of the charge on the puyr

b. The favouring of one's own interests or those of one's own party; party spirit, rivalry, factiousness; an instance of these. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 75.
Traisting the samyn [army] assembillit moir to vsurpe the crovne be percialite than to wyrk ony thing commodius for thair commoun wele Id. Livy I. 117/2.
Vtheris [he] slew be occasioun made aganis thame be invie & parcialite of partie c1590 Fowler II. 137/6.
Some prences … hes entertened there countryes and cyteis in factions diuisions and partialitie Ib. 139/25.
Partialytes and diuisions ar not permisseble vnder a galiard prence c 1599 ? Fowler in James VI Basil. Doron II. 311.
Thair [a king's servants'] euil graces fraudes extorsiones and other partialities