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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Understand, v. Also: undir-, -yr-, -ar-, wnder-, -ir-, -yr-, -re- and -stand(e, -stond(e. P.t. under-, -ir-, wnder-, -yr- and -stud(e, -stuid, -stwd, -stwdd, understoune. P.p. under-, -ir-, wnder-, -ir-, -yr- and -stand(in, -standine, -yn(e, -en, -ing, -it, -ed, -stude, -stuid, -stood, -stond. [ME and e.m.E. understond(en, -stand (both a1200), undirstand (Cursor M.), undyrstande (Lydgate), p.t. understod (Ancr. R.), undirstod(e (both Cursor M.), understood (1587), p.p. understanden (Rolle), understonde (Chaucer), undirstonden (c1400), understande (Lydgate), understanded (1523), understood (1573), OE understondan, -standan.] tr. and intr.= Onderstand v.

1. tr. To comprehend, to grasp the meaning, implication or significance of (something).pres. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 964.
Ȝarnand till haf instruccion … How thai suld haly wryt Vndirstand and vndo it ?1438 Alex. ii 240.
I vnderstand nocht quhat ȝe say c1420 Wynt. v 5510.
Saynct Awstyne gert thame off Ingland The rewle off Pask welle wndyrstand [C. vndyrstande, W. vnderstand] 1456 Hay I 153/1.
In quhat kynd of weris that law of armes in civile bukis takis place, the quhilk is subtile to understand c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 309.
Till inquere of thing that pasis his wyt till wndirstand and belangis hyme nocht to knaw a1500 Bk. Chess 600.
Alsone as the caise thai vnderstand, Thai ȝeid to feild 1533 Boece 372a.
In euery Scottis regioun salbe men vndirstanding the lawis 1535 Stewart 154.
Plane langage is eith to vnderstand 1565 Edinb. Univ. MS La.iii.388a, fol. 5b.
Howsone thai vnderstand the caus of thair client(b) c1508 Ch. & M. Prints ii (b) 26.
Vndir stonde(c) c1520-c1535 Nisbet 1 Cor. xiv 15 marg.
To speik in the spret is to vndarstand it him self, and nocht to interpreit itp.t. ?1438 Alex. ii 3833.
Quhat he menit thay vnderstude na thing, For thare was doubill vnderstanding a1500 Henr. Orph. 553.
This auarice, be grace quha vnder-stud, I trow suld leve thair grete solicitude c1475 Wall. v 702.
Quhen Wallace weyll hyr trew tayll wnderstud a1500 Colk. Sow i 394.
Thay hard speik of men gud, And small thairof vndirstud 1572 Sat. P. xxxi 14.
How sone I vnderstude the cace, I maid me … To send this sedull c1590 Fowler II 38/3.
Our forbears wer in the same kirk that we ar now. And albeit they vnderstuid not sa weil sindry heads of religioun [etc.](b) 1531 Wigtown B. Ct. 255b.
He vnderstovne nocht quhat he dydp.p. 1390–1 Acts I 217/1.
The kyng answerit … that he had weel herd & vndirstand his request c1475 Wall. v 950.
Wndirstand 1490 Irland Mir. III 61/6.
Sene the werray iustice of God is sa hie and gret that mar iustice may nocht be ymaginit na wnderstand 1496–7 Acta Conc. II 63.
It can nocht be understand be the lordis the meithis nor divisis of the saidis landis be ressone that thai ken nocht [the] ground 1513 Doug. xi xiv 2.
The fader of goddis and men … Has all hir dedis vnderstand and seyn 1559 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 275.
I am contentit to be jugit be the scripture, truelie understand(b) c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 127.
I haue wele herd, and vnderstond, Be thy reherse, the matere of thy gref(c) ?1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
Qwhen I hade vnderstandyne yhour lettres I gert cry … the trewis to be kepit 1424 Cambuskenneth Let. to Jas. I.
Vnderstandyn 1456 Hay I 111/32.
And as to the lave of the argumentis … thai ar nocht understandin agayne the privilege of Sanct Petir 1460 Ayr Chart. 35.
Deliveryng thir our letres be you seyn and wnderstandyn agayn to the berer 1476 Acta Aud. 43/2.
Thar writtis assedations & allegations at lenth sene herde vnderstandin 1482 Acta Aud. 102/2.
The richtis, resons munymentis & instrumentis of the sade Margretis herd sene & vnderstandin c1515 Asl. MS I 197/6.
As we haue sene and wnderstanding ȝour fals and fenȝeit writ 1510 Rec. Earld. Orkney 88.
Evidentis be us avisitly and riply considerit, hard, seyn and undirstandin 1572–3 Canongate Ct. Bk. 444.
The rychtis … of baith the saidis parteis being proponit producit hard sene considderit and undirstanding 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 45.
This makis the conjunction the mair difficill to be uttered and understanden(d) 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 171/37.
Gif all thais … had harde and vnderstude oure ressoning

