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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Praise, Prais, Prayis, n. Also: prayse, prays, prayes, praeyse, prace, prase. [e.m.E. prayse (1526), prease (1533), prayes (1554–9), praise (16th c.), prase (a 1631), late ME preyse (Lydgate), f. Prais(e v.Appar. not in Sc. use before c 1560. (Cf. Pris(e n.¹⁾.]

1. The action of praising; eulogy, laud, laudation. Also b. plur. in same sense.Freq., praise or glory to God.For examples (in Fowler) coupled with price, see Pris(e n.¹ 7 d (5).(a) 1559 St. A. Kirk S. 22.
To quhome onlie be all prayse, honour, triumphe, and glorie for ever 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4836.
Lavde, honour, praise, and thankis ane hunder fald To the doctour for the taill thow hes tald Ib. 10776. 1558-66 Knox II 87.
Prayse 1567 G. Ball. 81. a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxxiii coloph.
Quod Dumbar in prays of women a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxvii 3.
This buik all prais deseruis, my prais it wer but vain 1585 James VI Ess. 23.
Vpon that hill … Of endles praise a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1583 (Wr.).
Praise be to God 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 242.
And, first, he bursteth … into the praise of God c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxii 32.
[I] will sing thai prais as lang as I my lest(b) a1568 Norvall Bann. MS. 20 a/15.
To Thé be lawid and prayis thairfoir a1568 Bann. MS. 268 b heading.
Follows ballattis of the prayis of wemen Ib. 25 b/1.(c) 1580 Edinb. Test. VIII 376.
Prace and thankis to the eternall God 1622-6 Bisset II 189/2.
We all … may gif thankis and honoure to God with prase Ib. 194/23.
With greit … prase of all his subiectis and nychtbourisb. a1578 Pitsc. I 108/5.
My father … deservit great laudis and praissis for the [seeking out of traitors] a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. xlv 21.
For to wryte The laud honour and the prayses greit Of thame 1622-6 Bisset II 181/9.
Gevand lawde and prases to God

c. An instance of praise, an act of laudation, a eulogy. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2073 heading.
Ane laude and praise to the doctour 1596 Dalr. I 74/5.
Our Scottis hilande hes ay mekle delyted in that prayse

2. The fact or condition of receiving, or deserving, praise; honour, credit. Also plur.(a) 1562-3 Winȝet I 4/31.
Albeit the time be schort, sumthing of ȝour [the bishop's] prais man we speik 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. iv 93.
Ȝe haif wone gryt praise 1571 J. Maitland Sat. P. xxvii 105.
The honour laud and prais, The vertew [etc.] (a1500 Henr.) Fab. 2667 (C).
Of his awin deidis ilk man sall beir the prais [H. prayis, Bann. pais; rh. wi. sayis] c1590 Fowler I 73/159.
Leist I thair praise impair 1596 Dalr. I 107/28.
This prais hes bene celebrate in al ages amang the bischopes 1616–7 Misc. Hist. Soc. X 97.
And it is Thy praise that Thou takkes away iniquitie(b) 1562-3 Winȝet I 5/16.
Spokin of to ȝour prayse a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxx 106.
Quhais prays and prowes cane nocht be exprest 1596 Dalr. I 80/18.
With gret honour and prayseplur. a1570-86 J. Maitland Maitl. F. lxxxviii 31.
The moir thai preis ȝour praysis to oppres The gritter of ȝour gloir [etc.] a1585 Maitl. Q. lxviii 51.
Quhais worthie praysis & renoun Transcendis my ingyne(c) a1585 Maitl. Q. xlviii 135.
Quhat prayis haue ȝe to be seueir? Ib. xlix 37.
Portia quhais worthie prayis In Romaine historeis we reid 1596 Dalr. I 98/16.
Sum takes na prayes to thame selfes appnelie(d) a1568 Bann. MS. 15 a/32.
And I sall sing thy praeyse als lang as I may lest(e) 1622-6 Bisset II 180/22.
To his perpetuall prase

3. ? Praise of God as an act of worship; divine service, generally. 1589 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 3 Aug.
James Inglys messinger past … to the kyrk of Ordequhill, & thair in tyme of prays red lettres of inibitione [etc.]