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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.

Pris(e, Prys(e, Price, v.¹ Also: prysse, pryis, pryce, prize, pryze, preis, preys, prese. P.t. and p.p. prisit, prissit, prised, etc., also prysde. [Late ME prysyn (Prompt. Parv.), e.m.E. prise (1530), pryse (1535), prize (c 1586), also pryce (1561), price (1570), but in all senses chiefly Sc. before the later 16th c., OF prisier, F. priser, reduced form of OF preisier Prais(e v.For the mod. Sc. forms (prise, pryse, prize, i.e. with the voiced final consonant, in senses 1–2 below), see SND, s.v. Prize v.¹]Among others, senses 5 b, c and e are only Sc.See also Prais(e v. 3 as perh. representing variant spellings of this word in senses 1 and 2.

1. tr. To estimate, or to determine, the value of (land, goods, etc.); to assign a value to; also, to estimate or determine (a value).Freq. passive, also (to be) valued or estimated to or til, also for, (= at), a certain value or amount, and without prep.On pricing of eaten crops, see (1) (b) quot. 1661, c below, and Prisin(g vbl. n. 2 b, Prisit ppl. adj. c and Prise-corn(e.See also Prisour n. for additional examples.(1) 1478 Binns P. (S.R.S.) 7.
That all the housis … to be prisit now be lele trew men 1495 Acta Conc. I 428/2.
And failȝeing therof that the scheref pris als mekle als gud landis … to be gevin to the said Elizabeth heretablely as said is 1495 Treas. Acc. I 220.
xxv sekkis of vnpakkit woll prisit be the provest and nychtbowris of the toune the sek to xxj markis 1501 Acta Conc. III 40.
Til compere day and place forsaid til pris the yeirelye availe of the sadis landis(b) ?14.. Ship Laws c. 29 (B).
The skathys aucht to be prysyt and partyt betwx the twa schyppis c1420 Wynt. v 722.
Evore syne, that na man mycht Prys the cost 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii 220.
Gar pryse ȝour proffeit, & esteme ȝour panis 1619 Ellon Presb. 104.
Prysit 1622-6 Bisset II 241/22.
Or ellis gif the schip pereis he is bund to restoir the awaill as it is prysed 1661 Holmains Baron Ct. 12 Nov.
The which barlamen when escheitt are to pryse any corne eaten or destroyit or grasse or meadow cut 1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 159.
Pryssed(c) 1456 Acts II 46/1.
At the lordis and auditouris of the chekar ernystly pryis ande examyn the fynnes bath of golde and siluer(d) 1609 Hilderstoun Silver Mines I 185 b.
The same losis wer prized be honnest men … chosin for the same purpose 1667 Dunkeld Presb. II 134.
To pay the minister what he should depurese thereupon when it should be pryzed(e) 1652 Glasgow B. Rec. II 217.
To setle with some honest knyfmaker to be brocht to the towne and to prese his fredome for taking of twa boyes prenteise frie(f) c 1456 Edinb. B. Rec. MS (Reg. H.) 2.
To preis the thrid quarter [of yarn] & the laif of the gudis contenit in hir bil a1568 Scott iii 21.
Reuse nocht ȝour self, latt vthiris preis ȝour rentis(2) 1477 Aberd. B. Rec. I 408.
The petis that war prisit fouretene schillingis(3) 1492 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 38.
The qwhilk personis sworne has prissit the gowne for xxxvj s.(4) 1495 Treas. Acc. I 220.
xxv sekkis of vnpakkit woll, prisit be the provest and nychtbowris of the toune, the sek to xxj markis 1519 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 50.
The said balyeis causit Jhone Smyth pas and pris the said hors the quhilk he prisit to l s. 1526–7 Ib. 84.
And owther bryng the hors agane or ellis his skynne and underly the price that he is prissit too a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlii 19.
For dainties heir ar delicat and deir, Bot plentie things ar prysde to lytill pryce 1665 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 53.
[The other half of his goods] to be prysed be soom neatrall men … to ane pecuniall sowm ansuerable therto 1682 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 121.
Accused for eating of that corne pryzed in the Bank aiker to 4 peks(5) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 1865.
For richer armes to king ma na man prise [: devise v.]

