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

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

Wele besene, Weill besein(e, p.p. and ppl. adj. Also: we(i)lbeseyn, weil(l)-besene, weyle beseyne, weyll beseyn. [ME and e.m.E. wel besein (Gower), wele besen (c1440); Besene p.p. and adj.] Well dressed, well appointed or equipped; attractive in appearance. Also const. in (till) some respect.(1) 1474 Reg. Cupar A. I 194.
Tha sal be honest in thar cleything and welbeseyn with jakkis, hattis [etc.] c1475 Wall. iv 548.
A bow he bair was byg and weyll beseyn a1500 Quare Jel. 36.
I saugh … A lady, quhich that was rycht wele besene And als fresch in hir beautee and array As [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 62/86.
Luve makis sluggirdis fresche and weill besene c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 215/26.
Gif I be not wele besene Than twa and twa sayis thame betwene Evill gydit is ȝon man … Be his clething it may be sene 1513 Doug. iv v 78.
That secund Parys … Abufe his hed and halffettis, weil beseyn [Sm. weil besene], Set lyke a mytir the Troiane foly hat 1535 Stewart 54189.
Ane boit richt honest weill besene a1540 Freiris Berw. 150 (B).
Hir napry … wes woundir weill besene 15.. Clar. i 151.
Meliades, richt fresch and weill beseine(2) c1475 Wall. i 213.
He was, richt byge and weyle beseyne In till a gyde of gudly ganand greyne a1500 Quare Jel. 277.
And be sche glad or wele besene in oucht c1500 Fyve Bestes 189.
In his clething was he wele besene c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 136/46.
Madinis … in ordour weill besein

b. Well versed in a branch of knowledge. Only in Pitsc. a1578 Pitsc. I 35/9.
Wyse and prudent men, weill beseine in historie a1578 Pitsc. I 147/19.
Teodor Gaza ane weill besene man [baitht in Lattine and Greik] a1578 Pitsc. I 396/7.
Schir Walter Lyndsay … was weill besene and practissit in weiris