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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.

Verite(e, -ie, n. Also: -ity(e, -yte(e, -ytie, -etie, -etté, -at(i)e, -tie, werit(i)e, -ity, -yté, -(i)etie, -at(i)e, -aty, verrit(t)ie, -yté, -eté, -at(t)ie, werraté, varit(i)e, waritie, -eté, virité. [Late ME and e.m.E. verite (1422), varyte (15th c.), veritie (1509), verity (1535), veritee (1540-1), OF verite.]

1. (The) truth; revealed truth, according to religious belief; truth as a virtue. Without or with the def. art. b. With adjectival, phrasal or clausal modification. c. Personified.(1) a1400 Leg. S. i 254.
Bot-gyf that pece be … to fynd veryte In-to na thing may be profyte 1456 Hay II 147/6.
Gif thou will knaw all thingis, and all science and all veritee c1460 Consail Vys Man 3317.
God is grund of verytee c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 97.
The defferens … betuex erour and werite 1494 Loutfut MS 14b.
Becaus that verite is the principale thing of noblesse cotis of armis ar maid to that significacioun for al noble men without verite is nocht worthi to be callit noblesse 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 176.
Mony mervellus mater … Will seggis se in thar sleip … Thys was bot faynt fantasy … that I feill Nevir word of verite c1530-40 Stewart in Bann. MS 277b/52.
Ladeis ar wyis and full of verite a1550 Ave Gloriosa 66.
Our souerane of thé did spring; The way of verryte, O mothir of marcy 1551 Hamilton Cat. 25.
He is ane lear and in him thair is na verite(2) 1490 Irland Mir. I 16/10.
I pray … the lecture that he reid this buk … and tak heid to the verite and conclusoune writtin in it a1500 Prestis of Peblis 340 (A).
In tym to cum … With oure iustice thar sall pas ane doctour … The quhilk sall be ane doctour in the law That sall the faith and werite [Ch. faith of veritie] wele knaw And fra hyne furth ȝe sall … se Baith thief pvnist & lele men lef in le c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 63/100.
The nychtingaill said, ‘Trew is the contrary … All luve is lost bot upone God allone.' Than said the merle, ‘Myn errour I confes … Blind ignorance me gaif sic hardines. To argone so agane the varite' 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2054 (B).
Gif to the divill … This … new tessment With thame that it translaittit. Sen lawit men knew the veritie Pardonaris gettis no cherretie 1551 Hamilton Cat. 62.
Quhen … the juge biddis me sweir the verite, I may sweir lesumlie … quhen the verite and rycht is confermit be it, the lesing is confoundit c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2390.
Wo be to priestis … Quhilk suld schaw thame the verratie 1559 Knox VI 15.
The veritie which I affirme is invincible 1562-3 Winȝet I 10/24.
That all errour … being cuttit away, we al on baith sydis mot knaw the veritie and … embrace the samyn as the deir belouit dochter of God 1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. 10/21.
I mak na professione of eloquence … becaus the veritie is beautifull aneuch of it self 1573 Davidson in Sat. P. xlii 92.
The veritie we may mantine At leist in thay things that we knaw Sa far as ressoun may or law a1578 Pitsc. II 75/11.
O immortall God … thai desyre to … distroy thy trew doctrene and werietie by the quhilk thow hes schewit thé into the worldb. 1490 Irland Mir. III 4/7.
That God creatis … His grace in the saule of the persoune for His promys He kepis and His verite is our all thing 1551 Hamilton Cat. 3.
Aggreabil in all pointis to the Catholyk verite of halie kirk 1551 Hamilton Cat. 40.
The eternal and infallible verite of God fra quhom na lesing may procede 1551 Hamilton Cat. 41.
The verite that is infallible 1562-3 Winȝet I 11/10.
The diuine veritie 1562-3 Winȝet I 26/1.
The knawin veritie 1562-3 Winȝet I 65/17.
The veritie [MS verite] quhilk is Christe 1558-66 Knox II 122.
That my lordis bischoppis … wold … ganesay any thing that directlie repugnes to the veritie of God 1580 Facs. Nat. MSS III lxx.
To the quhilk confession and forme of religion we willingly aggree … in all poyntis as wnto Godis wndoubtid trueth and weritiec. 1490 Irland Mir. I 119/27.
Dame Verite a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 106.
Thair allegence Justice and Verite Affermit nocht c1530-40 Stewart in Bann. MS 88a/16.
Scho anserit me that bricht And said thay call me Lady Varite 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1025.
Heir … the king sall ly doun amang the ladies and then Veritie sall enter

