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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.

Pas(s)ing, ppl. a. (prep.) Also: -inge. [ME. and e.m.E. passynge prep. beyond (Piers Plowman), adj. surpassing (Chaucer), also adv. (1387). Cf. Passand ppl. a. and adv.]

1. adj. Surpassing; extreme; excessive; very great; (also, with collective and plur. nouns) ? very numerous.Appar. only in attrib. function: but cf. Pas v. 19. c1460 Consail Vys Man 369.
Na falow thé nocht with our-gredy … Na with gluttone of pasinge fud a1500 Henr. III. 174/58 (B).
With passing pouerty pryd is importable a1500 Lanc. 1108.
For Galyot was o pasing multitude c1515 Asl. MS. I. 216/8.
Derth … that thar deit a passinge peple for hungere 1533 Bell. Livy I. 29/14.
Vtheris of maist excellent and passing bewtie [etc.] c1600 Montg. Suppl. x. 3.
Throcht passing wois For to reios I may no mair 1649 Acts VI. ii. 389/2.
Those places … which have bein overburdinit by passing quarteringis

b. Of a person: Pre-eminent. a1500 Quare Jel. 317.
The passing clerk, the grete philosophoure Syndrake enspirit of hevinly influence

2. a. Of money: Legally current. b. Of a rumour: Current, in circulation.Only Sc.a. 1653 Edinb. Test. LXVIa. 31 b.
Ane kerdikew not passing mony is [etc.] 1695 Edinb. Surgeons III. 17.
Clipt money and not passing 1700 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II. 277.
That there be ten per cent of diminution from the passing value [of gold]b. 1676 Cullen Kirk S. 9 Apr.
That there was a passing rumor on James Morison … of guiltiness with the said Isabell

3. prep. beyond the limit or scope of; more than. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1243.
Gif that a man … Wald think to saire & passing sufferans On his a syde to ly but liberte a1568 Bann. MS. I. p. 5/126.
God saull and flesche at anis to remane Passing the strenth of mannis argument 1597 James VI Dæmonol. 17.
Alwaies passing the singuler number