A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Recom(m)end, v. [ME and e.m.E. recom(m)end(en (Piers Plowman), med. L. recommendare (1216 in Du Cange). Cf. obs. F. recommender, occasional var. of recommander, whence ME and e.m.E. recommand(en to recommend.]
1. tr. and reflex. To commit or consign (oneself or another person, also one's spirit) to (into the handis of) the care or attention of another (freq., of God).a1400 Leg. S. xvi 197.
Maximyne … To quham for his halynes Sancte Petyre … Had recommendit the Magdalayne 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1133.
My spreit … I recommend … to the quene of farye 1540 Id. Sat. 4608 (B).
Now of my sermond I have maid ane end To Gilly Mowband I ȝow recommend [Ch. all commend] a1568 Bann. MS 41a/29.
Body and sawill I humly recommend Into the handis of Thé 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 36.
Personis that ar not in power nor aige to help thame selffis and ar recommendit speciallie to all Cristianis be God 1584 Waus Corr. 286.
I man recommend Mr. William Hart … to yow as man of ane that is maist willing to … tak panis for me … thairfore I pray yow be freind to him 1686 Brechin Test. VII 155.
I … does recomend my soul to God —a1578 Pitsc. I 407/13.
The king … recommendit himself to the marcie of Almightie God
2. To praise or commend (a person).a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 375.
He recommendit Johnne til al That thare gaderit ware c1420 Wynt. v 4935 (W).
This Sanct Benet … Wes recommendit commonaly For man inspyrit of prophecy 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 36.
The personis maist recommendit of God
3. To mention or put forward to (til) another (an idea or course of action) as suitable, desirable, advisable, etc.Also with clause obj. or infin. complement.(1) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1522 (Asl.).
I recommend till our rememberans Hell and hevyne our deid & eike our dome 1586–7 Soc. Ant. IV 424.
I have recommendit to his heines the purpos your lordship kenis 1616 Fraserburgh Kirk S. I 81 (27 Nov.).
The session … recommendis to hir a consideration of hir doing 1649 Lamont Diary 7.
Anent the meason word, which was recommended to the seuerall presbetries for tryall therof 1658 Glasgow B. Rec. II 395.
The agenting therof is recommendit to the provest [etc.](2) 1622-6 Bisset I 65/11.
It is nocht lyttill to be recommendit that [etc.] 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii xxiii 4 (1678) 492.
I will recommend it as a caution to advocats, that [etc.](3) 1685 Acts Sederunt ii 163.
That the Lords would recommend … to the Lord Register to order [etc.] 1691 Kingarth Par. Rec. 157.
Its recomended to the several elders to [etc.] 1697 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 30 July.
The counsell recommends to the magistrates … to look the charter chest
b. ? To make known. —1642 Misc. Spald. C. I 24.
I shall … recommend my interest to such freinds
4. To commend (one's service) to (unto) the regard or memory of another.Chiefly in letters.Cf. e.m.E. to recommend (late ME -ma(u)nd) (oneself) to (another).1519 Douglas Corr. 75.
I recommend my service unto ȝoure maist redowtit gude grace 1521 Facs. Nat. MSS III xv.
I recommend my lawfull seruyce onto your grace 1525 Douglas Corr. 100. 1543 Aberd. B. Rec. I 190. a1568 Bann. MS 238a/1.
My dullit cors dois hairtly recommend My faythfull seruice vnto my lady
