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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.

Remit(t, -myt(t, v. Also: ra-; rem- and -met; -meit(t; -mitte, -mite, -myte; (-motte). P.t. and p.p. -it, -yte, etc.; also remitt, remitt. [ME and e.m.E. remyt (c1400), -mit, -mitte, L. remittere, f. re- and mittere to send.‘In Eng. use the secondary senses appear earlier and are more prominent than the primary’ (OED).] tr.

1. To forgive (an offence, sin, fault, etc.) (to (unto, till) a person, also const. double object and, freq., without const.).Also, rarely, const. of the offence.(1) a1400 Leg. S. vii 209.
Lord remyt this gilt tham to 1490 Irland Mir. MS fol. 228a.
That his synnys are put away and remittit to him a1500 Bk. Chess 1515.
The juge … Wnto thaim all remittit the offens 1500–1 Reg. Privy S. I 88/2.
A lettir maid to the Lord Drummond [etc.] … remittand and forgevand to the said kyn and frendis … al actionis … of the birnyng of the kirk of Moneward [etc.] 1535 Stewart 11363.
Syne euerilkane remittit hes till vther Rancour and yre 1533 Boece 79.
The king … swore that … to thame he wald glaidlie remytt all offensis 1591 Edinb. B. Rec. V 49.
Thai remitt unto him that falt in howpe of amendement(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxx 698.
He … remytit hyre al hyr syne 1456 Hay I 272/8.
Suppos the king remytt him his accioun [etc.] a1500 Seven S. 1519.
And be that falt remittit thé, Luf on 1523–4 Aberd. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 123.
Besekand the … guydtoun to ramyt him his forsaid falt 1589 Reg. Privy C. IV 406.
[Having] remittit his richt traist cousing … his lait offens committit be him 1596 Dalr. I 339/26.
The rest of his conspiratouris this iniure he remitis(3) 1456 Hay I 98/25.
Gif the vencust man suld pay the costis thouch the king remytt his accioun 1457 Reg. Dunferm. 344.
All thingis concernyng the said mater … strekyn by & fullely remyttyt foreuermar a1500 Henr. Fab. 1596. 1490 Irland Mir. II 32/10.
All iniur … that he had agane ws … he hartlie remittit and forgaf a1500 Bk. Chess 1280.
He … erar wald the haile trespas remyte Than … for to exceid for it Ib. 978. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 993. 1511–12 Dundee Chart. No. 47.
Wit ȝe ws … to haveremittit and be thir our lettres, remittis generaly … all … transgressionis committit … anent the vsing of ony wechtis or mesouris as [etc.] 1513 Doug. i Prol. 455.
Thou be my muse, … Remittyng my trespas and euery mys 1530 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 10.
For the quhilkis … the said Robert … sall … remitt … the slauchter of the saidis Robertis cheif 1535 Stewart 27154.
His grace tha did imploir For to remit all faltis of befoir 1562 Aberd. B. Rec. I 345.
To accept … his spous in his familiar cumpany …, remittand all offenssis and elestis done be hir in tymes bygane 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 49.
He … tendit to haue all bipast remittit a1578 Pitsc. I 84/4.
The Earle of Douglas … was ressawit richt hairtfullie be the king andremittit all byganis 1587-99 Hume 13/71.
[God] Wald haue remitted Sodoms spot [etc.](4) a1570-86 Kennedy Maitl. F. 366/46.
The hewynnis blys gif thou wald haif And of thi gylt remyt be grace a1578 Pitsc. I 128/14.
[He] send messengeris to his maiestie to be remittit of all rebellieoun and offences that he had done

b. To forgive or pardon (a person) (for an offence).(1) c1420 Wynt. vi 2342 (W).
xxiiij markis … the slaar suld [pay], And he remyttit suld be for ay a1500 Bk. Chess 794.
Wnto his father instance gryt they mak For to remit his sonne into this caise 1501 Acta Conc. III 102.
Our soverane lord has … remittit [pr. remictit] first all and sindrie his legis that come … til desyre remissions 1551 Dundee B. Ct. II fol. 73b (6 July).
& ilk of thame remit oderis & tak other be the hand frendfully 1584 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 225. Spalding I 83.
The said noble lord haid remittit and apardonit the said Mr. Nicoll 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii xxviii § iv (1678) 550.
Though I think this should hold in such as are remitted, after they are condemned(2) 1509–10 Reg. Privy S. I 306/2.
We … remittit the said Alexander and finit with him in jugement for the slauchter of the said umquhile George 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 242.
Thay ar the peple that ar forlorne, Quhilk nother sall be heir nor hyne Remittit for thare fals doctryne

c. absol., in one or other of the above senses. c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxi 62.
Als oft thai do offend, thow dois remeitt

2. To give up or resign (a legal claim or right). 1379 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 2.
Wete yhe me … [to] haue releissit quytclaymit & for euer mare remittyt … till an michty lorde … all my rycht clayme [etc.] 1539 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 199.
The said Schir Dauid … to remyt the clame of the said oxin depending in the consistore

