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

Precise, Preceis(e, adj. Also: praecise, -sise; preceiss(e, preeceis. [e.m.E. precise (15th c.), -cyse (1526), -cize (1640), presise (1580), -size (1587), præcise (1628), F. precis, -cise, L. præcīsus cut off, shortened, p.p. of præcīdere to cut off, abridge.]

1. Exactly defined, exact, definite; express; specific, ‘strict’. 1585 Acts III 387/2.
And that the particular factis … done be way of hostilitie vpoun preceis necessitie salbe extinct and buriit in perpetuall obliuioun 1588 King Cat. I iij.
Seing the præcise reconing of his [sc. the sun's] inæqual or trew motion do varie euery ȝere 1619 Aberd. Council Lett. I 167.
Quha attends upon the precise dyetts affixt for the mercatts 1620 Sc. Ant. I 93.
That hes preceis price of his buirders sitting at tabill is tuo hunder merk 1639 Johnston Diary I a 46.
Ane preceise order writen to Crowner Muntroe to march night and day to Jedburgh

b. Of a person: Definite or exact in statement. 1678 Edinb. B. Rec. X 351.
To be preceis and speciall as to the tyme of the continowatione of there magistrats

2. Strict in the observance of rule, punctilious, scrupulous; also, over-strict. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 46.
Seing my Lord of Murray for being precise and plane in all doingis cast out of court c1590 Fowler II 151/36.
He suld be verye liberall, oppen and na wyse precise in seiking there consell 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 50/6.
Be præsise in effect, but sociall in shau Ib. 162/4.
Althoch a king be neuer sa præcise in the dischairging of his office 1605 Douglas Corr. 192.
I have gevin my aith of allegance quhilk I vndirstand to be skarslie allowit of sum of the preceiser sort and urgeris of this hard cours aganis me 1609 Crim. Trials II 292.
Yet sum of the Lordis of Articles kything more scrupulous and precise, in sindrie poyntis of that proces 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 282.
Into his charge discharge, Strick, painfull and preeceis

b. Strict in the observance of religious rule; also, over-strict, puritanical.(a) 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 510.
He is zelous in religion and one off the precise protestants known to be trew and constant 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 48/11.
In any thing that is expreslie comandit or prohibited in the booke of God ye can not be ouir præcise euen in the least thing 1668-9 Fraser Lawfulness Separ. 110.
Ministers that will not join with the prelate are cried down as precise(b) 1570 Misc. Bann. C. I 47.
The men ye ought to repose on … ar the preceis [v.r. precise] protestantes and ministeris 1622-6 Bisset II 106/21.
The mounkis … preceise and strik ordouris 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 230.
By the instigation … of the most preceis ministers c1650 Spalding I 240.
His eldest dochter, who wes ane preceiss puritane 1657 Balfour Ann. I 395.
The king was tossed like a tinnes ball betuix the preceisse ministers and the treacherous papists

3. adv. a. ? Expressly, specifically. b. Exactly, strictly.= Precis(e)ly adv. 1490 Irland Mir. II 148/36.
A proposicioun … the antecedent of it beand trew and veritable bot the antecedent is formyt of the termes in diuinite and nocht of the creaturis precise 1613 Denmylne MSS. in Highland P. III 130.
He standis preceis vpoun the articleis of his compt