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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.

Propone, v.¹ Also: -pon, -poin; -poun(e; proppone; purpone; p.t. and p.p. -ponit(t, -et, -pon(e)d, -ponnet. [L. prōpōnere, to put forth or display, declare, offer as a reward, propose (for an answer), intend, etc., e.m.E. propone to put forward for consideration (1528–1683), state before a tribunal (once, a 1548), propose as an aim (once, 1555). Only Sc. before 1528 and after 1683. Cf. Propos(e n.]

1. tr. To set forth (a matter, problem, course of action, etc.) for consideration, discussion or decision; to put forward, propound or propose. Also absol.Const. single, double or clause obj., also infin.(1) a1400 Leg. S. iii 1075.
Fore proponyt till hym sal be A thinge of gret diffyculte c1420 Wynt. v 4089.
Pelagyus … Proponyd … Conclusyownys off gret herysy 1427 Acts II 15/1.
Powere … to determyn al caus to be proponit in consale or parliament c1450-2 Howlat 269 (A).
The prelatis thair apperans proponit generale 1456 Hay I 286/20.
That a prince suld haue gude counsaile to ger propone before him the maner of the appellacioun a1500 Henr. Fab. 46 (Bann.).
Myne auctour … tellis how That brutall beistis … A sylogysme [Ch. In philosophie] propone, and eik exclud 1490 Irland Mir. II 95/23.
Than I suld … propone in my mynd thir twa contradictouris 1513 Acta Conc. MS XXVI 23.
Certane materis proponit be … [the] ambaxatouris to … the … King of France 1533 Boece 73b.
Na les pane proponit na to want the hede 1533 Bell. Livy I 51/28.
Tullus … commandit thir legatis of Albanis to propone thare message 1560 Conf. Faith in 14.. Acts II 526/2.
We culd not bot sett furth this … confessioun of sic doctrine as is proponit vnto ws and as we beleife and profess 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 543. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 13.
On Satterday euery classe sal propone certaine propositions quhilk … sal be examinat and disput againe be the regentis 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 118.
This coronatioun, as is allegit, wes proponit be the quenis majestie in Lochlevin a1578 Pitsc. II 106/19.
Proponitt a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 880 (W).
Auld probleames thay expound [f.n. propond] [: ond (= on it)] 1600 M. Napier Mem. J. Napier 308.
Proponnet 1606 Laing MSS I 107.
Proponet 1637 Culross I 190.
This day was proponed the fear that we were in about this Service-book now intending c 1675 Fraser Sel. Biog. II 113.
He proponed an objection which some doubting Christians might have(b) 1608 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 107.
That seruice being propouned and urgeit 1616 Crim. Trials III 390.
Propoun(c) 1593 Misc. Spald. C. I 6.
That quhilk the Laird of Petlurge is to propoin to his maiestie(2) a1400 Leg. S. v 297.
Proponand tham that distinctiue [etc.] 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 10.
That he propone thayme ane theme … in verse(3) c1420 Wynt. viii 804.
This kyng than proponyd swne That the superyoryte … off Scotland hys suld be 1481–2 Peebles B. Rec. I 189.
The said master Archbald proponit … that his land … mycht haf interes in Sant Mychellis wynd 1490 Irland Mir. II 98/13.
It is proponit the persoune suld consider the opposite 1578 Conv. Burghs I 76. 1639 Hamilton P. (Camden Soc.) 91.
I shall further propone if your maiestie may not spair 2 troopes of horss 1644 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 24. c1650 Spalding I 228.(4) 1568 Q. Mary Facs. Nat. MSS III lviii.
It hes bein proponit to me to consent that [etc.](5) 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 192.
Without I wald proppone concord and had power therto c1610 Melville Mem. 134.
And … he proponit mariage to hir maieste 1679 J. Somerville Mem. I 295.
He caused propone marriage to the father and sone(6) absol. c1420 Wynt. viii 301.
Befor this kyng … come twa men. … The fyrst proponyd in manere fayre [etc.] a1500 Henr. Fab. 46 (Ch.) (see (1) above). 1562-3 Winȝet I 17/4.
Albeit we only desyrit ane answeir thairoff in wryt priuatlye … as we proponit to ȝou 1630 Acts V 219/2.
To propone for the changing of the termes

