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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.

Plene, Plein, v. Also: pleine, pleyn(e, plean(e, pleen. [ME. pleine (1297), pleyne, plene (14th c.), var. of Plenȝé v. Cf. Plain v.After c 1440 appar. only Sc. and mod. north. Eng. dial.]

1. intr. To make a complaint, to complain, protest.(a) c1450-2 Howlat 119 (A).
Bot apon [B. of] natur to pleyne it is perell 1456 Hay I. 233/26.
As gif ane unworthy lymmare … had tane a blynd man and put him in prisoune, and his frendis pleynis to the king, and askis lawe 1513 Doug. i. vi. 138.
Venus na mair sufferit hym pleyn or say 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1167.
The pyote said: plene I nocht to the pape Than in ane smedie I be smorit with smuke 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 153.
Ve ordand the servand to pleyne to our bailyeis personaly 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2720 (B).
To plene on preistis it is na bowrd a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. clxxiv. 4.
Plenand wpon the lorddis off the sait That thair lang prosous may na man induir 1569 Cal. Sc. P. II. 642.
[My Lord of Hunsdon on whom your majesty] plenyd 1590 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II. 146.
For your majestie laitle desyrit me to plene of ony mane that did me wrange a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 364.
That nayne of thayme sall have just occasion to pleyn thareof(b) ?a1640 Copie of a Baron's Court (1821) 31.
Will Waggret's is the man I plean upon

b. To have cause to complain of the want (of). — a1500 Quare Jel. 132.
For thing possible me thing sche suld nocht pleyne [: ageyne]

c. To appeal for something. — 1609 Garden Garden 76.
While [= till] euery sensles stone … for pitie plead and pleane

2. To express sorrow or discontent; to lament, complain; to protest aloud. c1475 Wall. x. 584.
Thai hard Wallace pleyn 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 171.
I weip, I waill, I plene, I cry, I pleid c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 482.
Sum plenis and sum prayis, sum prasis mi bewte Ib. xlii. 29.
To luke on me he thocht greit deyne, Thocht I wes wo I durst nocht pleyne 1513 Doug. i. iv. 104.
Thai [dead comrades] answer nocht set thai oft pleyn and call Ib. xi. i. 95.
[Aeneas] With terys brystand from hys eyn thus plenyt ‘O douchty child [etc.]’ Ib. iv. 23.
Evander … plenand on wofull maner … Wepand and waland as his hart wald breke Ib. xvi. 16. 15.. Clar. ii. 965.
Pleine Ib. iii. 1998.
Of his unfortoun pleinand wofullie a1568 Bann. MS. 226 b/13.
I mene, I plene, quhill the nycht is ago c1682 Louis de France Music Bk. 23.
In a garden so green in a May morning heard I my lady pleen of paramours

b. Said of a moaning wind. — 1513 Doug. i. ii. 10.
The wyndis … quhryne and plene About thar closouris brayng with mony a rare

3. tr. To express as, or specify in, a formal complaint, to complain of. 1521–2 Dundee B. Ct. I. fol. 67 b (2 Jan.).
Maid quyt … of the wrangous casting down of the laid of malt that Thom Fethy plenit on hym 1571 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 66.
Though the support of the quene be costye to the king of France ȝit I think he suld not plein the expensis 1639 Lorimer St. Cuthbert's 12.
The ministers being removit it was askit gif thai had oucht to complein, when thai answerit that thai had nae compts to plein agin them but thankit God for thair lyf and conversation — c1610 Jok Uplandis Newis 7 a.
Quhen the haill assemblie considdered … that it was the proveist of Edr. they were to pleane of this … [they] had no ansser to mak — a1605 Montg. Misc. P. viii. 15.
Thou pleins Narcissus, I my love also

4. To express or feel sorrow or regret for; to lament, bewail or regret; to mourn. 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 202.
Thochtfull luffaris rowmys to and fro To lys thar pane and pleyn thar joly wo a1568 Bann. MS. 224 b/63. Ib. 231 b/15.
We murne quhen licht day dawis, we plene the nycht is schort