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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sene, (ppl.) adj. Also: sein, seyn(e, seane, seen(e. [ME and e.m.E. isene (Layamon), sene (Orm), seyn (1434), seen (1561), OE ᵹesíene, ᵹesene p.p. of Se v., ON sýnn visible.] a. Visible (to the sight). b. transf. Manifest, evident (to the mind). c. Welesene clearly seen, evident.Const. on, to a person.1. a. c1420 Wynt. iv 2580 (W).
That denere … Haiffand the emperouris dyademe In it, and his ymage seyne a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 353.
Quhen scho saw hir face sa deformait … Weiping full sair ‘Lo, quhat it is’, quod sche, ‘With fraword langage for to mufe … Our craibit goddis, and sa is sene on me' 1513 Doug. ii x 27.
Hir self scho hyd … Besyde the altare sytting onethis seyn 1676 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 76.
It wes sein that the iron heill habbells wes on his feit and that [etc.]b. a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1001.
This fule … Ful sone was he maid bishop, … And God sen sik examples ay wer sene To ilk ane king that luifit nocht his quene a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1192.
To thé thow thocht I was not worth ane prene, And that I am ful rade on thé be sene [pr. besene] 1692 Pitcairne Assembly ii iii (1752) 29.
[He] had nae a's wits about him fan that claim was drawn, and sae's seen o't the dayc. 1398–9 Acts I 210/2.
It is welesene & kennyt that our lorde the kyng for seknes of his person may nocht trauail to gouerne the realme a1500 Prestis of Peblis 941.
Quhat wil ȝe gif me … to mak it weil sene With Gods law for to mak hir ȝour queene?

2. (Already) known, not original. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 79/5, 11.
Bot sen inuention is ane of the cheif vertewis in a poete it is best that ȝe inuent ȝour awin subiect ȝour self and not to compose of sene subiectis. Especially translating [etc.]. … Ȝe man also be war of wryting any thing of materis of commoun weill or vther sic graue sene subiectis (except metaphorically of manifest treuth opinly knawin)

3. (Well) versed or expert (in some art, science or body of knowledge).(1) 1558-66 Knox II 141.
He was better seane in philosophie then in theologie a1578 Pitsc. I 80/13.
Mr. James Douglas, ane mane of singular erruditioun and weill sene in devyne lettres 1622-6 Bisset II 295/3. 1627 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 12.
Some of the principall officiaris of estate who are weill seene in the mater of the coyne … ar absent c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. fol. 11.
A man of an great spirit for letters and well sene in the mathematiks(2) 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii 91.
Thocht in all thingis we be not sene, The veritie we may mantine 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 181.
I find the worthy man not so seen in this controversy as some turbulent men of our country 1699 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. IV 440.
It is a very frequent practice, in cases relating to the mysteries of particular callings, that the Lords use to adhibit the advice of such as be most versant and seen therein 1703 New Mills Manuf. 344.
To sie if he cann learne out for ane sober man fully seen in the makeing of broad cloath