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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.

Present, v. Also: -sentt, -sente, -scent, -santt; præsent; p.t. and p.p. present(t)it, -ate, -et, -ed; present; also (preusende). [ME and e.m.E. presente (a 1310), presand (north., a 1400–50), p.t. presentede (c 1325), present (Cursor M.), presende (14th c.), præsent (1597), p.p. ipresented (c 1290), presentyd (Cursor M.), OF presenter (11th c. in Littré mod. F. présenter), L. præsentāre to place before, exhibit, in late and med. L. also = give as a gift, f. as Present adj.]

1. To bring a person before, to, into, or into the presence of another or others; to introduce. Also fig.Also, const. dat. pron.(1) 1375 Barb. xv 305 (E).
Sone eftre wes he tane And present [C. presentit] rycht to the king c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1059.
He … present hyr … To Kyng Agamenone ?1438 Alex. ii 10370.
Porrus is presentit to the king 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 166.
That the husbandis be present to ws at thar entre a1500 K. Hart 234. 1533 Boece 123.
He was had to Rome to be present to the emprioure 1552 Reg. Privy C. I 136. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8922. 1570 Leslie 47.
The Erle of Douglas … thay presentit to the king a1578 Pitsc. I 354/16.
Thair was present into thame tuo fair gentill wemen 1579 Aberd. B. Rec. II 34.
The decain of everie craft sell present the person of craft … to the deinis of gild of this said burght 1580 Ib. II 39.
The scholar … sall … be presentit to the prouest and baillies(2) a1500 Bk. Chess 1194.
I present ȝow thir childer fair & ȝung As presoneris(3) 1486 Mill Mediæv. Plays
Of ony twa sufficent men quhilkis likis him erast to present to be resavit in the fraternite 1552 Reg. Privy C. I 130.
Everie man that is taxt to haiff his men to be presenttit at the heid bruch 1609 S. Leith Rec. 7/2.
The masters or mastresses of the families sall present thair howsholdes [for the catechising]

b. To present a child (to be baptised, or to or for baptism). 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 225.
Jonat Smyth … to be decernit to present ane madyn barn … to baptisme 1653 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 226.
Those who did present the children to bie baptized by him 1662 Craven Ch. in Orkney 13.
That they who prescent children to be baptized shall say the Creed, etc. 1686 Meikle Old Session Bk. 23.
As this child was presented for baptism by William Moncrief, litster, in Alyth

c. spec. To bring a wrong-doer (to or before a court or magistrate, or to a place of punishment).Also ellipt. (see quot. for 1574).(1) 14.. Acts I 344/2.
That the bailȝeis present jlke persoune bodely before the justice 1491 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 33.
And thai to present a faltour o the morn 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 387.
The charge gevin to Patrik Dunbar … to enter and present the said Francis … and the said Patrik Dunbar not enterand nor presentand [etc.] 1586 Burntisland B. Ct. 28 Dec.
With certane wther wemen quha presentit the saminge to the prowest and bailȝeis 1591 Reg. Morton I 175.
The laird … rasit lettres to charge me to present the said fallow 1620 Perth Kirk S. in Spottiswoode Misc. II 292. 1630 Elgin Rec. II 214.
To present his sone for boasting of the beddell of the kirk a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 15.
Caution is found be the said procurator to presentt the said Sir Jon Young the said day Ib. II 43.
The barrone should arreist the manslayer within his barronie and presentt him to the shireffe 1649 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III 49.
[Cautioners to present him on 11 July, under penalty of 500 merks](2) 1567 Acts III 25/2.
Baith he and scho salbe … presentit to the mercat place, … and thair stand fesnit 1590–1 Crail B. Ct. MS 23 Feb.
The saidis Malie … to be presentit to the gookstoole

d. To introduce (? by means of a writ) the donatory of escheat lands to their overlord.See also Presentacioune n. 3. 1587 Acts 441/2.
The tenendriis haldin of vther superiouris becuming in our handes be escheit … the presentationis or infeftments following thairvupon cumis not under our revocatioun becaus [etc.] … bot of necessitie it behoveit ws to present heretable tennentis to the superiouris of the samyn