3. To renounce (a proffered payment, or right to payment); to allow relief (to a person) from (an exaction); to let (a person) off (a payment or service due).Also const. of the sum due.(1) 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 61.
Schir Willam … has releschyt remittyt & for gyffin … to the forsaid erle … al wardis mariagis and relevis that [etc.] 1496 Acta Conc. II 9.
That the sade vj merkis was condycionalyremittit 1514 (c1580)Edinb. B. Rec. I 153.
The president baillies and counsall … ar content that thair small … dewiteis of his guddis … be remittit, and remittis the samyn 1523 Treas. Acc. V 211.
Escheit gudis … quhilk Williame gat remittit of the lordis for the said falt a1538 Abell 41b.
Constantin … remittit thare [sc. the Britons'] tribut quhilk thai payit 30 ȝere 1536–7 Sc. Hist. Rev. VII 360.
The … convent remittit ane chalder of beir of the said ferme ȝeirlie siclike as thai remittit to the … tenentis of Galtovnsyd 1552 Reg. Cupar A. II 251. 1564 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 285.
And gif we remitt tham [sc. our stipends], than the travell can nocht be sustenit 1564–5 Banff Chart. 96.
Gif it salhapin us to require the said George to deduce or ellis to remit ony part of the said soume 1592–3 Edinb. B. Rec. V 78.
Thai remitt the ferd penny thairof(2) 1489–90 Acta Conc. I 127/2.
Our said souerane lordis faider … remitt and forgeff to him the tothir thre hundreth merkis a ȝere 1508 Reg. Privy S. I 247/1. 1554–5 Edinb. Old Acc. I 29.
iiij li. … remittit to him … for the lennyng of his mony(3) 1497–8 Acta Conc. II 129.
The sade … countasse … has remyttit [pr. remyctit] and foregevin the sade erle al malis [etc.] 1498 Ib. 268.
The Lordis consalis the Lordis of the Chekker til remit thir religious men this unlaw that thai fell in 1562 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 123.
For the quhilk resignatione the consale present remytt hym and his all biganis thairof sen his int[r]es 1593–4 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 12 March.
Johne Tailȝour remittit his modir Agnes Neill hir lyifrent of the haill tak as scho haid the same of before remittand the lawboring to hym(4) 1408 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 69.
Me … frely remyttys & quitclaymis … a … lord … of the ten pondes 1501 Reg. Privy S. I 100/2.
Our said soverane lord … relefis, frethis and releschis, remittis, quietclemys and dischargis … the saidis … of the payment of the said soume

b. To withdraw or cancel (a punishment or penalty); to grant remission (of suffering). 1490 Irland Mir. I 50/2.
The ofter thou confes to the preist … the mare of the pane of purgatore is remittit to thé Ib. MS fol. 235a.
All pane ordand for syn twichand dampnacioune is releischit and remittit 1564 Reg. Privy C. I 307.
The quenis majestie … hes remittit and dischargeit … the said pane and unlaw 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii xxviii § i (1678) 546.
When the judges has pronounced his sentence, … the punishment irrogat by him, can only be remitted by the prince

4. To mitigate or lay aside (a feeling of anger, a state of tension, etc.). a1400 Leg. S. vii 635.
Thare-for his malancoly To that man he remyttyte thare 1505–6 Reg. Privy S. I 174/2 (see Remit(t n. 2 c).
Remittand 1638 Baillie I 71.
Canterburie will remitt nought of his bensall; he will breake ere he bow an inche

5. To refer (a matter) for consideration, decision or action to a person or persons, esp. to (another) court of law; to refer (a case) back to an inferior court.Also, const. infin. compl.(1) 1467 Acta Aud. 6/2.
That the actioune … aucht to be remyttit to the spirituale court 1566–7 Reg. Privy C. I 499.
At the ressoning of that caus befoir the Lordis of Sessioun, they remittit the samyn agane to the saidis Lordis of Secreit Counsall 1571–2 Canongate Ct. Bk. 346.
Gif the juge remit the knawledge of the said breif to ane inqueist for remeid of law 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (S.T.S.) 12/28.
To speake of the diuerse formes of the circles … I remit it to ouer-manie that haue busied their heades in describing of the same 1600 Melvill 471.
The Estates of Parliament hes remitted and remites the saming to the king's majestie c1600 Sc. Hist. Rev. XIX 270.
They … remitt the tryall … to the judicatorie of commissariatt as beinge more ecclesiasticall 1629 Black Orkn. & Shetl. Folklore 111.
[The assize] remittis sentence to the judge and dome to the dempster a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 60.
Remmitt 1642 Acts Sederunt ii 52.
Except in process of multiply-poynding quhilks are remitted to the ordinar lord in the utter-hous 1661 Acts VII App. 33/2.
The Commission for the Justices red & remitted to the Lords of Articles to be revised(2) 1533 Bell. Livy I 295/18.
This Julius … remittit certane thingis to the jugement of pepill 1547 Reg. Privy C. I 77.
That the quenis grace … wald restore and remitt all debaitis … to the decisioun and deliverance of the King of Denmark 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 141.
Bot I remit me altogidder to ȝour will 1573 Wemyss Corr. 73.
Remitting the rest to your wysdome and aduertecement 1593 Lett. Jas. VI to Eliz. 88.
But denying the cheif point, quhiche they remitt to tryell 1607 Reg. Privy C. VII 510.
And what constructionis may be made heirupon … we remit to your lordshippis consideratioun 1678 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II 332.
The Lords Commissioners of Justitiary … remitts the samen [article of the dittay] to the knowledge of an assise(b) 1680 Red Bk. Grandtully I cxviii.
As … it is to my losse to delay any affair wherein I am persewer, I most remotte them to justice(3) 1469 Acta Aud. 9/2.
Remittit … be the lordis auditouris … to be decidit … before the juge ordinare 1618 Aberd. Council Lett. I 162.
In the same mater quhilk wes not solvit bot remittit to be persewit in common caus to the haill burrowis a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 28.
The office of bishops in sprituall policie … is remitted to be concluded be the kirk 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 61.
As for these that hes not … peyit thair … impositiones …; —

