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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Supplé, Supplie, v. Also: supplee, suple(e, supplye, suplie. P.t. also supplid. P.p. also suppleyit, supleyt. [ME and e.m.E. suplie (Trevisa), supplye (1432-50), supplied p.t. (c1450), suple (1525), supply (1526), OF souploier, soupplier, supplier (late 12th c., c1310 and c1380 in Larousse), L. supplēre.] tr.

1. To help, support, save (a person) in various constructions and collocations. Also with non-personal subject. Also absol.(1) 1436–7 Ayr B. Ct. 30a (3 Jan).
Tha that cummys nocht to the alderman & the balȝeis to supple thaim … apon nycht or day … sal be in acht Ss to the kirk werk 1452 Maxwell Mem. I 170.
Johnne of Maxwaile … sal supple thame ande thare causis at al his gudly power aganis al erdly men 1460 Hay Alex. 2460.
Cheis quhom ȝe think worthiest, I sall supple him quhill my lyf may lest, For gude loue and seruice to me done a1500 Henr. Fab. 1498.
I may peraduenture Supple ȝour hienes beand in distres 1489 Treas. Acc. I 114.
To Johne Bonar, the gunnar that wes lyande seik, to suple him, at the kingis commande, v li. 1515 Treas. Acc. V 40.
Lettrez … to the lard of Cesfurd to supple the Lord Maxwell, and … to the Lord Maxwell for to supple the lard of Cesfurd 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 16.
The guid wifis of Edynborcht ar all guid Scottis women, and sayis stoutlye that thai sall supple yow sa fer as thai maye 1546 Soc. Ant. XVI 196.
The sayd Margret sall suple the sayd Thorrald and help and fordyr hym to service 1567 G. Ball. 8.
Honour thy elderis; and thame supplie, Geue that thair neid of thé requyre 1596 Dalr. I 340/1.
He supplies King Henrie his gude father Sair vexte with rebellis a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 111.
There could be no Ministerial Communion and help amongst Ministers: for so, no Minister could supplie another, more than a private person — c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) iv 43.
In medicyne the most practicianis, … Thame self fra ded may not supple(2) 1490 Irland Mir. II 9/6.
His hie wertu and liberalite ar inclinit all maner of wais to help suple and exalt his creatur and humane linage 1522 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 64.
All nychburis within the town that hes nocht ane hedrowm of thair awin … to help and supple other nychtburis 1554 Perth Guildry 295.
Gevis and grantis fre to the said James tua burgesis and gildbrethir to help and supple hym now in his necessite 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1549.
Ȝour awin nobill persoun, That … The pure and seik dois ay help and supplie c1650 Spalding II 296.
The said Marques wes chargit be ane messer … not to intercommoun with Haddoche, help nor supplie him(3) 1428–9 Cal. Charters Suppl. 7 Feb.
The said Ionate sall help & supple at hir gudly power the saide Patrik … to wyn his landis of Homylknoll 1448 Acts I 350/2.
The hail lordis … suld mantene and supple him … to do the law vpoun thaim that brak the statutis 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 173.
He sould be helpit & supleit to broik & joise the sammyn [lands](4) 1454–5 Edinb. Chart. 81.
He sal supple the officiaris in the executioun of justice 1464–5 Acts XII 31/1.
Lettres … charegeing hym that he nothir supple support nor resett the saide Alane in the saide dedis 1495 Contract (Mey P.) 13 June.
The said Willȝeame bindis & oblisis him … to stand abyid supplee and to furthir him and thame in the defens of the said heretage 1553 Old Dundee II 38.
That they wald adhere and inhere to Maister John Rolland's appelation, and supplie him in his just cause as law will 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. I 159.
Elcho nunrie, where the holy sisters suppli'd were by the fratres in their misters — 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II 387.
That he helpit and suppleit Maister Robert Forman til the chantory of Glasgw contrare Maister Jhone Goldsmyth(5) c1590 J. Stewart 25/373.
He behuift to stay Beneth his hors quhill that hir tender hands Supplid him vp and lowsd the sadle bands(6) 1456 Hay II 58/23.
Than suld he … have recourse to fortitude and thare sall he fynd na fault of help, counsale and confourt to supplee him at nede c1460 Regim. Princ. 159 (Marchm.).
Quhair is … thi riches, … Thé to supple at neid in thi barnage c1475 Wall. ix 526.
Ryches off gold thai gat in gret plente, Harnes and hors, that mycht thaim weill supple 1598 Crim. Trials II 59.
The lybell can nawayis be suppleit be ony new declaratioun maid at the bar in prejudice of the defender(7) absol. 1446 Raine N. Durham App. 22.
That ony of our legis … supple or assist in prewe or in apert … to the saide Patrik 1484 Reg. Cupar A. I 229.
Gyf in tyme of hervyst we gader our teindis at he … suple and help efter as we neide 1489 Acts II 215/2.
That nane of his liegis … confort, help, supple, or commoun with ony of his rebellis c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 637.
O Cupid King … Bot ȝe supple, I may not thame sustene 1557–8 Reg. Episc. Glasg. II 583.
To be bundin and obliged … to the said maist reverend fader … and cheptour to mantayne supplye and fortifie … quen neid beis 1565 Treas. Acc. XI 396.
That nane of thame tak upoun hand to resett, supple, or intercommoun witht James, Erle of Murray, in thair houssis 1596 Dalr. II 111/25.
King Ludouik XII of France requyres of the Scotis king … that … he be radie with his assistance. Mairouer to move him the promptlier to supplie [etc.]