b. With reference to the valuation of goods or heritage in order to distraint or confiscation for debt, in the process of ‘apprising’; hence = to apprise or adjudge (to or til the creditor, for the debt).Appar. common only in the 15th and early 16th centuries.(On the process of apprising see further Legal(l adj. 2 b and c).(1) 1443 (1450) Reg. Great S. 86/2.
We [the sheriff-deputes] … gert chese upe ane assise … gert thaim gang out of the court to pryse to the foresaide Gilbert alsmekill land as mycht content hym lauchfully of the some foresaide the quhilk gud assise … deliverit that the foresaide Gilbert sulde have as his awyn propyr lande the landis of Porterstoune [etc.] … be thaim presit and extendit til aucht pundis worth of lande for hale payment of the aucht score of pundis foresaide 1470 Liber Aberbr. II 162.
Prisit 1480 Acta Conc. I 76/1.
William … prisit a part of the said gudis to the said John for the said Gabriellis dettis 1495 Ib. 428/1, etc. 1495 Paisley B. Rec. 51.
Thar comone landis and gudis … adjugit to be prisit to the saidis abbot and convent for the saidis soumes 1497 Treas. Acc. I 315.
I resauit fra Alexander Cummyng of Altir for his landis that wer prisit to the king j^cxx lib. 1500–1 Acta Conc. II 485.
[42 bolls] prisit til him be his officiare for the male of the sadis landis 1510 Lennox Mun. 189. 1547 Misc. Spald. C. V 310.
Robert Bard … has of my goods prised to him extending to xl pounds 1556 Reg. Cupar A. II 262.
Thai heff ressauit twa hors or meris, quhilkis ar prisit to thame(2) 1471 Acta Aud. 11/1.
He gert his seruand tak the said gudis and price the samyn for his vnlawis ordurely as efferis 1493 Acts II 234/1.(3) 1482–3 Acta Aud. in Acta Conc. II cxx.
And faleȝeand of his movable gudis that he price his landis and mak penny thairof Ib. cxxi.
That the said gudis war prisit to be gevin to the Lard of Lacht and turnit in his use 1491–2 Acta Aud. 166/2.
Landis … to be arrestit pundit prisit awayled and sald at the will of the said Sir James 1500 Buccleuch Mun. II 100. 1520 Red Bk. Menteith II 370.
Prise 1529 Linlithgow B. Ct. 22 Oct.
The balȝeis ordanis that Matho Dalmahoy pas and pris Malcome Walkeris get to the payment of Patric Crechtouneis male

c. To adjudge as a debt (the amount of a neighbour's corn eaten by one's animals) on the animals or their owner. 1501 Prestwick B. Rec. 37.
He had ettin him with his hors j b. of atis tilhim, & prisit tilhim; j f. j p^c of ry prisit richtsa on his hors & swyne 1674 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 1 May.
7 bolls and a furlet eiten corne prysed on my husband throw his default in Grissell Jordon [etc.] … ther cornes

2. a. To fix the official rate of price of (a commodity).1427 Acts II 15/2 (see Pris(e n.¹ 4 a, b). Ib. I 333/2.
At thai sell flesch befor at it be prisyt 1434 Aberd. B. Rec. I 390.1445 Ib. 14 (see Prisar n. a).1496-7 Prestwick B. Rec. 33 (see Pris(e n.¹ 4 a, b). 1502 Ib. 37.
Pryis 1553 Elgin Rec. I 121.
That nayne [flesh] be derar sald nor tha ar prisit vnder the payne of x s.

b. To set a price on (a thing for sale). a1500 Rauf C. 252.
Thair may thow sell, be ressoun, als deir as thow will prys [: lyis, wis, Paris]

c. To agree a price for. a1570-86 Balnavis Maitl. F. cxxix 50.
Thairfoir be war hald thé afar Sic chauffer for to prys 1638 Dumbarton B. Rec. 55.
That ae ansenye be bocht for this burgh … and … that Johne Sempill or Robert Watsoun … at thair being in Ed^r to pryse and waill it

3. To evaluate, estimate, judge the value or extent of (something non-material), to appraise (a person). Also absol. or intr. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 721.
Wes nane sa proud of his part, that prisit quhen he yeid a1500 Rauf C. 86.
Pryse at the parting how that thow dois a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1241.
His moder him in hir armis claucht, To price his pane neir by the croce sat doun a1570-86 Maitl. F. lx 50.
Think that ane king is bot ane man And man is prysit eftir his deid

b. ? To reveal the precise value or extent of. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xc 42.
And rype thi mynde how every thing befell, The tyme, the place, and how, and in quhat wyis, So that thi confessioun ma thi synnes pryce