2. To comprehend (the words of) a (foreign) language so as to make sense of what is written or said. a1400 Leg. S. ix 68.
He cane … Vndirstand al leyd of mane c1420 Wynt. vi 933.
He wndyrstud [rycht] welle Off Grewe the langage ilke delle c1420 Wynt. viii 636.
Thare namys … are noucht eth till wndyrstand [C. wndyrstande] … in oure langage c1490 Irland Asl. MS 44/1.
The prayere of lawit people is richt proffitable, thocht thai vnderstand nocht the wordis 1513 Doug. i Prol. 392.
To follow alanerly Virgilis wordis, I weyn, Thar suld few vndirstand [Sm. onderstand, Ruddim. understand] me quhat thai meyn c1552 Lynd. Mon. 632.
Sanct Paull … [says] thare bene more edificatioun In fyue wordis that folk doith vnderstand, Nor to pronunce of wordis ten thousand In strange langage c1552 Lynd. Mon. 611.
To heir thir nunnis … Syngand and sayand psalmes and orisoun, Nocht vnderstandyng quhat thay syng nor say a1578 Pitsc. I 274/13.
He vndirstwd nocht thair leid nor thay his a1578 Pitsc. I 349/18.
My parochinaris … was so rude and barbarus that they understud na Lattin

3. To comprehend (a person) through being familiar with their language or mode of expression. Also const. double object. a1400 Leg. S. x 126.
I thé pray Quhow thu all lede spek cane & vndirstande euire-ilke manne c1475 Wall. x 845.
Ȝon glakyt Scottis can ws nocht wndyrstand Fulys thai ar 1562-3 Winȝet I 139/19.
Ȝe hef bigit vp ȝour tour of Babel sa, that nane vnderstandis wtheris 1617 Conv. Burghs III 52.
Inrespect thair [Scottish merchants'] language and thairs [Englishmen's] ar not so far different bot each ane vnderstandethe ane vther swa that they neid no interpretour 1671 Sel. Biog. I 249.
A minister … miskens this grand controversie, or speaks of it so darkly as that he discovers he desires not to be understood

