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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.

Proportionat(e, Proportionnat, Proporcionat(e, adj. and adv. Also: pre-. [ME and e.m.E. proporcionate (1398), -tionate (1576), late L. prōportiōnātus proportioned, f. prōportiōn- Proportio(u)n(e n.]

1. lit. and fig. Having like or similar proportions (to); (well, etc.) proportioned; that is in due proportion.(a) 1490 Irland Mir. MS fol. 239b.
This unccioune visible maid in the body of the personne in the forret with crisme is richt proporcionat to the inuisible unccioune that God wyrkis within the saule Ib. (S.T.S.) II 124/5. 1531 Bell. Boece II 511.
This prince wes of mid stature … with all his membris sa weil proporcionat that [etc.] 1535 Stewart 215.
With hanchis braid proportionnat weill c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1661.
He wes … Proportionat, in lenth, and breid, Afferand to his hycht a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 39.
Ane perfyt and proportionat croce kirk 1615 Reg. Privy S. 21 Nov.
Ane litle beane box proportionat lyk ane barrell(b) c1590 J. Stewart 75/88.
On his tuo lips preportionat perfyt

2. In music: Having, or depending upon, specific intervallic relationships. Cf. Proportio(u)n(e n. 3.‘These lines refer to the arithmetical proportions which form the basis for the Pythagorean theory of music’ (see the Commentary to Henr. Orph. (O.U.P.) 226). a1500 Henr. Orph. 226 (Ch. & M.).
Thare lerit he tonys proportionate [Asl. -cionate] As duplar triplar and emetricus c1550-c1580 Art of Music 123b.
Dyvers mudis ar proporcionat Ib.
Touns in soundis is proporcionat with sesquioctaus in numberis, as 9 to 8

b. adv. ? With the correct musical proportions (as defined in 2). a1568 Bellenden Bann. MS 2b/106.
As craft of hand vpoun the stringis playis Proportionat in hevinly melodie; … Ane sound is hard over the eir iocund