b. To support, uphold (a cause, situation or circumstance). a1400 Leg. S. xv 30.
Of dyscipilis thre ware tha, That in nomir war lxx & twa, That Criste assignit for to be In helpe his wark to suple c1420 Wynt. v 4624 (W).
This pape … till him [sc. the emperor] wrait For to supple Cristin stait 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 108.
Schewing als, to supple thair rebellioun the kingis of Albion suld furnes thame all maner of necessaris 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10003.
Hele not ȝour mynd into na sort fra me In ony thing that may ȝour helth supple

c. To provide with extra troops, to reinforce (an army, etc.). 1375 Barb. xi 627 (C).
How gud James of Douglas askit at King Robert the Bruce leiff to gang to supple erll Thomas Randall 1460 Hay Alex. 1195.
xx^m thousand Of sturdie men … Was ordand to hald folk on ather syde For to supple the wingis at a neid 1460 Hay Alex. 1322.
And gif it hapnis that thai bakit be, the laif is ay reddy thame to supplie c1475 Wall. vii 1119.
Agayne Wallace he prewit in mony pres, With Inglismen suppleit thaim at his mycht

d. specif. To repair, refit (ships). c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2393.
He … gart supple [L. necessaria fecit refectione fulciri] his schippis thare That with the tempest schaken war

2. To complete, make up (a number or sum); to add (something missing.). a1400 Leg. S. xii 356.
Sa tuk thai hyme [sc. Matthew] for the twelf to be, The parfyt nowmyre for to suple 1546 Reg. Privy C. I 56.
Quhat wantis of the hale soum … to be supleit be thaim for payment of the hale soum 1586 Crim. Trials I ii 148.
Ordaning thame to supplie the nowmer of the absentis with sic gentillmen as mycht be gottin summond