4. To comprehend as a fact; to realise, chiefly const. clause object or object and infin.For further examples of ȝe (etc.) sall understand, see Sal(l aux. v. A 3 (2).For sene & understandin, see Se v. 5 e p.p.pres. c1420 Ratis R. 1176.
Thai say God wrangvysly to thaim prewys, And wndirstandis nocht that He Considiris caus and qualytee Of al thing sal be and was a1500 Seven S. 570.
‘My lufit lord,’ than said this quene, ‘Ȝe wnderstand wele quhat I meyne' 1490 Irland Mir. I 32/29.
Thou may wndirstand that thar is nane sa dulce sang … as this that the sone of God Jhesus … first maid 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 274.
Gif ȝe will knaw quhatt wailȝeand men thir bene … ȝe sall vnderstand thai ar the refuse of all realmes 1558-66 Knox II 264.
Understanding our hoill wisdome to be but meare foolishnes befoir … our God a1578 Pitsc. I 11/11.
Thairfoir I wald thay did nocht vndirstand That thow hes taine sick hie matteris in hand(b) a1500 Lanc. 1925.
Flattereris … latith kingis oft til wnderstonde Thar vicis a1500 Lanc. 1935.
It is the blyndit ignorans Of kingis, wich that hath no gouernans To wnderstond who doith sich o mysp.t. c1420 Wynt. v 5539.
Off hevynnys spyrytys he wndyrstude That he saw thare a multitwde 1456 Hay I 178/30.
And he say that he understude nocht that he suld pas be see, till sa fer a haly graf a1500 Henr. Fab. 1871.
Quhen scho thair fulische hartis vnderstude Sa indurate a1500 Seven S. 2656.
Quhen the hie ravyn vnderstud The scho ravyn wald nocht cum agane 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1734.
Be that signe, the knicht weill vnderstude Gif at that time he wald furder or nop.p. 1525 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. V 30.
That the rycht merchis … may be knawine and vnderstand 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 50/17.
It is easie then to be vnderstand that the casting out of Deuilles, is by the vertue of fasting and prayer(b) 1494 Loutfut MS 130a.
Four thingis ar to be wndirstandin in making of fossis & setting of panillus(c) 1525 Reg. Great S. 97/1.
Quhill it be sene and understanding be the dekin and four maisteris unsuspect of the craft that he be sufficient werkman(d) 1560 Fœdera XV 569-70 in Dickinson Source-bk. II 159.
Having sufficientlie understanded … by the manifest proceadingis of the Frenche that thei intend to conquer the realme of Scotland

b. In impersonal const.: To be understood as a general rule or principle. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 102 (A).
It is till vndirstande [B. vndyrstand] that als mony delais & als mony essonȝes he that folowys sal haf as he that deffendis of wrangwise deidis [etc.]

