Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Urisoun, n. Also: urison(n)e, ur(i)e-, urysone, -sown, urasoun, wriso(u)n, -soune, wrysown(e, wriesown, -sone. [ME and e.m.E. ureisun (c1175), urisun (c1250), f. as Oriso(u)n n.]

1. A prayer. b. The act of praying, prayer. c. To mak (one's) orisoun, to say a prayer. d. attrib. = Oriso(u)n n. 1, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d. c1420 Wynt. v 4386.
Gelasius … Ympnys mad and wrysownys c1450-2 Howlat 472 (A).
[He] come to the haly graf … With offerandis and vrisonnis c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 331.
Bettir is the end of the vresone na the begynyng ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 528.
Ane vrisoun till our Lady a1540 Freiris Berw. 348 (M).
The freyr … tuik his buik and said ane vrisone a1578 Pitsc. I 349/28.
I teichit thame the dominicall wrisoun quhilk we call the Lordis prayerb. c1420 Wynt. v 3443.
Sum on kneyis in urysown [W. vrisoun] And sum in contemplatyown c1490 Irland Asl. MS 47/16.
Gif thair be ony of thi barnis baptisit and decesit sone efter before vse of vrisoun a1500 Prestis of Peblis 129 (Asl.).
Richt sa throu ȝour mes & vrisoun Myne enemyis suld put to confusioun a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 946 (Asl.).
Behald the son of God in vrisoun 1533 Boece 191b.
Certane kirk men callit Culdeis … mekill in vrisoun exercitc. a1400 Leg. S. v 311.
Sancte Johne mad his vrisone To God in gud deuocione a1400 Leg. S. xvii 120.
Vrysone c1420 Wynt. i 599.
Wrysowned. 1540 Maxwell Mem. I 409.
Ane wrison bwyk

2. A formal speech, oration, harangue. Also b. To mak ane urisoun, to make a speech or give an address to an audience. = Oriso(u)n n. 3, 3 c. c. A discourse designed as a moral or explanatory comment on what has gone before. = Oratio(u)n(e n. 2 b. Only Pitsc. 1533 Boece 122b.
Ostorius … to exhort was nocht swere, vsing ane vehement vrasoun a1578 Pitsc. I 59 marg.
Alexander Levingstounis wrisoun to the pepillb. a1578 Pitsc. I 56 heading.
Hou the governouris sone was heiddit and hou he maid a wrisoune a1578 Pitsc. I 59/28.
Alexander … maid ane singular goode wriesone deplorand the mutabilietie and wnstabillnes of fortune 1673 Stirling Common Good 85.
Gevin to … ane of the scollers for making ane urisone befoir the magistrats at thair placing of the schoollmaister [£2 18 s.]c. a1578 Pitsc. I 145 heading.
Of the exhortatioun and urisonne following heireftir a1578 Pitsc. I 209 marg.
The wriesown a1578 Pitsc. I 392 marg.
The Vriesone