3. To make good, compensate for (a fault, deficiency, etc.); to compensate for (the absence of something) by providing a substitute. a1400 Leg. S. xvi 715.
Thu was ay til me ful nere, & al myn fawtis wele supleit, & in al myn myster me relewit 1445 Mill Mediæv. Plays 131.
For this instant yhere thai will haue na sic abbot bot thai will that the aldirman … and a balyhe quhom that he will tak til him, supple that faute c1490 Irland Asl. MS 56/21.
All noble persone suld help & supple the defalt and indigence of ane othir persone 1490 Irland Mir. I 78/2.
And, gif ony thing had falȝeit in that place be nature, … all that the devin prouidence had supleit 1491 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I 255.
Als oft as he falȝes in execution of his office for euere houre he sal pay i d. quhilk salbe gevin to him that suppleis that falt 1533 Boece 184b.
Athirco … be his mynorite nocht ȝit of ȝeris to gide the kinrik; how beit he had naturalite to supple his les age and tendir ȝeris 1555 Acts Sederunt i 58.
Gif ony of the saidis lordis … happynnis to be away throw sum bissines … that the President sall caus ane vther of the Counsale to supple thair vyce and absence 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8773.
Nane in his absence His fault suppleit 1635 Wodrow in Hay Geneal. 86.
The King's Advocate answered … That Mowat's papers wold supplie his absence 1640 Dunkeld Presb. II 139.
That he deal with another to supplie his absence, and the absentes to be censured as if they were ministers

4. To fill or occupy (a place, vacancy, etc.), as substitute or successor. Also absol. a1400 Leg. S. xii 319.
Spedful thinge vare … That we stablyste ane in the place, The quhyle to supple of Judas 1578 Conv. Burghs I 72.
The first person contenit in ilk ane of the thrie burghis commissionis elected … sall supplie the place of the absentis a1585 Maitl. Q. 265/14.
Wer not his worthye imps suppleis his place 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 130/20.
S. Paul callis him ane idiot quha vnderstandis onlie his auin vulgar toung; and … supponis that in the seruice of the kirk thair suld be ane vthir to supplie the place of the idiote, that is that suld have farder vndirstanding and intelligence of that toung in the quhilk the seruice of the kirk is said 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 130/24.
Suppleed 1583 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 294.
Quha wes on the lyte of the dekinship with thame this yeir to supplie thair rowme c1590 Fowler II 189/35.
It was thoght gud the More [= Moor] suld supple that rovme 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 191/6.
[Indoor pastimes] maye quhyles suplee the roume quhilke being toome ualde be patent to perniciouse ydilteth a1605 Montg. Sonn. xli 13.
Except thy breath thare places had suppleit 1656 Boharm Kirk S. 10 Aug.
The minister being at the kirk of Rothes supplying Mr. Robert Tod's place 1658 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 177.
Ther hes bein meins vsit for obtaineing some help in geting the vacand places of the ministrie plantit and supplied 1698 Orkney Rentals App. 70.
The magistrates … were now readie to call another minister to supplie the vacancieabsol. 1460 Hay Alex. 1179.
Gif ony case hapnit till ane of tha The tothir suld be reddie to supplie Sa for the dede of ane na falt suld be 1663 Arniston Mem. 26.
It is desyred that we shuld goe up to London … It was the motione befor, bot ther is non of us can suplie for the other ther

b. To discharge the duties of (an office). 1533 Gau 104/35.
Paul sais notht that it is sufficient to ane bischoip to haiff ane prechour to supple his office 1596 Dalr. I 108/21.
Al bischopries the gretter kirk leiuengs, and the fatter benifices, ar al amaist distributed cheiflie to nobil menis sones, quhome thay think maist able to supplie that office

c. To provide (a school) with a teacher or (a parish, etc.) with a minister. 1627 Orkney Rentals iii 35.
That thair is no present provisioun for the schoole yit suppleit be the ridar for the present 1644 Murray Kilmacolm 51.
To goe to the Army, nowe in England, and supplie there as minister till he was relyvat 1693 Cramond Kirk S. III 28 March.
The members of session are to acquaint their heretors, and putt thaim in remembrance of the former appointment, it being of publick concern to have this paroch weel supplied 1726 Dunkeld Presb. II 102.
In regaird the Inglish language is gaining ground, it [sc. the parish] may be supplied by one having the English for every two who has the Irish

