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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.

Proprieté, n. Also: -ee, -ie, -y; propreete, -preitie. [e.m.E. propriete, -pryete, -priety ownership, proprietorship (1486), individuality (Caxton), a possession (1661), an attribute (1584), purity of diction (a1568), fitness (1615), F. propriété (1190 in Greimas), L. proprietās Properté n.]

1. = Properté n., in various senses.

a. Proprietorship; ? overlordship. Cf. Properté n. 1. 1549 Lamb Resonyng 127/5.
Edward the thrid maid himself be crownit kyng of Scotland and enioyit the propreitie of the samyn Ib. 129/21.
Eftir his [James I] returnyng in Scotland, thair wes nouthir propreitie nor superiorite demandit at him nor at the Thre Estatis

b. = Properté n. 2.(1) ?1446 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 250.
To propriete of James of Gordoun land callit Canȝe Park 1511 Treas. Acc. IV 251.
To furneis his horsmet deliverit to hyme because he gettis nain of the propriete … x li. 1691 Cramond Kirk S. III 29 Oct.
They [the seats] are … to become a propriety for the tennents of Nether Cramond(2) 1460 Swintons App. xlii.
And was propriete & herytabylly come to the Lady Moraue(3) 1442 (1444) Reg. Great S. 64/1.
All landis … or ony part of thaim … alswele tenandreis as propreeteis(4) 1573–4 Glasgow B. Rec. I 448.
Thesaurer of the Burght … chargit … witht the small casualitie and gift of the brig … witht the auld proprietie of the brig 1584 Acts III 308/1.
Giftis … maid … of quhatsoeuir rentis … or dewties ather of our proprietie, casualitie or collectorie

c. = Properté n. 3. — 1456 Hay I 292/16.
Now will he declare quhat proprieteis a gude king suld have in him Ib. II 16/6.
As suld a gude knycht teche his barnis the nobles of the poyntis and proprieteis of chyvalrye Ib. 157/14.
And as to fynde in man the proprieteis of bestis 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (S.T.S.) 31/9.
The deuill … is farre cunningner then man in the knowledge of all the occult proprieties of nature

d. = Properté n. 4. — 1456 Hay I 12/11.
Be the maister of proprieteis of bestis, the sparow is a lytill foule janglare Ib. II 146/19.
Proprietee 1549 Compl. 32/32.
The pagan philosophours hes hed grite defferens … to paynt ande discriue the origyne ande propriete of the varld 1562-3 Winȝet II 41/13.
For euir also mot perseuere the proprietie of euery ane of baith the natuiris Ib. 59/2. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 42.
The proprietie [of the chameleon] is marvalous for quhat thing euir it be applicat to it semis to be of the samyn cullour

e. = Properté n. 5. — 1494 Loutfut MS 15b.
Herethrow ar put mony … thingis in armorie and al has propriete & significatioun til knaw the creatioun of him that beris armes

f. = Properté n. 6. — 1456 Hay I 291/9.
The proprieteis of the Emperouris jurement 1596 Dalr. I 55/14.
& this argument of the proprietie of the language thay collecte

2. Good appearance; ? beauty, ? elegance. Cf. Proper adj. 7. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 43.
This monstre being engendrit vnder the figure of a man chyld first had ane proprietie of nature flattering all manis ee and sensis that beheld it