2. refl. To present oneself before, to another or in (at, into, to etc.) a public place; to appear.Also, present (one's) face or (one's) persone, id.To present (oneself) to iugement or to the law, to submit to being judged, or to the processes of law.(1) a1400 Leg. S. i 374.
To Nero than the thrid day He present hym Ib. l 1001.
Sir Purphire … Has present hyme befor the king c1450-2 Howlat 152 (A).
Thai … present thaim aye Fair farrand and fre Ib. 184. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 117.
Cresseid … Into the kirk wald not hir self present a1500 K. Hart 773.
Go to ȝour place and ȝow thairin present 1525 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 75.
Of the quhilk wrang thai tuk ane act that he wold nocht present hyme 1562-3 Winȝet I 96/18.
Our … souerane … præsent hir self to this realme maist humblie, nochte as a souerane, bot as a subiect 1574 St. A. Kirk S. 401. 1583 Digest Justiciary Proc. K 39.
[They] presentit thame selffis ȝisterday in iugement 1584 Misc. Bann. C. I 105.
He then presented himself to the heading-stock 1607 Denmylne MSS. in Highland P. III 98. 1608 Kinghorn Kirk S. 11.
Issobell Stewin … was ordanit to present hirselfe … at the kirk door 1612 Fife Synod 47.
[To] present him self … in the places of publict repentans, … his compeirans to be in lineis 1628 Linlithgow B. Rec. 21 June.
That na man be maid burges … without they presentt thame selffis in thair armes(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxi 30.
Without thow cum and present thame thy face 1526 Reg. Privy S. I 521/1.
And presentand his persone at Kittycorshill(3) a1568 Bann. MS. I p. 36/24.
For all man come our se and sound And present thame to iugement 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 49.
He sould be admonissed, and required to come furth, and present him to the law

b. intr., id. Const. dative pron. 1600-1610 Melvill 261.
And efter consultation taken … , ther presentes us a verie reverend man … wha [etc.]

3. tr. To attend (a place); to present oneself (there).To present the mercat, cf. 6 below.(1) 1568 Buch. Indict. 34.
Quhat nobilman at that tym presentit the court bot ains [etc.] 1586 Elgin Rec. II 5.
Ordanit … to present the stoole of repentance 1589 St. A. B. Ct. 21 Nov.
To pay ten pondis and present the gokstule 1600-1610 Melvill 72.
The principall is delt with … nocht to present the place 1617 Stirling B. Rec. II 386.
That na blew bonnetts … present the kirk(2) 1516 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 38.
The flechsoris to present the mercat be ix houris with all the flesch 1588 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 234. 1665 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 11 May.
All inhabitants to present the mercat with thair horses & ky