2. The truth of a particular circumstance or situation. With or without the def. art. b. Const. of the matter or situation. Also with clausal modification. c. In parenthetic clauses.(1) a1500 Seven S. 685.
Scho prayit him … To heile counsall and nakitlye The werite scho suld declaire 1513 Doug. ii ii 36.
Schir kyng I sal … Grant to thé all the verite … me lyst nocht to deny That of the Grekis menȝe ane am I 1521–2 Acts XII 39/1.
Thir informaciouns maid to ȝoure grace contrare to the veryte 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 14.
I hard it murmurit in Strewelyn that thai wald stop it quhilk causit me to wryt to the lord of Kilmawaris to wit the werate of my awin behallff c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1000.
Allace (quod Adam) … The veritie I sall recorde: This woman [etc.] 15.. Clar. ii 982.
He him tauld the veritie … Richt as it was, dissimuling in no thing 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 525.
Thocht I haue said the veritie [sc. of the duties of kings] In sempyll maner, faithfullie, As to my knawlage dois apeir 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2040.
Unto the tyme thay had perfytelie sene How the haill caus and mater it had bene. Quhen thay had knawin the vtter veritie [etc.] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9840.
He … said tell me the treuth and veritie 1565 St. A. Kirk S. 253.
The said Dauid is dissavit be conceling of the verite fra hym be the said Cristen c1610 Melville Mem. 282.
His maieste … willit them to declair vnto ther princes how that he wes very weill content of the lordis that wer about him … Mester Cairo … roundit in his maiesteis ear requesting him to tell the plan verite [etc.] c1650 Spalding II 79.
The marquess of Hammiltoun, finding him self guiltie in thir … pointis, and feiring to be reveillit by sum sparkis that knew the veritie [etc.](b) 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 73.
I say thes to yowr grays for na warete becawes I am not sower herof 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 67.
For samekle we have bene monest … as to bair witnessing to the varitie in seire thingis to be knawin 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 67.
Waritie(2) 1456 Hay I 285/21.
For secularis ar hate of blude and in ire and oft tymes … geve thair … jugement again resoun … For ire lettis the mannis mynde to juge and determe veritee a1500 Henr. Hasty Credence 7.
Fals titlaris … haif no dreid … to lie Than sowld ane lord awyse him weill and se Quhen ony taill is brocht to his presence, Gif it be groundit in to veretie c1475 Wall. iv 6.
Sagittarius … Be the ilk syng weryte ye may know The changing cours [etc.] c1475 Wall. x 224.
Kyndnes said, ‘Ȝha, thai ar gud Scottis men.' Than Will said, ‘Nay, weryte thow may ken, Had thai bene gud [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece I 20.
‘This bludy … pepill gif our goddis schawis the verite sall nocht fail to rais amang us [etc.]' … 'Ye suld nocht be movit be the respons of goddis for gif thay be of determit verite thay may nocht be eschewit, gif thay be fals thay suld nocht be dred'b. (1) 1490 Irland Mir. I 8/9.
Perchaunce lawde pepil comprehendis nocht the profound verite tharof 1531 Bell. Boece I xlix.
Maister Alexander Galloway … was with us in thir Ilis gevand his mind … to serche the verite of thir obscure and misty dowtis 1549 Compl. 130/4.
Quhar for I exort thé to mettigat thy inuectiue vehement accusatione and to considir the verite of my innocens 1562-3 Winȝet I 21/20.
To treit the veritie self of the sacrifice off the Kirk … togidder with all the vtheris sacramentis 1615 Highland P. III 191.
The wtter veritie of this I hope yiour maiestie shall haue … occasioun to try c1615 Chron. Kings 3.
The verrittie knawin of the taking of certane buitting(2) c1475 Wall. viii 1406.
And verite war seyn, That ye me luffyt, I awcht yow luff agayn 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2000 (B).
Now haif I tald ȝow the blak verritie How I am brocht to this miseritie a1578 Pitsc. I 197/35.
I will schew ȝou the veretie quhairfoir and quhy that I tuik ȝour crounc. a1500 Colk. Sow i 132.
For to say the verite Luvand beistis swyne be Contrair houndis nature ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 182.
For to schaw The verite quha will it knaw c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 196/69.
Sic ladyis wyis Thay ar to pryis, To say the veretie a1568 Bann. MS 81a/31.
Thairfoir to say the varite Now auld kyndnes is quyt forȝet

