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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.

Vice, Vis, n.¹ Also: wice, vyce, wyce, vys, wis, wys, vyice. Pl. vicis, -es, wicis, -es, vycis, -e(i)s, wycis, -ys, wysis. [ME and e.m.E. vice (1297), vyce (c1400), wyce (1422), OF vice, L. vitium.]

1. a. Sinfulness, wickedness, depravity, corruption; behaviour displaying such faults, conduct that is morally wrong and liable to punishment by the church. b. Dishonourable or recklessly foolish behaviour.Also in contrast to virtue (Vertu n. 1).a., b. (1) 1375 Barb. vi 357.
Hardyment with foly is wice [c. vis] Bot hardyment that mellyt is With wyt is worschip a1400 Leg. S. v 108.
For sic lewynge Of vice is nocht clengit the thinge … vane thinge is it … As the medicine that takine is, Quhare-thru the seknes na remed Ma haf c1420 Ratis R. 23.
Gyf at thow schapis to bounte, Thi branchis braid and gret sal be, And gif thow schapis thaim to wice, Infortone will wndo thi price c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 15/17.
I wrachit synnar, vile, and full of vice Off the sevin deidly synnis dois me schrif 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 305.
The fere of suddand dede, nor present calamite, mycht noch draw thame fra thair inhansit syn, thai wer sa drownit in corruppit vice 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 39.
To remembyr … apon the greit luf and traist Scottis men has had … wyth the kingis of France … and now gif he wilbe the instr[u]ment to tyn all and … that he suld caus all sic honour luf and gud brut be changit in maist vill and hodious vice 1562-3 Winȝet I 103/24.
Quhilk of ȝou is but wice, cast the first stane at thame 1572 Sat. P. xxxi 64.
Thay haue one butt … to cut all doun That justice lufis and haitis vice 1578 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 72.
The … counsale, persaving the dalie incres of the horrible vice of fornicatioun … For remeid quhairof thay ordane all the harlottis that salbe apprehendit in vice heirefter to be hurlyt in ane cart throuch the toune and banist the boundis thairof 1588 Old Ross-shire I 26.
For committing of vice worthie of puneishment contrar to the word of God 1608 Inverness Rec. II 57.
Thou George Fuird art indytit for ane commun nicht valker, maisterfull tulȝeour, ane itchand drunckert, full of all vice and imperfectionis … nocht meit to be in the societie of burganeris 1626 Garden Worthies 76.
The qualities that could decore a king … To bring from bywayes featlie to reforme, And waene from vice the ill ones & enorme 1684 Kingarth Par. Rec. 145.
The Session finding discipline neglected and vice growing rife for want of due punishment(b) 1375 Barb. vi 355 (C) (see (a) above).
Vis a1538 Abell 20b.
Eweyne … degenerit fra his fadir be wice for he wes infickit with all common wis(c) c1450-2 Howlat 88 (A).
The howlet wylest in wyce Raikit vnder the rys To the pacoke of pryce That was pape cald c1490 Irland Asl. MS 38/3.
Natur … ordanis and inclinis a man to luf the extremite of wyce in mete and drinke nother vsand ourmekle na our litill c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 14.
He exhortis menn to ceasse fra synne. To spend na mair tyme in wyce 1535 Stewart 13239.
And nocht infect him with sic fals uyce Quhilk hes no knawledge bot of cartis and dyce, To drink and dance, and for to play the fule 1562 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 5.
Thai hawe … ordanit certane actis and statutis … for mantenans of gud manneris and extirpatioun off wyce owt of this burgh a1578 Pitsc. I 6/21.
Schaw him … the wicked tyranie Of fals tratouris … That to thair princes wald nevir obey nor fauld … Bot evir in wyce runing heidlongis to the devill 1602 Colville Paraenese 112.
Vhen thai call Paris a den of idolatrie and a goufre of all vyce 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 17.
The saidis magistrattis … sall assist … the minister and sessioun of kirk for putting to executioun of all actis … maid … for mentenance of Godis glorie, the edificatioun of the kirk and punisching of vyce within thair jurisdictioun 1701 Banff Ann. I 172.
The act anent constables and crubeing of vyce to be read att the Marcat Croce and ane other double to be read in the church from the leatron(d) c1460 Thewis Gud Women 62.
Gud profytabile is ane of three And it be resone takin bee, Bot quhen thai tak it our mesour Thai turne in wys and in eroure c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 132/30.
Him selff exampill of vys Enterand for geir and no devocioun(2) c1420 Ratis R. 325.
Wice fra wertew far is vndyr 1456 Hay I 118/23.
Thare is alwayis—in everilk extremitee thare is vice and na vertu … in oure grete hardines thare is ay surquidye, and pride [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. II 107/22.
The law doctrin or sciens … that chargis to folow wertu and to … eschew all wice and syn is ressonable to trow to hauld and to admyt c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 175/33.
Vertew returnis in to vyce, And honour in to avaryce c1568 Lauder Minor P. iv 23.
To cheryse virtew, and ay chaistyce vice a1578 Pitsc. I 170/23.
The lordis of Scottland … put sic nobill men about him to serue him as was convenient for sic ane prince quhairby vertew might be mantenit and wyce punischit(b) a1585 Arbuthnot in Maitl. Q. 126/20.
Sua vyice vertew and vertew is thocht vyice O leving god this chainge is wounder vyice