4. To nominate (someone) as a candidate for an appointment, award, etc. Also ellipt. and absol.Chiefly, to recommend (a clergyman) for institution to, till a benefice or vacant charge.Also, to put (someone) forward to a presbytery or to the ministry as a candidate for the ministry.(1) c 1390 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 19.
Gif the prior of the Eland vare at this tyme present to the priorie of Coldynghame thrugh request of owr lorde the kynge 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 48.
The ayr may nocht withoutyn the assent of the woman till it [a kirk] present ony able persone 1473 Peebles Chart. 21. 1491 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 410.
To ansuer … for quhat caus he present ane persone to the personage of Forbes 1507–8 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 352. 1516–7 Reg. Privy S. I 451/2.
Ane lettre … gevand him licence and benevolence to gif presentatioun and present Schir Thomas Piot chaplain to the vicarage of Cluny 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 68.
My Lord Regentis Grace, … subscrivit ane signatour presentand Williame Douglas to the vicarage of Elgin 1574–5 Reg. Privy S. VII 3/2. c 1600 Soc. Ant. XVIII 297 (see Collationat(e p.p.). 1676 Edinb. B. Rec. X 276 (see Institut(e p.t. and p.p. 2 b). 1683 Robertson Cullen Church Ann. 128.(2) 1595 Laing Chart. 319.
Mr. James … hes presentit and proponit him [Mr. Patrick] to the presbyterie of Couper … to be tryit; and … they haif admittit him thairto 1602 St. A. Kirk S. 937 n.
The Presbyterie findis that the said Mr. Robert wes presentit to the ministerie, tryit and found sufficientlie qualifeit(3) ellipt. c 1390 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 20.
For vs thynk it is lytill rewarde till vs till haue a suffysand man and ane abell present Ib. 1562-3 Winȝet I 43/24.
Sen the princes in our dayis takis on thaim the haill power of electioun … presenting quhat persoun thay pleis 1565 in Calderwood II 298.
For otherwise, if it sall be leasome to present absolutelie whome they please 1567 Acts III 23/2.
And the patroun presentand ane qualifyit persoun 1639 Baillie I 238.
Præsent 1689 Cramond Kirk S. III 7 May (6 Dec.).
Untill any other minister should be presented and institut according to law(4) c 1400 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 53.
The said Sir Jone … sal gif … lettris to present suytouris and lettris of balyhery to … defend al the landis 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 10.
The principal sal present befor thayme the said regentis and geif ony inlak be seiknes or other necessite he sal present ane qualefyit persone to thayme 1612 Acts IV 518/1.
To present ane leit to my lord aucht persounes … and to leit and present twa persounes with the auld thesaurar to the thesaurarie of the said cietie 1649 Glasgow B. Rec. II 182.
The young aleivin boyes presented be the maister of the hospitall of Hutchesounes … were allowit [etc.] 1675 (1673) Cullen Kirk S. 25 Nov. (see Presenter n.). 1677 Cullen Kirk S. 1 Sept.
And that for there office of presentatione of one schooll boy after another to the benefite of the said mortificatione 1691 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 3.
The election of one of the three persones … who were presented to them on lytt be the deacon conveeneris house(5) absol. 1443 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 96.
Als mikil richt as he has … till present to the said kirk be disses off Sir Williame Hesliop 1493 Lennox Mun. II 147.
In our nayme and behalf … and tharefore … to … resaif consilouris … ande amicabill compositouris … to nayme, cheis, and present [etc.]

b. To nominate an incumbent for (a benefice). — 1513 Reg. Privy S. I 383/2.
With power … to dispone and present the kyrkis, chaplanaryis and prebendary forsaidis gyf ony vakis 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 177.
Lyke as … all benefices hes bene presentit and collationat sen the begynning of his hienes regnne

c. To present herds, to nominate as herdsmen. — 1682 Rothesay B. Rec. 387.
John Kelburne balȝie haveing offered to present herds for the two sydes of the toune

5. To hand over (something), more or less formally, to another; to proffer, deliver, submit.

a. With various material objects.Const. to (till, vnto), also befoir, a person, or with dat. pron. Also without const.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii 5864.
To ilk barroun He profferd and presented the poun 1402 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 54.
Quhat tym it hapyn the sayd Williame … to present or gefe to the sayd Alexander … a charter [etc.] 1424 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 14.
Lettrez presentit til vs 1428 Liber Melros II 519. 1456 Hay I 297/21.
And quhen the dyademe was presentit till him, he tuke it [etc.] 1494 Loutfut MS. 45 b.
And rychtsua … salbe done to the best defendand and present him the heaume c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 87. 1513 Doug. i xi 4. 1525 Aberd. B. Rec. I xl.
Quhilkis faltis salbe present to the maister of the kirk wark 1533 Boece 611.
Quhan the payntoure had present to the king hir ymage pleisandlie cunterfite 1538 Aberd. B. Rec. I 154 (see Lume n. 2 b). 1549 Compl. (S.T.S.) fol. 86 r.
Vitht in thre dais there eftir the post of Beruyk presentis it in London to the counsel of Ingland 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8864. 1581 Treas. Acc. MS 78² b.
To … [the] seruitour that presentit to his maiestie the lyart curtellit hors 1599 Household Bk. Jas. VI 30 June.
And for milk and rame thair presentit to hir maiestie 1605 Crim. Trials II 478. 1651 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 119.
That they present the foirsaids armes … and give thair aithes … that they ar not borrowit 1654 Rec. Old Aberd. I 328.
The said day compeirit Johne Andersone and present ane sey of men and womanes gloves(2) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8766.
And Alexander … To this ladie, befoir hir thame presentit a1578 Pitsc. I 45/9.
The chancelar … presentit ane bullis heid befoir the earle