4. With complements. a. To value or reckon (something) as of a certain (usually small or no) worth.Where the complement is or may be construed as an adv., there is ambiguity with 5 d, e.(1) 1375 Barb. vi 505 (C).
He wald nocht pris his liff a stra With-thi [etc.] ?1438 Alex. i 1850.
Thair haif thai maid sic ane meting That athir may prys small his winning Ib. ii 2730.
The assaltis count I na thing, Ȝit prys I les this rioting Ib. i 1776, ii 6961. c1420 Wynt. iv 769 (C).
Na I prysse na payne a pere 1456 Hay I 302/32.
For ony thing that commouns seis our oft thai pris all the lesse Ib. II 109/1.
For quhen a woman tretis thy governaunce, traist wele thy persone is in perile, no mare to pris na the lyf of a calf put in her keping 1494 Loutfut MS 8 b.
& gentilnes fulȝet and litill prisit a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxxiv 22.
All warldlie welth … we wald nocht pryse ane pyn(2) a1500 Bernardus 225.
And pryseis that a gyft of gudly price

b. To regard or view (something) as (what the complement states). 1540 in Knox I 73.
Our stait hypocrisie they prysse, And us blaspheamis on this wyse, Sayand [etc.]

c. To reckon, regard or hold (a person) at a certain worth or as being what the complement states.In the Scott quotation with some admixture of sense 5 c. ?1438 Alex. i 106.
He prysis him nocht worth a chirrie-stane Ib. 1680.
He prysit na man ane penny Ib. ii 4194.
Nouthir of thame preissit vther greatly c1420 Wynt. iv 1654.
He Was prysit [C. prissit, W. prisit] a man off gret powste ?a1450 Florimond 450.
And [the king] said: ‘Thow prysis me bot small, Quhen that thow dreidis I sall nocht do The thing [etc.] 1456 Hay II 32/6.
For knycht in weris but hors and harnais is lytill prisit c1500-c1512 Dunb. xix 44.
Gif I be nobill, gentill and fre, A prodigall man I am so prysit a1568 Bann. MS 81 a/18.
Now I find bot freindis few Sen I wes prysit to be pure a1568 Scott xxxvi 60.
My tung sall preis Thé just, but pryd, And petefull, all thre

5. a. To esteem highly, to hold in honour (a person). b. To extol, commend, praise (a person).In many instances it is not clear to which of these the quotation is to be assigned.Common in early verse and in Hay. Uncommon after the 15th c.active (a) 1375 Barb. iii 156.
[He] prisyt him in hert gretly Ib. xviii 403 (C). 1456 Hay II 147/26, etc.
Pris a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1207.
I aught as prynce him to prise for his prouese 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 79.
Byrdis … Quhilks thé [May] to prise and nature neuer restis(b) a1400 Leg. S. xx 208.
To godis, that [thu] sagat pryse ?1438 Alex. i 2940.
For he luffit neuer na lossingere, Bot prysit thame that wourthy were Ib. ii 5613.
He pryses vs lytill and les vs dredes Ib. 2014, 5595, 8857, etc. c1420 Wynt. ix 715.
Prys [C. prysse, W. pris](c) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 145.
For-thi suld men hym gretly price, & lowe hym in mony wyse c1460 Consail Vys Man 81.
Price [: one na wys](d) ?1438 Alex. ii 4193.
Nouthir of thame preissit vther greatly, Bot athir throw his mycht anerly Wend the wourthiest for to be a1568 Scott vi 1.
Luve preysis but comparesone Both gentill, sempill, generallpassive 1375 Barb. vi 272 (E).
Quhether that mar suld prysit [C. prisit] be The king … Or Thedeus Ib. x 776.
Of this deid … The erll wes prisit gretumly Ib. xi 316.
Till hym that douchty wes of dede, And prisit of gret cheuelry Ib. xx 243.
Prisit for his enpris wes he ?1438 Alex. i 2418, 2795, etc. c1420 Wynt. viii 5403.
Prysyt [C. pryssyt] Ib. 5759.
Prysyde 1456 Hay I 83/25.
That a knycht is mare lovit and prisit to assailȝe wele na to byde wele Ib. 302/26.
Throu the quhilk he salbe prisit and redoubtit bathe with fais and frendis and haldin for wis prince Ib. II 151/6.
And at the last samekle was he prisit that he was counsailour to the king principale 1494 Loutfut MS 8 a.
And the said officiaris honorit & prisit with all gentilnes a1500 Lanc. 1803.
He of the world comendit is and prisit Ib. 2354. 1535 Stewart 39.
To follow thame with possibilitie, So like with poettis for to prysit be Ib. 141, 42621. 15.. Clar. v 2410. a1568 Bann. MS 88 b/61.
Vthir personis … The quhilk sen Flowdoun feild hes bene dispysit In this cuntre and in all vthiris prysit