b. To propose (a person, or list of persons) as candidate(s) for an office, also as a prospective spouse. 1513 Crail Ch. Reg. 40.
Na parroche clerk beand chosyne, the said Schir Williame Myrtone proponit to the bailȝeis that tyme Johne Abircrummy and George Kenloquhy 1562 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 27.
The Assemblie appointed Mr. George Hay [etc.] … to be proponed in lites to the said kirk 1606 Laing MSS I 106.
Pressing my brother to resolve to marri, he did propone to me Sir Jarves Clifton dochter 1607 Scot Narr. 191.
Certain leets being first nominated and proponed freely 1600-1610 Melvill 718.
The Moderator … propounes … a leit for chuseing ane Moderator to the present Assemblie

c. To utter (words). 1533 Boece 250b.
It had bene superflewe to propone ma wourdis Ib. 437.
This was the harrang proponit be messageris c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 621.
Heirand the word the Saddest did propone Ib. ii 334.
Thow was ouir negligent Of Quene Venus sic langage to propone

d. To set down in writing; to draw up (a written document). a 1566 Knox III 9.
The contents of every chapter proponed [v.r. preponed] briefly unto them … in the margent — c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii 672.
He maryit Raab … As Iherome dois in the Bybill propone 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 62.
The haill lordis … proponit ane lang tractive callit the confessioun of our faith c1550-c1580 Art of Music 10b.
Quhat is ane cirkill of the les perfect? It is ane sing proponit in the maner of ane rund cumpas

2. To state or put forward (a plea, exception, etc.) before (to) a court of law or other tribunal. Also absol.Also, once, propone furth, id.(1) 1400 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 48.
Na remede of lach canoun na ciuyle to be proponit in the contrary 1402 Ib. No. 56.
Al euidentz resons & allegacons proponit on the tapart c1420 Wynt. viii 1589.
This Makduff till Lwndyn past, And thare proponyd his querele c1450-2 Howlat 248 (A).
Propone thin appele 1463 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 375B.
Na remede of law na ȝit excepcion of law … to be proponit aganestandyn in the contrare 1466 Acta Aud. 3/1. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2309. 1482 Acta Aud. 102/2. 1497 Acta Conc. II 93. 1531–2 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 46.
In the actione … concernying the thyrll mowter proponit in precept the jug continuit the samyn Ib. 53.
The exceptiones proponit … ar declinatouris quhilkis suld hef beyne proponit in the begynnyng of the play befoyr litis contestatione 1569 Q. Mary Facs. Nat. MSS III lix. 1573 Reg. Soltre 224.
Gif ony hes plaint to propone aganis him 1576 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 273.
Kennedy … desyrit ane day to propone and giff in in vrit all his defenssis 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Breve. 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Sheriff Ct. 18. 1621 Letts. Eccl. Affairs II 671.
The Lordis ordanis that this mater salbe proponned the morne to the Sessioun 1622-6 Bisset II 59/29.
The perseware sall propone his petitioun verbo 1631 Inverness Rec. II 168.
And havinge no laughfull defences to object or propon in the contrar 1641 Peebles Chart. 108. 1661 Decis. Lords G. 3. 1666 Wodrow Hist. (1828) II 47.
The justices repel the defence, duply, and quadruply proponed for the pannels, in respect of the reply and triply proponed by his majesty's advocate 1671 Alford Rec. 174.
The minister being allowed to propone his exceptiones 1693 Irvine Deeds MS (Dispn. Francis & Baillie to Gray).
All other exceptiones & objectiones that of the law can be proponed or alleadged in the conrair(2) 1514 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 147.
It was proponit and allegeit agains Walter Ker … that he had brokin the priueliegis of the burgh(3) a1568 Bann. MS 144b/30.
Quhen he proponis furth ane ple(4) absol. c1420 Wynt. viii 301.
The fyrst proponyd in manere fayre, And sayd That he wes nerrest ayre 1456 Hay I 263/5.
Gif a man has despyte at his wyf … and he wald wyn fra hir hir dowar, and he propone aganis hir a1500 Henr. Fab. 1182 (Bann.).
The aduocattis on this wys can propone Ib. 2685. 1491 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 328.
And neuer to cum nor propone in the contrare be the haly ewangell tuechet 1501 Acta Conc. III 85.
The kingis advocat was nocht present til allege and propone for the kingis grace 1532 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 59.
His prelocquitor … proponit aganis the saidis Alan and Alexander jugis deputtis forsaidis 1558 Reg. Soltre 223.
Schir Alexander … proponit and pleingyhet of … ane beidman of the hospitalarie of violatioun