3. specif. The truth of a situation from a legal point of view, esp. the truth about the circumstances of a case undergoing trial. Also, once, with reference to the authenticity of a document. b. Const. of the matter. Also modified by a clause.(1) 1456 Hay I 216/14.
Pape Innocent … sais that the king of Fraunce is nocht subject to na king … bot … The quhilkis resouns and allegeancis I say nocht for … flatery bot for ground of lawtee and of veritee a1500 Henr. Fab. 1215.
As iugis thay … held … disputatioun Seikand full mony decretalis off the law And glosis als the veritie to knaw 1488 Acts II 208/2.
To gif thaim ane assise of thair avne nichbiaris that best knawis the verite 1492 Reg. Episc. Morav. 244.
Quhil ony knaulag may be gottin bettir of the werite 1492–3 Acta Conc. I 272/1.
The witnes … beand … sworne to depone the verite in the said mater 1496 Acta Conc. II 27.
Tak ane inquisicione of the … lest suspect that best knawis the veryte 1506 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 52.
Werate 1516 Fife Sheriff Ct. 144.
Neidful & meritable it is to bere lele & suthfastnes witnessing to the werite 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 92.
Diverse inconvenientis followit thairupoun quhairof the verite may nocht be tryit nor redres maid 1562 Inverness Rec. I 77.
Verette 1567 Nugae Scoticae 13.
Sworn as he vill answer in the presence of God, the day of Jugement, to declair the veratie 1567 G. Ball. 8.
Lat ȝour talk be nay and ȝe, Except ane juge do ȝow constraine, To testifie the veritie 1586 St. A. Kirk S. 578.
The session, for triall of the verite, ordanis … [certain persons] to be warnit to this day aucht dayis 1605 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 70.
Ane of his witnesses … whoe … aboade be his falshoode, till he was constrayned be the discowerie of his marrow to grant the weritie, to be handged 1642 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 669.
Requyrit him to declair the veritie(b) 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 125.
Hyr ayth of fidelite being resavit to testify the virite upon the said Lady of Nydeis articlis(2) 1456 5th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 625/1.
To the quhilkis, in witnes of veritee, … our seele, … is appensitb. (1) c1476 Lennox Mun. 107.
Quhar the verite of the mater may be best knavin 1500 Acta Conc. II 426.
The sade Huchone til be lauchfully callit til schaw his halding of the sadis landis … be the quhilk the richt and verite of the sammyn may be understandin c1500 Halyb. xxii.
For werite of the samen caus [I] sweris to gyf in wriit 1518 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 48.
Thome Jhonstone … procurator … persewit Adam Jonkesone wobster of certane clath restit in his hand … the quhilk Adam grantit the restment and certane clath layit in to him in clewis and now xi ellis of raw clath of broun the quhilk the balyeis decernit Adam to kep quhill the verite of the said clath be sen 1595 Innes Sketches 532.
Deponit the weretie of the said murthour(2) 1490 Acta Conc. I 149/2.
To tak a deligent inquesicioun … of the … wordiast of the said burghe … that best knawis the uerite how the said house wes biggit

4. True information, confirmed or accurate news. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xxxvii 23.
The Lord is rissin quhome ȝe come to se … To his appostillis ga tell the verite 1513 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 143.
Ane greit rumour now laitlie rysin … tuiching our souerane lord … of the quhilk we understand thair is cumin na veritie as yit 1543–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 56.
I wrait this Monunday to you the verate that all was to be finelly apoyntit 1600 Acts IV 204/1.
Gowrie said, ‘I am sure he is furth; alwayes stay, my lord duik, and I sall gang vp and get ȝour lordschip the veritie and certantie thairof'

5. The true or accurate sense or meaning (of a sentence). 1513 Doug. i Prol. 398.
Quha haldis … of wordis the properteis Full oft the verite of the sentens fleys

6. A truth, a true statement. c1490 Irland Asl. MS 8/30, 31, 9/3.
Thir thre weriteis … The first werite is … I grant that I haue synnit [etc.] … The secund werite … I purpos … to kepe … me fra syn [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. II 6/30.
For nouthir may we knaw [etc.] … and this verite I pruf be diuers ressouns 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 149/33.
Ane verite makis nocht ane vther verite fals

