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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Reding(e, vbl. n.¹ Also: rede-, reid(d)-, reed-, read-, redd-, ridd- and -yn(g, -in, -ene, -an, reyeddin. [Early ME redunge (c1175), ME (Ancr. R.) and e.m.E. reding(e, -yng(e, e.m.E. reading(e, Red(e v.¹] The action of Red(e v.¹ in various senses.

1. The expounding, or interpretation, of dreams. a1500 Seven S. 2113 heading.
The sevyne sagis that dissauit the emprioure be redyng of dremes a1538 Abell 5a.
Be redding of King Pharois dreyme he [sc. Joseph] was deliuerit

2. The act or practice of perusing (books or other texts); an instance of this.Also, const. on the thing read.(1) 1490 Irland Mir. I 15/24.
Resaue this werk in gud mynd, … it sall be worthe the redene 1533 Boece 634.
Frequent reding of thir & siclike historyes … sall [etc.] 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2922 (Ch.).
I red never the new testament … I heir freiris say that reiding dois na gude 1542 Acts II 415/1.
That thai sall incur na crimes for the hefing or reding of the samin [sc. a Bible] 1562-3 Winȝet II 16/12.
Quhareby the imbecillitie of my memorie be continuall reiding may be supportit Ib. I 11/24.
Reidyng 1566 Cal. Sc. P. II 324.
I wald ye rife this efter the redeing 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 161.
I left the reiding of Goddis word, and imbrasit vanitie 1580 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 182.
Personis … to … haue fre acces … for reding 1584 Gowrie P. 80.
Havinge halfe blynded myselfe with writinge, and weryinge your honour with the redinge of a tedious … lettre 1600-1610 Melvill 358.
Reidding 1611 Reg. Panmure I xxxvi.
Scho vos … gewine to prayer and redin of the word(2) 1549 Compl. 23/22.
Efftir lang conteneuatione of reding on diuerse sortis of beukis [etc.] 1607 Dundonald Par. Rec. 125.
That thair be na reiding be ony in the kirk the tyme of sermoun heirefter except it be on the text of the sermoun [etc.]

3. The ability to read or the art of reading.Also comb. with scole. 1562-3 Winȝet I 101/9.
Childring of na eruditioun except the reiding of Inglis Ib. 127/14.
Na man of mein reiding 1582 Elgin Rec. II 397.
Vther mastirs of grammer schuill wreitting and reding 1582 Perth B. Ct. 26 Oct.
To be lernit and instructit in vreting reiding and compt laying 1620 Stirling B. Rec. I 155.
To be a doctour … for teaching of the Ingleshe reding and writting 1633 Sc. Ant. I 93.
Bot concernin my reyeddin my bririn uil not let me begin it 1634 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 138.
Reeding 1643 Banff Ann. II 171.
The provest [etc.] … gives license … to teach ane English schoole … for the educateing of young children in reiding, sowing [etc.]comb. 1662 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 201.
The Inglish and reading scoollis within this burghe

4. The act or practice of uttering aloud, or enunciating, written material.Esp., after 1560, used of the reading of set prayers or Scripture by the appointed Reader (see Redar n.¹ 2) during church services. 1533 Gau 5/21.
That al pepil lat alen the orisons … for the reding of thaime the quhilk is bot leing and begiline Ib. 12/9.
Thay that wsis corsis christal murrur bukis vordis and special naymis and reding and coniuracione to find hwid hurdis in the ȝeird 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 352.
The office and functioun of ministery and reading in the Kirk 1574 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 319.
For reading and answering of bills and complaints 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 103.
Neather with preiching nor with reiding, Tuke he that faythles flock in feiding 1590 Lothian and Tweeddale Synod 23.
The brether being inquyrit gif they knew that Mr. Alexander Tait ussit reiding in St. Brydis kirk sen his deprivatioun answerit [etc.] 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 226/17.
In reiding, exponing, and teaching of the Scriptures 1616 Cramond Ch. Aberdour 16.
The lord his Saboth spent in reidan and catechising by the common reidar before sermon 1619 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 183.
Given to Maister James Macqueine 25 s., in regaird … of his reading in the kirk 1655 Mouswald Kirk S. 9 Dec.
They … woorship God with thair familie by prayer, reiding [etc.] 1666 Dunblane Synod 32.
None being permitted to stand about the dores … during the tyme of reading 1687 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXVII 135.
The tone to be observed in reading the line in singing

b. An instance of this; the formal delivery of a specified portion of written matter (freq., an official document) by reading it aloud.(1) 1428 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXXI 144.
ij s. for the redyn off Jhon Listeris commissioun at the cheker 1507 Lanark B. Rec. 17.
For wax to the commyscione and redyng of it to the court 1534–5 Acts Sederunt i 24.
Eftir the presenting and reding of the saidis lettrez, the Lordis of Counsale chesit [etc.] 1567 Crim. Trials I i 491.
Efter the reding … in jugement of certain answeris and depositionis … maid be thame 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 221.
Efter the reiding of the … supplicatioun, the heidis thairof being dewlie ressonit and wotit 1629 Reid Auchterarder 71.
After reiding of the dittay [etc.] 1632 Justiciary Cases I 209.
Eftir the publict reiding of the quhilk letter of discharge [etc.] 1638 Wemyss in Sc. Diaries 122 (see Redar n.¹ 2 (g)).
Ridding 1650 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 596.
At the reiding of the sentence he lift upe his face 1677 Cramond Kirk S. II 1 July.
If … they came not before the reading of the text 1690 Misc. Hist. Soc. X 132.
[Made] oppen proclamatione and publick reidding of the said act of parliament(2) 1566 St. A. Kirk S. 284.
Wythowtyn ony prayer, redyng or other cerimone

5. Teaching by, or as by, reading aloud. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 12.
To supple the regentis absens in redyng