3. To put forward as a proposal or an intention; to propose; to intend.Const. infin. compl.; also ? ellipt. and absol. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 353 (C).
I propone [D. purpone] … It for to sent sone some man to c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 37.
I … proponit in my mynd … to sek with my wyt of al thingis that was wndir the sone 1490 Irland Mir. II 56/4.
That I propone to schaw … in a buk I think to wryt Ib. I 51/25. Id. Asl. MS 63/11. 1513 Doug. xi vii h. of ch.
The kyng proponys with Enee to tak pes Incontrar Turnus 1516 Reg. Privy S. I 441/2.
Dene Thomas proponis … to supple … the rest of the placis 1596 Dalr. II 60/11.
Tha … propones to june thair forces against the Erle Douglas Ib. 221/32. 1611-57 Mure Hist. Rowallane 253.
The king in his bearne head proponed to round with him — a1500 Lanc. 2459.
So that thei can them vtraly propone In his seruice thar lyves to dispone 1622-6 Bisset I 310/23.
Forsamekill as I propone me to hald ane courte of purpresture in my landis [etc.]absol. a1500 Lanc. 361.
And so the king proponit And for to pas [MS one, ? erased] hyme one the morne disponit a1500 Colk. Sow Prol. 63.
I propone nocht as wis presumpteous Bot rathir sport myne awin spereit to reios a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 625.
Man propons, but God dispons

4. To give (a signal). 1533 Boece 300b.
Arthure … proponit the signe [L. signo dato]

5. a. With material object: To place (something) before another; to offer as a prize or reward; to present. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 2154.
Quhilk [book] … Proponis thus my vulgair ignorance Maist humbillie with dew obedience 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 10.
Thair salbe twa bonnittis proponet to be given solemnly to the twa that makis best composition 1573 Cath. Tr. 9/30.
The mater that he proponis to be vnderstand be his language is lyk the meat that is proponit in the plait Ib. 10/27.
I will pas to the mater, first proponand my lettre, thairefter his ansuer, nother eikand nor pearand ane word, last of all I sall subione the refutatioun

b. To put forward (an example or exemplar) as a model to be imitated.(1) 1570 Misc. Bann. C. I 46.
Propone to your self the Duck d'Alues example 1570 Sat. P. xiii 57.
To preif this part I plainly mycht propone Exemples a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxx 59.
Propon that perfyt patroun [Christ] for exempill c1590 Fowler II 109/28.
That great persons actions which he hes proponed for paterne 1596 Dalr. I 92/17. 1653 Binning Wks. 525.
God propones himself as the pattern of it a1658 Durham Subtile Self 103.(2) 1648 Stair in Sc. Hist. Rev. XIII (1915–16) 388.
We sall find them [sc. customs] to be most rarely proponed and ever opposed that a prince sould or may interpone another persone against there will quho are vassals