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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.

Repugnant, adj. and n. Also: repungn- and -aunt; -and. [ME and e.m.E. repugnaunt (1387–8), -ant(e, F. répugnant (1372 in Hatz.-Darm.), L. repugnant-, pres. p. stem of repugnāre Repugn(e v.]

A. adj. 1. Of a material or non-material thing: Contradictory or contrary (to something else); inconsistent or incompatible with: different in nature from.Also in post-positional use.Also, once, const. with omission of to.(1) 1456 Hay I 78/16.
As before said is of contrarius naturis repugnant in thame naturaly 1490 Irland Mir. II 101/28.
We ar oblist to afferme his resurreccioun and deny the part repugnaunt Ib. 96/9.
Repungnaunt Ib. h. of ch. in Innes Rev. VI 91.
Mony doctrines proffitable to kingis and thar peple; and shawand quhat disconuenient and repugnant 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 191.
Thus I beuaill my faitis repugnant c1575 Balfour Pract. 253.
Ward and non-entres ar repugnant and cannot stand togidder 1583–4 Waus Corr. 283.
Johne Scherar hes maid ane fassioun of executioun, and Johne McMorran ane vther maner, quhilkis are sua repungnant that [etc.] 1602 Colville Paraenese 18.
So many clauses vhilk at the first seam contradictorius or repugnant(2) 1490 Irland Mir. II 92/33.
Ilk maner of thing … lufis the self … and enchowis all thinge contrar and repugnand to it Ib. 93/23.
Ilk affirmacioun has a negacioun contradictor repungnant to it 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece II 123.
Otheris thocht nane of hir doingis apprisable, bot repugnant to the law of God and nature 1549 Compl. 112/13.
There is no thyng mair repungnant to … vertu nor quhen ane person resauis … reches fra his enemee a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 122/26, 28. 1562-3 Winȝet I 66/1.
Albeit it be repugnant to manly ressone … it is no vays repugnant to the vordes of God 1566 Reg. Privy C. I 488.
Ony gift, provisioun, or presentatioun … quhair the samyn is repugnant or contrarious to this present act 1581 Burne Disput. 8b.
The frie vil of man and foresicht of God ar not repugnant to thame selfis 1589 Gray Lett. & P. 179.
The King of Spaine … fande that altogether repugnant to his dissinge of the conquest of England a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 270.
Wreitts … make na fayth … if it containe things contrair and repugnant to ane wther 1638 Nat. Covenant in Rec. Kirk Scotl. 12.
Kings and princes … shall … rule … according to the … constitutions received in this realme, no waies repugnant to the said will of the eternall God(3) 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 228.
This schamefull play [is] … Na thyng accordyng to our hailsum May, Bot rathar … repugnant that sesson nutrytyve

2. Opposing, as by will or activity; resistant (to a person or thing); hostile, antagonistic; refractory; contumacious.Chiefly of persons.(1) 1490 Irland Mir. I 85/28.
A maist all maner of bestis are inobedient, contrare and repugnaunt to man 1513 Doug. x i 70.
Gyf the Troianys … repungnant to thy magnificens, Hes socht onto … Italy, Lat thame be punyst 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece II 331.
King Johne tuk … the tent peny of al landis … and punist thaim that war repugnant thairto Id. Livy I 51/3.
This prince was … repugnant [v.r. -and] to the religious maneris of Numa his antecessoure a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 134/24.
[Luther and Ecolampadius] settis out … the true Catholike doctrine of … transsubstanciacione, nochtvithstandynge that they are repugnant the ane to the other and alsua to the kirk(2) 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece I 239.
Mony of thaim, feirsly repugnant quhil thay micht [etc.] Id. Livy II 11/4.
Appius … commandit sum tyme the seriand to call Icelius in jugement, and sum tyme (becaus he was repugnant) he bad tak him perforce(3) 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 98/5.
Luther, Caluene, and vther seismatiques … ar … repugnant amang thame selfis sa that the laittest [schismatics] lauboris to distroy the eldest(4) 1529–30 Linlithgow B. Ct. 5 Feb.
And hes dispensit with ane forder [? brouking] of thame baith nochtwithstanding the fundationis of the sammyn beand repugnand [MS repugand] 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 513.
All penall lawis … repugnant … to the said forme of religioun … ar abolischit 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 21.
Oppinand dure & vindois towart the … orient gif no thing be repugnand thairtill

b. Of a medicine: Counteractive to (poison).Cf. e.m.E. repugnant (against), in this sense (1559). 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 23.
Bot also is guid for cure of the samyn [sc. the pest] and is repugnand to all vther kynd of poysone

3. In certain weakened senses appar. deriving from 2 above. a. Indifferent to, careless of. 1533 Bell. Livy I 203/29.
His oist of futemen … war sa repugnant to thare awne honoure, that nowthir wald thai haisty thare ganging … nor [etc.]

b. Openly or expressly unwilling (to do something). 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece (M) II 225.
Gillespy Ros … slew … his avne marowis quhen thai war repugnant to pas with him aganis the kingis autorite 1555 Peebles B. Rec. I 217.
He was repugnant to gang to the tolbuth efter he wes chargit be the officeris

c. Contradictory of, or inconsistent with (to), something said before. 1565 St. A. Kirk S. 240.
James re-examinat … in his ansueris is becum repugnant to his formar deposicionis

B. noun. A proposition which is the opposite to another.Cf. 17th c. Eng., in this sense (1654). 1490 Irland Mir. II 97/26.
Quhen the infidele or vthir proponis it, the persoune suld propone the repungnant to it