7. Of (in) verite, true; truthfull; authentic; accurate. Also, apparently, with omission of of.(1) ?a1500 Rosw. & Lillian 5.
A tale that is of veritie 1501 Acta Conc. MS X 116b.
Not grantand that thai [sc. instruments] war of verite 1533 Boece 34a.
Sum haldis … the name was callit Portugale and eftir certane ȝeris callit Lusitania and now … returnit to … Portugale. Bot quha may afferme ane thing sua ancient and ald to be of verite? c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 149.
This prouerb it is of verite c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5190.
Gyf this be of veryte, The suith I pray ȝow schaw to me 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II 195.
Quhilkis jugis … fand the narratioun foirsaid of verite a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 141/8.
Gife there be God the Father and God the Sone diuidit in twa personis, quhow can the first article of our beleiff be of veritie, saiand: ‘There is bot ane God’? 1563 Reg. Privy C. I 251.
Affermit the contentis of the said complaint to be of veritie 1564–5 Reg. Privy C. I 312.
It is of veritie that he aucht him na service 1565–6 Crim. Trials I i 471.
It is of veritye that the said Thomas is ane pure fermorare 1671 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct.) 25 July.
Quhich dispositione I affirme be thir presents to be of verrittie(b) 1533 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 97.
Allegeand the saidis landis … to be ane pertinent of that tak … quhilkis is nocht of weraty 1543–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 56.
Sic word com of his departing quhilk was nocht of verate 1552–3 Lanark B. Rec. 23.
That the said instroment … was unjust and not of werrate a1578 Pitsc. II 134/24.
The provist ansuerit and said that is of truth and weratie a1578 Pitsc. II 174/28.
It was alledgit that [etc.] … quhilk was nocht of weratie 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 267 (3 Jan.).
Verrattie(c) 1596–7 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 66.
Verrete(d) c1643 Rothes P. MS.
Quhilk compt was trewlie debursit … quhilk to be of vertie I testifie thir presentis(2) 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 12.
My compeditour … had said … that I hed offerit him the provestre of Dunbartane … quhilk wes nocht in verite(3) 1511 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 15.
The said ballyeis be autentica documentis of nychtburis … knawand this allegeance trew and verite, quharfor [etc.]

b. As complement of to be: It is true, it is the truth.Some examples may belong in 1 above. 1490 Irland Mir. I 77/10.
The thrid opinione is verite & conforme to the faith & hali scripture, that paradice is [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. II 52/7.
Verite is and the faith of Jhesu that [etc.] 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 973.
Jacobe and Josephe had prosperitie, the Papingo said: that is verytie 1699 Dunkeld Presb. II 275.
And this to be verritie as he shall answer to God

c. Of (for, in) verite, truly, indeed. Also, once, in werity deid, appar., a mixture of in werity and in deid. Cf. in verray deid (Verray adj. 1 c).(1) 1456 Hay II 80/2.
Of veritee, for but him may na gude be done a1500 Bk. Chess 1538.
Thir men of craft suld be of werite That word and mynd and deid accordand be c1520-c1535 Nisbet Prol. Rom. 341/6.
For we ar sa waik … that gif it stude in us thair wald for weryte na mann be sawit 1533 Gau 39/32.
Hir cleyne virginite wes … in verite prouine be the prophetis 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 37.
For verate all the mone is in to the castell 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 109.
Werrate 1546 Liber Offic. S. Andree 154.
In veritie we wes neuir present 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5592.
Will ȝe say so (quod scho) for veritie 1572 Grey Friars II 97.
Be the faytht of ane gentillman declarit and said of weritie that he hes nocht sett in tak [etc.] 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 14.
Johnne Scott fastit … of veritie xxxij dayes 1677 Sc. Hist. Rev. XVII 18.
[John Hervie] … thinkis to bost them with that law borrowis quhilk he hes for veritie to get possessione in that land(2) 1586 Waus Corr. 365.
And in werity deid in case I had lernit off your [lordships] said bedfallow aye thing mycht proffeit my ladye I wald nocht haiff maid my maistres foirsene thairoff

