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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.

Resing, -sign(e, v. Also: res-, ra- and -syng, -singe; -sygn, -singn(e, -syngn(e; -seinge; -syn(e. [ME and e.m.E. resigne(n (Chaucer), -syngne(n (c1400), OF resigner (1225 in Larousse), L. resignāre to unseal, cancel, give up.] tr.

1. To relinquish or give up (a material ornon-material thing); to make over formally (in(to) the handis of an overlord or his representative (in favour(is of or to another person, or const. infin. compl.)); to surrender (to (till) or in favour(is of, also, rarely, in the handis of, another person).Also without const.Also absol. or intr.Procuratory to resing, see Procuratory n. c (2).

a. Of land or other real property.(1) 1395 Menzies Charters 10 Feb.
The for sayd Jon sal resyng al the landis of the Weme … in … the kyngis handis to the forsayd Robert 1460 Newburgh B. Ct. 3a.
The quhilk ii rudis of land the said Anne resyning frely in the balȝeis handis in the fauour of Thomas Bell 1490 Acta Conc. I 169/2.
Ressyne 1504 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 343.
And thar apon the grunde of the samyn lande … Vilyam Fowlar … walde resing the sade lande be erde and stane of the saide grunde in the sade balyes handis in fauour of John Galryk 1515–16 Prestwick B. Rec. 47.
Johne Smytht … resignit be staf & bastone … in the handis of George Symsoun balȝe … twa roddis of landis … in faworis of Archbald Wod 1541 Blackfriars Perth 151. 1553 Lanark B. Rec. 26.
Jhone Cunygame … rasingit and ourgaif be ane d. in the handis of … ane of the balyeis … thre akkyris of comone land … in favouris af Thomas Weyr 1582 Old Ross-shire II 59. 1606 Liber Melros 658.(2) 1420 Reg. Episc. Morav. 475.
Resyngnande of his awyn fre wil purly and symply be fust and baston in til handis of the sayde lorde … his landis … of … Kerdale 1423 15th Rep. Hist. MSS App. viii 33.
My landis …, wyth staf and bastoun tyl vpgyf and purly and symply resyng in the handis of … my oure lord 1437 8th Rep. Hist. MSS App. i 307/2. 1456–7 Peebles B. Rec. I 116.
Ressyngit 1463 Ib. 149.
Thomas of Stanus with erde and stane has rasingnet his land … in … Pebillis … [in the hands of a bailie who delivered the] erde and stane to Patrik Henrisoun seriand and chargit him to gyf sessyng agayn to the sayde Thomas … and to Jonet his wyf 1535 Stewart 42244.
That all Northumberland And Cumbria he sould frelie resing Into the handis of this Dauid king 1555 Stirling B. Rec. II 63.
To resing purlie and semplie the Brighaucht … in the townis handis c1600 Bk. Mackay 382 n.
Letter of procuratory … to resing all his lands … in our sourane lordis handis — 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 330.
The said Williame … sall … resing or make sufficiande power to resinge all and haill his barouny of Petkary … in our souerane lordis handis to be gyffin in juntinfeftment to the saidis George and Elezabetht 1505–6 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 686.
I bind … me … to resing my haill heretage … in the handis of my our lordis & superior … to ramane in coniunct fee(b) 1456 Peebles B. Rec. I 114.
The sayd Dic Gybsoun … has ressyngit with erd and stan the for both in the sayd balye hand 1506 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II 161.
The quhilkis twa merkis worth of land … I haue geifin our and resignit purely and symply be staf and bastoun in the handis of … Johne lord of Cathkert … the quhilk … had anenalit the said landis to me … of before 1522 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 80.
Johne Duncan … resignit ane for land that is to say ane loft in Villiem Spittal hand balye … for stait saising and possessioune to be gevin to Dovne Gilbert c1575 Balfour Pract. 158. a1578 Pitsc. I 127/2.
Gif ony man or woman hes resignit … thair landis … in the handis of the … baillies of the burgh, the resignant hes na richt … to give thairefter ony … sasine to ony uther persoun of the samin landis 1587 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 437.
To resigne renunce simpliciter discharge ourgive and demitt frae ws … the landis [etc.] … pertening … to the said Abbay [of Deer] … in your maiesties handis … for errectioun of the same in ane temporall lordschip a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 168.
When the wassall resignes the property in his superior's handis ad remanentiam [etc.](3) 1490 Foulis Chart. (Reg. H.) 4 Dec.
Me Jhonne Alexander Garreach soun … haf resingit all and syndre my landdis of erytage … to … Johnne Makandye 1496 Acta Conc. II 32.
And … Finlaw sal renunce purely and simplye resigne and frely gif owr in presens of the saide … priour and notable witnes to the sade Patrik … the sade … land of Kirkbrid 1517 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 89.
Geyf ony … rasingis ony landis or offycis tyll hym [etc.] 1531 Glasgow Prot. IV 36.
Merren Scot … resignyt in favouris of … hir son and air twa ryggis of land 1543 Reg. Morton II 290.
Gif the saidis landis come to him that he sould resinge the samin to our … soverane lord ad perpetuam remanentiam 1549 Lamb Resonyng 121/11.
[Edward] causit … Ballioll for to resingne to him baith propirtie and superiorite of Scotland and maid him-self be crownit kyng thairof 1582 Misc. Spald. C. II 55.
The ix day of Aprill … I resingnit my braid croift to John Cullen, my sone … and my howse that I dwell in to Alexander Cullen younger [etc.] 1607 Reg. Privy C. VII 515.
He hes resignit this mylne with the landis thairof in your majesteis favour to remayne with your heynes to be … conjoyned to your majesties said park 1620 Aboyne Rec. 264.
[Bond of reversion] … [We] bind … us to remove ouregif resing and discharge the sam [lands] … in favouris of the said noble marquis(4) 1416 Maxwell Mem. I 149.
Jamys and Esabel sal resyng the said lordschipe and … Sir Robert sal ger … Jamys and Ezabele be joyntly sesyt in the frank tenement … of the said lordschipe 1456 Peebles B. Rec. I 117.
Mechal Forest has ressyngit with erd and stan a sartan of his land 1466 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 395.
Giff it sall happyn me … til resyng oure landis 1473–4 Treas. Acc. I 2. 1480 Newburgh B. Ct. 24a.
And thar … Stewene rasyngyt … the saide tennyment 1493 Lennox Mun. 148.
The saidis erle [etc.] … sall mak … a sufficiant procuratory … to resing and geff up the said landis 1494 Ib. 151.
The said Mathow … sal resyng and gyf our heritabilly the saidis landis … witht charter saisyne and possessioun … in the sykerast forme that can be devysit 1507–8 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 352.
That forsamekle as the said Alexander had resignit the haf land of Murcroft [etc.] 1548 Misc. Bann. C. III 416.
And thair be erd and stane rasignit the said ryg … for heritabill stait and possessioun to be gyffyn to Patrik Hepburn 1549 Compl. 179/32.
I renunce ouer my takkis … and resingis them to be in proprite to … Athenes

