Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Pens, Pense, v. [F. penser to think, be thoughtful (11th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), L. pensāre to weigh, ponder, consider, (whence also OE. pinsian, appar. obs. in ME.). Cf. Pans v. Only Sc. Also in the mod. Sc. dial. of Banffsh. (= to walk with a measured step) and the mod. Eng. dial. of E. Anglia (= to be fretful).]

1. a. intr. To think or ponder (upon, of a person or thing), to give thought (to). b. tr. To take thought of, consider; to call to mind. c. With obj . and compl.: To consider or regard (something) as (the complement).a. a1500 Henr. III. 157/34 (B).
With humill hairt vpoun our poilis pens [: defens, excellens, differens] c1500-c1512 Dunb. lviii. 24 (M).
Thay pens [v.r. pans] nocht off the prochene puir 1599 Colville Lett. 196.
Whereupon he did seam to pense marveluslie and in the end said [etc.]b. 1493 Lennox Mun. 148.
Thair vtilyte and profyttis on athir syde pensyt and prowydyt a1500 Lanc. 1430.
Than Arthur … In to his wit memoratyve can seik Of euery gilt wich that he can pens Done frome he passith the ȝeris of innocens 1547 Lothian P. § 3 (Land) MS. (Reg. H.) 20 May.
The vtilite and proffeitt of our said abbay of Kelso alvayis providit pensit and considerit a1568 Bann. MS. 50 a/9.
Will we nocht prent in to oure mynd and pens [: experience] That [etc.]c. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii. 953.
Thy actis pensit the far mair precious And to my court the mair agreabill

2. passive. Of a person: To be tended (for, of a wound). = Pans v. 3 b (2). c1610 Melville Mem. 35.
Till I sat down in ane barbours buith to be pensit of the hurt in my head