c. To honour, extol, glorify, praise (God).(1) 1490 Irland Mir. I 21/19.
That Thou gif ws grace … to prys and honour Thé oure all creature 1533 Gau 22/1.
That God ma alanerlie be lowit and prisit 1567 Sat. P. v 16.
And pryse His name with all ȝour micht Ib. iv 23. 1567 G. Ball. 25, 51, etc. 1569 Misc. Bann. C. I 48*.
I prys my God gretumlie that hes hard my prayer 1571 Sat. P. xxvi 4.
And prise the Lord, ȝour capitane in weir(2) c 1560 Stirlings of Keir 413.
The freindis of the hous ar nocht decait, prysit be God 1570 Breadalbane Lett. (Reg. H.) 7 June.
He eschapit prysit be God without harme

d. To hold in high regard, to value highly, e. To commend, praise, (a thing, esp. a quality, action or attribute of a person or persons). 1375 Barb. xvi 502.
Thai war done swa richt hardely, That thai war prisit soueranly Atour all othir poyntis of wer That in thar tym eschevit wer Ib. 525. a1400 Leg. S. i 306.
And chastite ay oure althinge He prisit euir in his preching ?1438 Alex. ii 388. c1420 Wynt. iv 416.
At the evin, or eftyr, ay Men prysis ay the fayr day 1456 Hay II 10/35.
The quhilk buke the king lovit mekle and prisit Ib. 27/31, etc. c1460 Thewis Wysmen 275.
Thai pris mar wysdome & gudnes Na al the gold that is a1500 Henr. III 171/42 (Ch. & M.).
Nothir meryt is preisit, na punyst is trespas c1508 Ch. & M. Prints iii b 14.
Saufand beaute I can prise na mare Of hyr a1500 K. Hart 100.
Ane pretty place … So precious that it prysit wes but peir 1490 Irland Mir. II 90/13. a1500 Bk. Chess 523.
Than of this child the wit thai gretly prysit [: diuisit] 1533 Boece 198.
The manhede of Romanis quhilk now baith be goddis and mortall men was extemyt and prisit a1568 Bann. MS 255 a/8.
Sa mony ar thair ladeis treitis … And dois thair bewteis pryis so he 1549 Compl. 155/24.
Ignorance is prisit, prudens is scornit a1568 Scott xxx 44. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cviii 7.
Than all the warld will ȝour proceding prys [Q. pryis] 1611-57 Mure Sonnets ix 2.
In bewty … ravischt sight Doth some peculiar perfectioun pryse [: lyes]

f. (To be) to, till (for to, for till) pryse, to be prisit.(1) 1375 Barb. xvi 224.
The king, that wes sa till pris Ib. xiii 537, xvii 924. ?1438 Alex. ii 7259.
The laif ar lytill for to pryse Ib. i 2450, 2553. c1420 Wynt. viii 6801.
Thai ware to prys, and sa was he, That in sa fell a chaidmelle [etc.] a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1340.
Amang the pryncis in place, peirles to price a1500 Lanc. 3412, etc. c1475 Wall. vii 925.
In wer he was rycht mekill for to prys, Besy and trew [etc.] 1494 Loutfut MS 114 b.
Thocht sum be mair honorable & mair to pris than othiris is c1500-c1512 Dunb. xliii 45.
Sic ladyis wyis, thay ar to pryis 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 334.
Now thynk I, prencis ar no thyng to pryse, Tyll geue ane famous office tyll ane fule(2) 1375 Barb. i 239.
[He] suld think fredome mar to prys Than [etc.] 1456 Hay I 60/11.
And of gude lyf that is mekle to pris in men of armes 15.. Edinb. Univ. MS La. iv 6.
Hir pulcritud is nixt to pris c1475 Wall. v 674.
War my quentance rycht worthi for till pryse [: wise] Yhe sall it haiff 1513 Doug. ix v 62. 1535 Stewart 2141.
Witht laureat language and pret for till prys 15.. Clar. v 1558.
Hir madinis … In glorious mantillis gudlie to pryse [: gyse](3) 1490 Irland Mir. II 55/3.
And the gud werkis mar louable and to be prisit c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1389.
This work the more wes to be prysit, Because be God it was deuysit

g. reflex. To hold oneself in high esteem, to flatter oneself. c1460 Thewis Wysmen 371.
Thai rus thaim-self & prisis euir c1500-c1512 Dunb. vi (O.U.P.) 109.
Prising [v.rr. Prysing, Preysing] my self and evill my nychtburis demyng 1551 Hamilton Cat. 63.
Thai that avantis or prysis thame self of thair wisdome

6. ? With allusion to Pris(e n.¹ 8 b, c: To award the prize to; to select the prizewinner from (a certain group). c1420 Wynt. viii 5194.
‘A! syrrys, be oure Lord,’ sayd he, ‘So suld no man here prysyt be, For none till othir mycht do iwill’ Ib. 5291.
That Inglis suld the Scottis prys, And thai thaim on the samyn wys