b. With a person as object: To refer (a person's case) to another court or judge; also, transf., to God, etc. c1420 Wynt. viii 3216.
To the Cowrt off Rome he past To be assoylyd: fra thine wes he Remyttyde hame in his cuntre 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 699.
Cleipit I am, and aucht … To be remit till my judge ordinair c1575 Balfour Pract. 54.
Gif ony burges be … summonit … to the kingis court … he sall compeir thair, and desyre to be remmit to the court of the burgh quhairin he is burges 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Iter.
Hereafter the lordes of regalitie may desire their men to be remitted to their awin justice courte 1641 Kirkcaldy Presb. 202.
The brethren remitts him to the sessioun of Auchterdirran to be censured thair 1681 Dunkeld Presb. I 437.
Adam Red … was remitted home to satisfie as the minister should appointtransf. 1581 Cal. Sc. P. VI 18.
But I will remyt them to God and their own consciences 1584 Gowrie P. 42.
I remit my adversars, and commit my reveng, to God

6. To refer (a person) to a book or other writing for information about a matter.Also const. infin. compl., and with the matter as object.(1) c1420 Wynt. ii 1346 (W).
Gif ȝe of that thing mare will wit, To Ovidis buke I ȝow remytt Ib.3vii 2066 (C).
Bot qwha that likys of it to wit To the regester I thaim remyte 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 189/10.
I remitte you to Xenophon, ane aulde & famouse urittaire(2) 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (S.T.S.) 397.
I … will remit thé to lerne it at thair mouthis(3) 1584 Cal. Sc. P. VII 305.
The estait of this contrey I remet to the declaration of George Douglas … and Mons^r de Fontainie

b. reflex. To appeal to (a written authority). 1593 Misc. Spald. C. I 5.
Gif this be of ueritie I remit me to the Erlle of Angus declaration

7. To send (a person) back (to a place). 1533 Boece 473b.
Herald … in ane fischare craare remittit hir to Northmandie Ib. 474b.
William Bastard send to Malcolm ane herald, desiring Edgare suld be remittit to Ingland

b. To restore (a person) to a state or position held formerly. a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 39.
Pope Lucius … admonished him … to remit the Bishop … to enjoy his place with quietnesse

8. To transmit or send (money) (to another person or body). 1544 Prot. Bk. J. Cristisone 88.
The said Besse … to remane with hir moider … and remits for to help hir cleting the said vij s. 1675 Edinb. B. Rec. X 423.
Seaven hundereth pound sterling … which the said Peter wes to remitt to Newcastle for buying of lead

b. To transmit (one's ideas) to another in writing. 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III 185.
[I will] remeit [all my mind to the Bishop of Ross to whom, if you show it] it schal serve

c. To give back (goods or office) to the person or persons who gave or conferred it. 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. 212.
James Bannatyne … remittit his place of the counsale in the jugis and counsalis handis 1662 Peebles B. Rec. ii 54.
The nyne loades lyme lent be John Mure … remit to him for his workmanshipe done to the … knock

d. To make over (property) to a person. 1579 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 3 April.
The … resignatione maid be the said Elspett as said is, … remittis and be the tenour of this present admittis to the said Elspetht … the tane equhall half of the tak & rowme of Fynnaged

e. To enter, or incorporate, (one piece of writing) (in another). 1582–3 Perth B. Ct. 19 Feb.
And the samin depositioun and cautioun be … ressauit to remitt the samin in ane act of court togidder with the said commissioun

9. To postpone or put off till (to) another time. b. To put an end to, temporarily or permanently. 1566 Anderson Collect. Mary I 45.
That we suld remit the triall … to the tyme of a parliament 16.. R. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 401.
What could not be perfyted that day, wes remitted to the nixtb. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 150.
Thou … is so laith to remit thy cogitation to pans upon the deepnes of the mercie of God