8. a. Wourd (vordis) of verite, a true statement, the truth; the Word of God (Christ). b. Pasturis of veritie, true, worthy clergymen. c. The chayre of veritie, the pulpit.a. 1490 Irland Mir. III 132/21.
Than ansuerit he … and said thow Alexander quhy spulȝeis thou [etc.] … thou art empriour … and for caus my power is litle I am callit a thef & spulȝeour bot thi faute is gretar na myn and for that wourd of wertu and werite he gat grace anens Alexander 1531 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 114.
Margaret Harper … depones be hir gret aytht that Jenot Skune … vas the … byar of this almery … Thomas Skune sone to the said Margaret … depones in verbis sacerdotii that … he vait veill that his moder deponis vordis of veryte 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 192.
Thus, without kyngs y-groundit be In Goddis wourd of verytie [etc.] c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 90.
As the faithfull in Christ ingraftit be, Be His Euangell and wourd of ueritieb. a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 25/21.
God send pasturis of veritie Be quham we may instructit be … And tak away thir ignoranttis Off kirkmen that vyceis hantisc. 1588 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 738.
That the first day of the Assemblie … the chayre of veritie asweill occupied befor noone … as afternoone, be the ordinar pastours 1596–7 Reg. Privy C. V 359.
Tuicheing certane speicheis gevin oute be him in pulpett … allegeing [etc.] … and for abusing of the chyre of verritie with sic contumelious and tressonable speicheis 1610 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 1081.
In regard that they are ministers, who of all others should spend least idle talk, and specially in the chair of verity

9. Aith of verite. a. An oath asserting one's allegiance or loyalty. = Athe of fidelitie (Fidelité n. 1). b. An oath of trustworthiness or truth, declaring that the case is as is stated. c. An oath volunteered by pursuer or defender the effect of which is to conclude the case. See esp. quot. Stair below. See also Acta Conc. II lxv for further information. d. See quot.a. 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 155.
Schir Jhone Brydin deponit his aith of verite to minster the office of clerkschip in absens of the common clerk quhen he beis requirit 1562 Dumfries B. Ct. in Prot. Bk. M. Carruthers 6.
Jon Maxwell … referrit to the ayth of verite of Schir Mark Carrutheris 1655 Stitchill Baron Ct. 2.
The said fyfteen famous honest men … gave thair aithes of verity for faithfull and lawfull administratioun of thair officeb. 1515 Fife Sheriff Ct. 16.
The said Master Alexander … maid the aith of verite juramentum calumpnie that he trastit he had ane just cause baith to persew & defend … & desyrit the said Williame procuratour foirsaid, to mak the aith of fidelite siclike … and thane the said Williame … allegiit [etc.] … bot he … wald nocht mak the said aith of fidelite juramentum calumpnie as said is 1627 Orkney Rentals iii 56.
These abov wreattin reportis upon our aith of weretie we certeffie to be of treuth in sa far as we knowc. 1622-6 Bisset I 193/8.
There be thrie kynd of aithis commonlie used in judgement, twa therof hes the full force … of probatioun, quherof this is the first, called the aith of veritie or decisorium litis because it decydis and puttis ane fynall end to the pley c1630 Hope Minor Practicks (1734) 43.
There is an oath of verity, which is called a qualified oath, which qualification of oath, the party who uses the same, should give in, and shew to the contrar party, to the effect the contrar party may advise, if he will receive the said qualified oath of his party 1648 Acts VI ii 8/2.
And that the samyne sould be proven be the oathes of veritie of the saidis Erle Mershell and of the Lairdis of Phillorth … the saidis Estates hes thairfore … appoynted … ane committie of parliament for taking of the saidis perties thair saidis oathes of veritie 1658 Rothesay B. Rec. 23.
Patrick M'Conochie maltman … refusit to cleir himself be oathe … The procurator fiscall Donald Ure without any farder probatioun refert to Allexander Wode maltman his oathe of vertie quhidder he did contravein the said act or not who hes taken the samyn to the nixt court day to declair be oathe thairin 1667 Stitchill Baron Ct. 50.
Being referred to their oathe of verity they all compeired personally and being all severally deeply sworne they all deponed [etc.] 1668 Corshill Baron Ct. 77.
Thomas Wyllie … persewed Hew Harper … for ane ferlot of eatten corne to him by the said Hew his foullis the quhilk the said persewer referred to the defender his oath if not of veritie: and the said defender referred back the clame to the said persewer his oath if his owne beastis had not eaten price thairof: quho not being willing to swear for such ane triviall bussines tooke [gap] thairof to himself and the said defender was decerned and ordained to pay [etc.] 1673 Stitchill Baron Ct. 69.
He referred to the said defender her oath of verity … who … deponed that neither she nor her … husband receaved the samyne and therfor was assoilȝied therfor 1681 Stair Inst. iv xliv § 3.
It is not every oath that can terminate pleas, and be the end of all strife, but that oath only which the scripture calls an oath for confirmation, and which is commonly called an oath of verity, because it positively affirmeth, that what the swearer asserteth is trued. 1681 Stair Inst. iv xliv § 9.
There is another kind of oath of verity which is not referred nor deferred by a party but by the judge … But it takes no place in plenary probation