5. a. To learn, be or become aware, be informed. Variously const. Also in impersonal and elliptical constructions. (See also Lat v.¹ 8 e (5), (6).) b. To assume, believe. Chiefly const. clause complement, or object and infin.a. (1) 1390–1 Acts I 216/2.
It is done me til vndirstand that thare is a certane contract made [etc.] 1433 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 286.
We hafe vnderstandyn be Ione of Carmichel … that ȝe desire [etc.] ?1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
I vnderstand that giff yhour hee excellent war clerly enfourmyte of the … takynge of prisoneris … me think … yhe sulde erar [etc.] 1456 Hay II 77/11.
I have understandin how thou desyris that I war with thee 1489 Misc. Spald. C. IV 185.
That I sall nolder hear, se, nor understand, hurt, harm nor apperand perell to my said masteris persone … bot I sall lat it at my power 1533–4 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 414.
We undirstand that granting of lettres of legittimatioun to divers persouns hes done us hurt and prejudice and takin mekle proffitt fra us 1540 Lynd. Sat. 907 (B).
Schaw me the luffe, schir of ȝour hand [Ch. palmistrie] And I sall gar ȝow vndirstand Gif ȝour grace be infortunat 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II 207.
Vnderstandand that thair is dependand afoir the lordis of counsale diuers grete actionis 156[9] Aboyne Rec. 483.
Mairator we haif understand that ȝe ar to change the provost of Elgin 1575 Reg. Privy C. II 454.
Albeit sensyne the saidis complenaris understandis the same mesour to be of far greittar quantitie nor is abone mentionat a1578 Pitsc. I 17/24.
Quhan the gouernour vnderstwdd the samyn he come suddainlie furth of the castell 1585 Misc. Bann. C. I 111.
Vnderstanding my selff to haiff bene injustlie detractit … be malicious persouns c1590 Fowler II 67/26.
I appeale thee … if thou hes by reporte vnderstuid of anie; or being present, had knauledge, that [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 192/1.
Angusian vndirstandeng throuch lettiris writne frome his freindis, that [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II 310/11.
As we wndirstude be sindrie, Dessie was prudent and wyse 1615 Melrose P. 600.
The pillats wha wer sent … to wnderstand if thair was any saif ryding at the Iyll of Tixa(2) 1482–3 Acta Conc. II cxxvi.
It is understand that umquhile Archbald of Manderstoun was partisman with the saidis persons in the bying of the said rachteris 1497 Acta Conc. II 89.
It is understand to thame that our sade soverane lordis fader gaif the sade infeftment to the sade Wilyeam Lord Ruthven 1506 Edinb. Chart. 189.
It is vnderstand be the lordis of our counsall that we ar greittumlie defraudit in our cvstomes 1518 Renfrew Arch. Coll. I 113.
The quhilk appunctament was fulfillit be the said Maistir Johnne … as was cleirelie vndirstand to the saidis lordis 1521–2 Fife Sheriff Ct. 276.
It is wnderstandine that thai … pure lauboraris & can get na landyt mene to be souerte fore thaim 1538 Reg. Privy S. II 402/2.
Eftir lang pley movit … befor the lordis of counsale … it is cleirle understand to his grace and lordis of his counsale that [etc.] 1550 Dundee Chart. No. 53.
James erle of Arrane … to quhom it is vnderstand that oure burgh of Dunde is alluterlie brint and distroyit 1561 Arran in Knox II 274.
Be this proclamatioun it is understand to the kirk … and memberis thairof that the Quenis grace is mynded [etc.] 1570 Reg. Episc. Glasg. II 588.
Thai … comperit nocht to schaw ony ressonable causis in the contrar lyke as wes cleirlie understand to the saidis lordisb. 1428 Liber Melros 520.
Be the markis and the meris als fer furth as thai vnderstude contenyt in the abbotis charteris a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 136.
Ȝe causit me alwayis vnderstand and trow The seid of lufe was sawin in my face 1489 Acts II 219/1.
The Lordis of Articulis vnderstandis that it is … neidfull that ane ambaxiat be send to the King of Denmark a1500 Seven S. 1405.
‘My lord’, said scho, ‘I wnderstud, It that I did was for ȝour gud' 1496–7 Acta Conc. II 54.
The Lordis, understandand his desyre consonant to ressone, decretis [etc.] 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 241.
Utheris the legis has apon leis understanding and inprudentlie tayn consait that [etc.] 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 161/22.
I vndirstand that oure salueour institute the commwnioun in the latter supper 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 169/5.
Lat vs lift vp our mynd be fayth, vndirstanding in that halie table to be the lamb of God taikand away the synnis of the warld a1578 Pitsc. I 146/4.
The matrounis wnderstanding this damesell dessawit in this matter 1568 Q. Mary in Facs. Nat. MSS III lvii.
So concerning the commissioun … we vnderstand to haif alreddy ane general lieutennant

6. To interpret (a person or thing) as (of, to do or be, etc.), to take as signifying (what is specified). Also const. in (a person).Freq. active with passive sense: To be interpreted as. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 1061.
Is til vndirstand, thu treu, Of a payane cumyne a Jow c1400 Troy-bk. i 493.
Astrologye … The Auctor tretys herof and sais … that is for to wndrestand: The sonne wndre eclyps turnand [etc.] c1420 Wynt. iv Prol. 11.
A garland as a crowne sulde be Wndyrstandyn … A takyn off wyrschype c1420 Wynt. vii 557.
This tre yhe may wndyrstand To be the kynryk off Ingland, [C. wndyrstande] 1456 Hay I 194/16.
As to the law that spekis of the twa bondis, that is understandin gif he cummys in presence quhare twa lordis debatis actualiter 1476 Acta Aud. 42/1.
The sadis persons has errit in the seruing of the said breve … , becaus the lordis findis that thai ar vnderstand coniunctly c1490 Irland Asl. MS 24/18.
Be vrisoun and prayere wnderstand all thing throu the quhilk God is … done honour to 1549 Compl. 30/23.
That terme ȝouthed suld be vndirstandin for ignorance & inconstance 1551 Hamilton Cat. 38.
We suld understand him to be … the well quhilk can nocht be dryit 1551 Hamilton Cat. 288.
Quhen sanct Paule sais, the day of our Lord … sall be revelit in fyre, he can nocht be understandit to speik of the day of general judgement 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 165/16.
Specialie of the wordis of the latter supper, quhairby thai vnderstude the sacrifice of the mes c1590 Fowler II 45/14.
Be the word byschop they onlie vnderstuid tha quha lauborit in preaching the Word c1590 Fowler II 60/33.
Quhilk place can not be vnderstande of the fyre of hell because fra it thair is na redemptioun