b. To lay (a writ, symbolic object, etc.) before, or deliver (it) to, a court or appropriate authority.pres. 1443 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 268.
And gert present to the four heid courtis … erd and stane [etc.] 1501 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 116.
To present ane bref of inquest to the … balyes of the burghe 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 160/32.
It is nocht contenit in thair commissioun quhat tyme thai sall present thair commissioun c1575 Balfour Pract. 38.
The serjand aucht to present attachiamentis and borgh-rowis that ar fundin in his handis 1580 Reg. Privy C. III 284.
That nane … offer or present unto his majestie ony maner of signaturis [etc.], … to be subscrivitp.t. 1450 Aberd. B. Rec. I 19.
Duncane … presente in the courte the eucariste of siluer 1456 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V i 268.
Williame Alaneson present a bil of complaynt to the alderman & bailȝeis 1464–5 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 60.
Williame of Douglas … present til vs in iugement a rolment of courte c 1476 Lennox Mun. II 108.
To schaw to the inquest … how yhe present the retour clos agane to the chapell 1493 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 43.
Wilyem Jakson present twa breiffis of lynin to the balyeis in iugisment and askyt thaim to be prewit 1496–7 Acta Conc. II 51.
To preif … that scho present the sade discharge to the saide Thomas, sergeand 1499 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 101.
Tomas Bowchane … preusende [sic in pr.] ane later of the arsbescepis of Sanct Androus 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 187.
Comperit my Lord James, and presentit the instructionis gevin be hir grace to himp.p. 1424 Acts II 4/2.
At thir bukis be present to the kingis auditouris at Perthe Ib. 5/1. 14.. Quon. Attach. c. 35.
The bref of dett … quhen it is present to the scheray [etc.] 1474 Treas. Acc. I 24.
As his byll beris, present to the comptare 1497 Acta Conc. II 71.
And that thai had evidentis to schew thairapoun quhilkis thai had nocht present at that tyme 1533 Edinb. B. Rec. II 63.
And at the fals stuff be present to the provest, baillies, and counsale 1621 Denmylne MSS. in Highland P. III 310. 1622-6 Bisset II 59/4.
Presented 1678 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 20 May.
All burgesses that hes not presentit thair march staines

c. To present (a literary work).c1500-c1512 Dunb. lix 4. 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 39.
Ballattis … and layis, Quhilks tyll our prince daylie thay do present 1549 Compl. 6/32.
I … hes tane ane temerare consait to present to ȝour nobil grace ane … laubir of my pen 1573 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 289.
The Assembly thought good, it [a book] should be presented 1604-31 Craig i 3.
I … am bold to present to your most sacred eyes these louely litures

d. With non-material obj.To present (someone's) health, to propose (a toast).(1) 1559 St. A. Kirk S. 19.
Of the contryvet accusationes presentate to your wisedomes in wryte, be my husband 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6820.
This lady … set Presenting thair the deuillis net Under cullour sa cautelous 1565 Facs. Nat. MSS. III lvi.
I have not ellis to present to your lordship bot … a faithfull harte 1584 Douglas Corr. 182.
Presentinge our hairtlie dewtie to your worshippe 1637 Aberd. B. Rec. III 105.
Presenting vnto thame this tounes diligence in searching of the licht horsemen 1676 Red Bk. Grandtully I cxl.
The laird … hid his serwice presented to yow(2) 1632 Lithgow Trav. x 431.
To pledge or present his majesties health