b. Of a right, claim, etc.Once, with infin. as object.(1) 1393 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 28.
He and Rankyn … sal gif vpe and resigne in our lorde the kingis handis al rycht and claime [etc.] 1426 Charter (Reg. H.) Suppl. 16 Jan.
I oblise me … for til vpgif & resigne in al gudely haste al richtis & clamys of the said landis 1496 Douglas Chart. 161.
That he sall … resing and gif our purly and sympilly, in our souerane lordis handis … in the fauouris of the said lord erll, the fe of all … the saide landis 1501 Acta Conc. III 87.
In the … deferring til renunce resigne and gif owre al richt … of the sadis landis 1525 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 224.
And resignit puirlie and simple the said Maister Thomas altarage at Sanct Eloyis altar 1531 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 355.
Quhar benefice of spiritual patronage was resignit in the court of Rome with reservatioune of the frutis and regres 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece II 367.
Johne Balliol … resignit all richt and titill … to the croun of Scotland be staf and burdoun in King Edwardis handis 1552 Reg. Cupar A. II 101.
Andro … and Besse … ressignit … thair rycht and kyndnes … to the saidis acris, houssis and toft in our handis in favouris of the said William … for certane … sowmes of money 1569–70 Inverness Rec. I 185.
Maistyr Farquhar Hectourson renunsit resignit and owergaif be way of resignatioun all rychtis clames [etc.] … he had 1573–4 Reg. Privy C. II 336.
He excambit, interchangeit and resignit fra him … all and haill his rycht … of ane marklend 1633 Maxwell Mem. II 234.
He resingit his auld liberties, … kariage of the croun and vanegaird in battell 1684 Fountainhall Decis. I 295.
Resigns the superiority ofthe lands of Mortonhall … to the effect that … the present heritor … might hold them immediately of the king(b) 1652 Lamont Diary 50.
The aire was to reseinge his right of the lands to the creditors(2) 1463 Peebles B. Rec. I 149.
[He] has rasingnet and gewin to the sayd Jonet gefe he dessessis befor her … to joys and brak thir gudis [etc.] 1549 Lamb Resonyng 121/11 (see a (3) above).