5. To fulfil, satisfy, assuage (a need, want, etc.) by supplying what is wanted. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 1141.
Salome, As befor bydine had he, Gert al the Jowis sla but hone, … for til supple the wikitnes, That in hire bruthir alway wes 1456 Hay I 165/13.
Lat man do that in him is, and syne traist in Goddis help, and he sall supplee [L. implebit] his gude rycht 1490 Irland Mir. I 44/10.
And in this peticioune we desyre that our fader of hevin prouid to us temporale sustinaunce, suppleand oure necessite 1490 Irland Mir. III 116/14.
As the gold suppleis the indigence of man rychtsua the wertuus king … causis … that his pepil lif in pece [etc.] 1567 G. Ball. 18.
Thy nychtbour lufe, and als supplie His neid 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 16/30.
For that Thou leauis thaime not o Lorde of grace That praies Thé to suplee thaire pitteouse cace 1671 Rothesay B. Rec. 200.
To supplie thair necessitie to go to Edinburgh

6. To furnish, provide (something needed or desired). Also absol. 1456 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 6.
Thai sal supple lauchfull and honest defens of thare lifis landis heretaige [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. II 40/8.
The humane natur be proper wertu mycht nocht do all that supleit in that persoune the diuinite for he rais to state and glor inmortale 1522 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 64.
Sex men quhilk sal be suorne thairto lelelye to fynd and decid quhat ilk man suld supple and help 1531 Vaus (1531) 4.
Be the vertu of ane participale ondirstande; as vir magna virtute, supple preditus a1570-86 Maitl. F. 304/34.
God gif his grace the lordis till aggre That we may se sum iustice in this land … This to supple gude men put to ȝour hand 1582 Declar. Causis 23.
Has it releuit … the Kingis grit det or suppleyit profitable warke 1615 Highland P. III 189.
Heirby I supple that personall homage addebtit to ȝour M. for so grit benefeitabsol. 1457 Peebles B. Rec. I 118.
The sayd Jonot sal geyf hym for the arscap xl s. … and geyf it hapnys the sayd Jonot to byg thair land that John sal suple tharto has [= as] he is essposit c1460 Thewis Gud Women 28.
A woman suld … Tyll hir frendis obedyent bee In gudly thingis that may supple 1472 Edinb. Chart. 134.
To help contribu and supple to the said fortressing and strenthing of our said burgh eftir the valew of thair rentis [etc.]

c. To furnish or provide (a person) (with (of) something).(1) c1475 Wall. viii 152.
Sotheroun … send schippis … to kep Dunbar, at nayne suld thaim supple 1494 Loutfut MS 130b.
He that is ledar of the host … suld consider xii thingis that is to say vi thingis of the were menys part, and othir vi thingis of the part that suppleis thaim and of thair furderyng in battell 1558 Inverness Rec. I 21.
Quhilkis men of Clanrynnald ar … mantinet and supleyt be the sayd Johne Nilson(2) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 2014.
His eirdlie pompe is gone quhen that he deit. Than is he with na eirdlie freind suppleit Saifand vertew 1513 Doug. iii vi 225 (Ruddim.).
He … Hes suppleit vs with rowaris and marineris 1525 St. P. Henry VIII IV 412.
To help fortefy and suple … the King of France, … with men schippis vittalis and all uther necessairis 1608 Highland P. III 111.
His Maiesteis Admirall heir has tane vpoun him, out of his awne furnitour, to supplie hir with viveris 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 1345.
With money and with men, He him assisted and suppleed — 1476 Peebles B. Rec. I 176.
The said Robart sall help and suple the town of mone at hys gudly power, vnskathand hym

d. To furnish (a thing) with (in) what is necessary or desirable. 1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 396.
To sustene supple mentene apperall mend and uphald … the brig forsaid in pillaris landstalis [etc.] 1562 Will A. Betoun 225.
Committand power to hir said executors to supple the marriage of hir said dochteris with sume part of the proffeit of the said warde 1681 Inverness Rec. II 297.
To cause repair the bridge instantlie and to suplie it with timber where it is necessar