6. Of goods. a. passive. To be presentit at, also to, in, the mercat (also, mercat-cors), to be brought to the public market for sale there. 14.. Acts I 61/2.
That the merchandises … salbe presentit at the mercat and mercat croce of burghis and thar at the lest salbe perofferit to the merchandis of the burgh effectuouslie 1471 Peebles B. Rec. I 167.
Gyf ony sic gudis cummes vnder nycht to be sald it sal be present on the morn to the merkat cors 1532 Linlithgow B. Ct. 3 Nov.
That na man hous fisch in thair housis quhill that thai be present to the mercat 1544 Perth Guildry MS 221 (16 Sept.).
The gudeis … to be presentit to the mercat & to be sauld 1549 Aberd. B. Rec. I 267. 1562 (c 1650) Dundee B. Laws 28.
Without the same bukes have with them … the skin hide and head presentit also in the mercat 1570 Peebles B. Rec. I 323.
All meill to be presentit to the mercat croce, and nane remane in houssis 1576 Reg. Privy C. II 578.
Presentit 1592 Edinb. B. Rec. V 67.
Presentet 1595 St. A. Baxter Bks. 53. 1616 Stirling B. Rec. I 144.
Ane impost of … tua schillingis of ilk fyve firlottis of landwart malt that sall be … not presenttit to the mercatt 1637 Elgin Rec. I 257. 1652 Glasgow B. Rec. II 251. 1674 Peebles B. Rec. II 88.
All woollen yairne that shall … be presented to be sold in any mercate or faire 1699 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 812 (4 Nov.).]
[Stole … 19 … quoys and thereafter presented and sold the same at the Nollfauld market of Air

b. quasi-tr. To present the mercat or mercat cors, id.Cf. sense 3 (2) above. 1515 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 33.
That na longsoucht stuff flesche na hyd present the merkat 1521 Ib. 63.
Na flesch … be haldin in hous but present the mercat be ix houris 1524 Ib. 74, etc.
That na baxtar by quheit quhill it present the mercat 1584 Aberd. B. Rec. II 54. 1584 Burntisland B. Ct. 5 May.
That all stapil guddis present the marcat cors the twa dayis in the ouk 1598 Aberd. B. Rec. II 168.
Quhilk victuall … wald hawe presentit the townis mercat 1619 Aberd. Council Lett. I 173.
Thair bying of plaiding … that suld have presented the mercatt 1671 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 28 Aug.
All fleshe presenting the mercate 1680 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 105.

c. passive. To be present(it) in (the) Tolbuth, to be brought to the Tolbooth for inspection, etc. — 1525 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 78.
That all metlumes … sal be present in the tolbutht one Fridaye neixt to cum 1531–2 Ib. 118.
That yong stot vas presentit in tolbutht and apprysit laufully … to the soum of xxii s.

d. Of a person: To bring goods (to the market) to be sold. — 1597 (c 1650) Dundee B. Laws 49.
The said meall sellars sall present ther haill stuffe ilk mercat day 1665 Peebles B. Rec. II 65.
All the commoun meall makers … to present … to the weiklie mercate ane full seck of meall

7. To aim a firearm at or to someone.Appar. chiefly or only Sc. in early use. 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 227.
The said George Hume presentand ane pistolet to him 1586–7 Ib. IV 139. 1600 Ib. VI 141.
Patrik … presentit hir [a pistolet] bendit to the said complenar 1621 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 339.
[He] presentit ane bendit hagbote … to the lairdis … breist

b. To hold (a pike) point foremost and ready for use; to set it in the attacking position. — 1627 Kellie Pallas Armata 23.
[Eng.] Charge your picke. [Scots] Present your picke forward

8. To denote or stand for (something other than one's self); to be the representative of (another).(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. (O.U.P.) 1258.
This selie scheip may present the figure Of pure commounis c1490 Irland Asl. MS. 79/16.
To ȝou, spirituale fader, that presentis the persone place and autorite of God in the warld a1578 Pitsc. II 113/22.
Monsieur Doyswall … quhene he come in Scottland he presentit the King of France awin body 1622-6 Bisset I 119/6.
The saidis lordis … presentis his maiestie persone(b) 1562-3 Winȝet II 42/21, 24.
[Christ] præsentit nocht thai thingis quhilkis pertenit to man as of an wthir bot … aluterlie wes that thing quhilk he præsentit Ib. 43/14, 15.

b. To represent (a person) as possessing a specified attribute. a1568 Bann. MS. 86 a/45.
The lynning quhyte presentis thé innocent and signefeis of conscience clarite

9. intr. Of an event: To take place or occur. 1650 Douglas Corr. 256.
Douglas doith kiep ane mirrie man to the foir in all iniquities of tymes which doith presantt