b. passive. To be signified; meant, intended; to be taken as (of). 1456 Hay I 3/36.
The prophecyes the quhilkis ar presumyt to be understandin in ȝour persone 1456 Hay I 10/10.
All the Cristin men that war undirstandin be the grene blude war all … put to dede 1456 Hay I 12/7.
Be the quhilk mountayn ardent, is understandin herisy 1490 Irland Mir. I 31/13.
In this twa thingis are wndirstand, as and I said ‘The king is in Edinburgh’, thar is twa thingis includit c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. Pref.
The foure euangelistis ar vndirstandin be iiij figuris of spirituale priuite. Matheu is vndirstande be man … Marc is vndirstand be a lioun … Luke is vndirstand be a calf … Johne is vndirstand be ane egile 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 156/36.
Als the wordis of the prophet can nocht be vndirstand of the sacrifice of the Jewis c1590 Fowler II 52/1.
Vnder the name of Juida & Jerusalem is vnderstand the Kirk of Christ

7. ? To countenance, sanction. 1558-66 Knox II 270.
With great diligence the lordis repared unto hir from all quarters. And so was nothing understand but myrth and quyetnes till the nixt Sunday

8. intr. To comprehend, have understanding (of something); to have the capacity to understand. c1420 Ratis R. 836.
Ȝouthed, The quhilk has mekile syndrynes Tyll wndirstand, sum mar, sum les c1420 Wynt. v 668.
The Crystyn men … than ware gud, That off thai postyllys wndyrstude 1456 Hay I 13/8.
The quhilk lettis to have perfyte resoun … to understand rychtwisly a1500 Henr. Fab. 38.
Of eloquence Nor rethorike, I neuer vnderstude a1500 Henr. Fab. 44.
My author in his fabillis tellis how That brutal beistis spak and vnderstude a1500 Henr. Orph. 56.
[The Muse] Thelya … quhilk can oure saulis bring … To vnderstand and haue capacitee c1475 Wall. viii 897.
Rycht thus we wndyrstand: We haiff no charge quhat our king gerris ws do 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 76.
Except ye hear Christ in ane familiar and hamelie language ye cannot understand 1661 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 5.
I shall not know nor understand of any maner of thing to be attempted … against his Majesties persone … bot I shall lett and withstand the same

8. In parenthetic use: To be informed; to believe. ?1438 Alex. ii 218.
It micht not greif, I vnderstand ?1438 Alex. ii 2919.
Bot thay war few, I vnderstand a1500 Colk. Sow i 469.
The vgly worme nevir so weill preuit … Nor ȝit as I vnderstand the dragone in the holy land a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 345.
Thou lufis nane Irische, elf, I understand 1513 Doug. xii viii 26.
The clowdis … Dryvys … to the land Doand, the cayrfull husbandis vnderstand, The gret myscheif tocum 1535 Stewart 23678.
This nobill Dongard, as I wnderstand, Sic curage had [etc.] c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 818.
Thair was slane, of [the] Inglis band, Fyue scoir of men, I vnderstand