2. An instance of such behaviour; a particular wicked or sinful action or practice; a fault or defect. Also const. of the particular vice. b. fig. A character in a play. Only pl.(1) sing. c1420 Wynt. v 5285.
Adam … for hys wyce … wes put owt off Paradice c1420 Ratis R. 1377.
Ay the eldar that thow bee, The mar the vyce [sc. covetousness] encouerys thé 1456 Hay II 57/16.
Avarice is a vice that gerris oft tymes the curage of mony noble knycht descend full lawe 1490 Irland Mir. I 44/21.
The secund wice at we suld enschew in the desyre of temporale gudis is, at we suld nocht molest nore desaue oure nychtbouris a1500 K. Hart 126.
In thair effeir fayr seruice micht be sene, For wes thair nocht that semit be a vyse, That no man micht the poynting of ane prene Repreve c1520-c1535 Nisbet Prol. Rom. 328/21.
Vnbeleif, quhilk is anne wice maist spirituall, ande grounde of all synnes a1538 Abell 65a.
King Donald passand to his wis agane & monist to mend him & wald nocht quharfore thai tuik him and kest him in presone 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 461.
Thay suld be clene of euery vyce, And, speciallie, of couatyce 15.. Dunb. App. ix 36.
Exerce vertew, and banys euery vice 1567 G. Ball. 9.
Defame na man … Suppose his fault or vyce thow ken c1590 J. Stewart 21/230.
The virgin so quha dois hir vorschip vrap Vith venus vyce degrathis hir hie renoune 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 168/2.
Beuaire of drunkenesse, quhilke is a beastlie uyce namelie in a king 1600-1610 Melvill 393.
Ther is na bruted vyce or corruptioun but may fall in the persones and offices of men 1645 Acts VI i 458/2.
Haveing bene once alreddie sensured be the saides kirkes judicatories for the samene vyce before shall eftir the second convictione … be censurable in maner falloweing viz. that ilke nobleman shall pay tuentie pundes … ilke barrone tuentie merke [etc.](2) pl. a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 3.
I dilnes giffis novrysingis to vicis a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 1525.
Wicis c1420 Wynt. v 709.
Nero … all kyn wycys at thare wylle He gawe … lewe thare-tille 1456 Hay II 68/4.
Be cause … he is of the natur of all mankynde, and enclynyt to vicis, he is the mare worthy and honourable that he has force of noble curage to abstene him tharfra a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 228.
Foull women ar sa smytabill And till all vikit wycis abill a1500 Lanc. 1539.
God … with His awn swerd, Punysith ther wysis one this erd a1500 Henr. Thre Deid Pollis 16.
Vycis c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 17/76 (M).
Aganis vyces … enarming me … Chryst Jesu … I cry thé mersy, and lasair to repent 1533 Boece 78a.
To sic vicis [supra riatus, vnbridillit lustis and glutony] was the mysgidit prince gevin 1562 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 10.
That all nychtwalkaris, commone cartaris and dissaris and dronkartis … be admoneist to desist and cease fra sic vicis 1562-3 Winȝet I 65/29.
We ar certifiit be haly Scripturis, that hypocritis and wikit persones (bot of wices we accuis nane at this præsent) … hes [etc.] a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 25/27.
Tak away thir ignoranttis Off kirkmen that vyceis hantis And leidis ws arreir 1584 Gowrie P. 28.
The old Bishop of Dunkell [was] deposed longe since for popery and other vices a1605 Montg. Sonn. iii 7.
God in His justice dou na mair digest … Bot must revenge, thair vyces ar so vyld, And pour doun plagues of famin, suord, and pest 1650 Glasgow Wrights Acts 6.
If efter he be choysine he sall fall into any ane or moe of the foirnamed vyces … ther place is heirby declarit vacant(3) a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 8.
The vicis of ydilnes, Gret foly, quhile, & vantones 1456 Hay I 129/27.
The vice of ingratitude 1456 Hay II 56/36.
The vice of mysordinate lecherye a1500 Henr. Fab. 6 (Bann.).
The caus quhi thay [sc. fables] first began Was to repreife the vyce of mysdoing Of man, be fegour of ane vthir thing a1500 Bernardus 73.
This vofule wyce of drunkynnes 1490 Irland Mir. III 122/15.
The noble prince suld tendirlie keip the port of his hert that the horrible wice of ambicioun enter nocht in it a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 581 (Asl.).
To saif thi saull now schawe thi sapiens Declyne the wyce of willfull negligens a1500 Bk. Chess 16.
Till eschew the wyce of ydilnes Thai go to sport c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 107/1.
In vice most vicius he excellis That with the vice of tressone mellis a1538 Abell 70a.
This wis of reif pestilant mot be tane out of this kinrik a1578 Pitsc. I 231/17.
He thinkand … that the wice of cowitousnes rang into his father, it sould not rigne in to him 1578 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 72 (see 1 (1) above). 1587 Elgin Rec. II 7.
Considering the wyce of slander abunding within this burghb. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 983 heading (Ch.).
Now the Vycis gangs to ane counsall 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2315 heading (Ch.).
Heir sall the thrie estaits cum fra the palȝeoun gangand backwart led be thair vyces