c. Of a source of income; revenue; profits. 1452 Ayr B. Ct. 9 Dec.
Gelon Mcilwrekyn resingnit in his handis … the markis of annuell rentis out of the tenement of Robin of Morton 1456 Reg. Panmure II 239.
To resyng and frely till wpgyff … to my beluffit frende … all and halle the annuall rent of [etc.] 1457 Peebles B. Rec. I 120.
Marion of Sellar … has ressyngit with a penne xvj sellyn of anwel 1465 Ib. 153. 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 463.
We … sal frely resigne renunce ourgyf and quiet clame the said annuel rent … togedir with the forsaid landis … togedir with all charteris auedentis documentis and instrumentis 1504 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 343.
Vilyam … resingnit the sade vij s. vj d. of annuell rent in the sade balyes handis be ane out penny in fauour of Alexander Wilsone 1536 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 78.
That he sall … resigne in ane of the baillies handis … his annuellrent of ten merkis awand yeirlie till him furth of the said land 1627 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. I 512.
[The commission] to make sufficient provision for those churches whereof the teynds shall be resigned or disponed as aforesaid

d. Of an office, position, power, etc.Also fig.(a) 1447 Cart. S. Giles 79.
I sal nocht promitte the said chapellanery na resing it in fauouris of ony persoun 1456–70 Liber Aberbr. II 108.
Deyn Valter … resignyt the abbacy tyll … Richart Guthre 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 2455.
I … heir resingis all my power hale To ȝow lordis 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece I 69.
Ewin … was sa disparit of his heill, that he resignit the crown a1538 Abell 66b.
He resignit his office entrit in ane abaye and did gret pennance 1535 Stewart 48454.
The governing … of the ring In thair handis he [sc. Wallace] did agane resing 1539–40 Treas. Acc. VII 281.
For making of ane procuratorie to resing the ballierie of Trotternes in the kingis hand ad remanentiam be McClode 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10617.
Than said … the Empreour … I will the haill impire resing [: king] Into ȝour handis 1625 Garden
I do the raines resigne [: governing] 1625 Kings 39.(b) 1655 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 155.
I resyne my charge …, not seiking anie other recompence of my labors but a frie demissiounabsol. 1545 Aberd. B. Rec. I 217.
Gif the said Alexander will resing, as said is, in fauoris of the said Walter 1600-1610 Melvill 151.
Patrones and patronages ar nocht to be tolerated in the Reformit Kirk. … Bot the patrons sould resing in favours of the deaconesfig. a1585 Maitl. Q. 157/119.
I haue na schift bot to resing All power in hir handis

e. Of pleasure, comfort. a1500 Lufaris Compl. 159.
All mirth and gladnese I resing a1568 Bann. MS 248a/12.
All erthly solace quyte, heir I resing

f. To surrender (a place) to an attacker. 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 3074.
Thay suld the toun to him but straik resinge

2. To resing vp, to resing our (over), to relinquish. = 1 above.(1) 1389 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 16.
And all the landys the qwhylkys … Scyr Dauy gef & resignyt vp in hys ourelardys handys 1391 Lennox Mun. 43.
[He] sal resigne vp in our lord the kingis hand al his erldom … to be enfeffit agane … til him and til his ayris male 1395 Menzies Charters 10 Feb.
That Robert sal resyng vp al his rychtis of the landis of Cultyr in our lord the kingis handis … to his lufyt moder 1400 Maxwell Mem. I 140.
Resyngne 1462 Peebles B. Rec. I 145.
The sayd Schyr John resygnyt vp with a glufe in the balyais handis … the sayd seruis of Sant Mechalis and all the rycht he had thairofe c1515 Asl. MS I 205/26.
King John … resignit wp the crovne … to Pandulf the Papis legat(2) 1475 Ayr B. Ct. 23 May.
And at oure the said Vylȝam has resyngit owr in the said bailȝeis hand … purly & sympilly in hys legis poste al arschyp c1475 Wall. x 777.
My office our her playnly I resing [: thing] 1493 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 582.
The saide cominete has rasignyt owr fra thame … all the assedacion in few that the saide cominete hade c1515 Asl. MS I 213/5.
The said heremyt saw a place for the king in hell and he resignit nocht our the crovne fra him 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 153.
And the next court day thairefter to resing our his pouer maid to hyme in presens of our bailyeis 1633 Johnston Diary I 178.
The experience of Gods blissing … sould mak me … to resinge my affections over in his hand

b. To resyng vp (an observance), to give up, forgo. 1513 Doug. Concl. 22.
Heir I resyng vp ȝyngkeris observans

3. In other occasional, chiefly transf. and fig., uses. a. To leave (a story) to be treated or recounted by another. b. to hand over, consign; to make over. c. To renounce (one's reason).a. 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 212.
Bot al syk crymys in luffis caus I resyng [: smylyng, styng] To the confessioun of morale Jhonne Gowerb. 15.. Clar. iv 1480.
Scho hir heart sa fare had donne resing Unto hir knight, that [etc.] a1561 Norvell Meroure 61a.
My supplicatione I resing Onlie to Thé, and my intent I do present a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 142 (L).
I sprang vpoun Cwpidois wingis, The bow and quaver bayth resingis, To lene me for ane day c1590 Fowler I 42/155.
She … wes my wyiff … Whome I did quyte and did resing to be his lauchefull wyiffc. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 25/115.
Amongst our hands he must his witts resing