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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.

Respect, -spec(k, n.¹ Also: -specte, -spectt; -spek, -spic; raispaik. [ME and e.m.E. respecte (Chaucer), L. respect- p.p. stem of respicere, whence also F. respect (16th c. in Larousse). See also Respect,n.²]

1. In (into) respect, variously const.Sometimes written as one word.

In respect of. a. With reference or regard to; in connection with.(a) 14.. Acts I 300/3.
The cro … and the enauch of euerilkaman ar lik that is to say in respic of [L. in respectu de] enauch of thar wiffis(b) 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 175.
In respect of the clerkis buke … being fund … in the schip libellit 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 41.
Because maturitiues ar maist necessar in sic affectioun, in respect of maist … dangerous diseis, … sic maist be preparit 1590 (c1650) Dundee B. Laws 44.
The … Counsall being convenit … in respect of the … dailie kyithing 1596 Dalr. I 16/22.
Ane academie nocht obscure … in respecte baith of philosophie and … politick studie 1638 Dumbarton B. Rec. 55.
To caus mak … ane ansenye in respect of the wapounschawing

b. In view of; because of.Also, once, in respect to.(1) 1564 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 55.
And … Patrick to be quyte therfra … in respect of the mariage standing betuixt him and his wyfe forsaid indissolvit 1567 Elgin Rec. I 41.
In respect of this deliverance and ordinance the lordis of the chekker ordanis [etc.] 1570 Sat. P. xiii 212.
Gone now is thair graces In to respect of this foule tratorie 1572–3 Bann. Memor. 295.
In respect of his far distance and misknowledge of the circumstances of the Scottis controversies a1578 Pitsc. I 20/19.
That thair was na thing to follow thair wpone in respectt of the loss of the king bot vtter ruwyne 1584 Conv. Burghs I 192.
Thatt [certain burghs] … be nocht subiect to … the act … in respect of the laik of tymmer amangis thame 1596 Dalr. I 4/23. c1610 Melville Mem. 40. c1615 Chron. Kings 126.
In respect of the winter inschetting, he stayit the same [seige] quhill the nixt spring 1629 Bks. Adjournal 30 July.
Quhairupone my Lord Advocat … inrespect of the verificationes abone written protestat for wilful error against the persones of assise gif [etc.] 1632 Lithgow Trav. ii 75. 1640 Strathendrick 4.
As also in respeck of their age they might not travell 1674 Edinb. Test. LXXV 1.
In respect of the irresponsalatie of the persones debitores therin(2) 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 219.
Hee [sc. the Devil] woulde carnally use them, albeit to their litle pleasure, in respect to his colde nature

c. In comparison with. 1562-3 Winȝet I 66/30.
Ony science that is in ws; quhilk we misknaw nocht to be werray smal, in respect of mony wtheris

d. In respect (that), seeing that, considering that; since; in that.(a) 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II 209.
That the … baillies could be na jugis competent … in respect … thai wer juge and pairty 1564 Stirling B. Rec. I 82.
He had na place to persew in jugment, in respect that he is ane conventual brother 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 45.
Quhais conseill … is … necessar, in respect that in this pestilenciall diseis euerie ane is mair blind nor the moudeuart 1577 Glasgow B. Rec. I 64.
Inrespect thair is nocht to be gottin of commowne guddis to big the calsayis and that [etc.] 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. V 6.
In respect the awld braysin wechts are worn [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 327/13.
In respecte that his syster Malda was rychtuous heyre of Ingland a1605 Birrel Diary 60.
Sua he keipit ane hielandman's promes, in respect he sent the gaird to convoy him out of Scottis grund 1609 Hilderstoun Silver Mines I 116b.
Quhilk fell inrespect it wes opprest with watter 1619 Aberd. Council Lett. I 171, etc.
Inrespect the like abuse wes in all the rest of the said fairs we left off our persutt of him 1646 4th Rep. Hist. MSS 510/1.
In respect no ferrie boat went that day for contrarie wynd 1670 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 5 Nov.
Admittis Andro Caig … frieman gratis in respect he is maried vpon ane friemanis doughter(b) c1570 Maxwell Mem. II 138.
Is to ȝour auld taiblat, it is not abill to be mendit, in raispaik it is sa febill and vaik

2. Regard, consideration, concern. c1520-c1535 Nisbet III 343/27.
Quhair luf is perfite, thair of neidis monn be respect to the waik 1564 Reg. Privy C. I 287.
Mony … without forder respect bot thair awin privat lucre, hes abusit hir hienes linitie 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 31.
Ane ȝoung man … in quhome the respect of dewtie vanquischit the feir of danger 1580 Facs. Nat. MSS III lxx.
We are not moved for any worldly respect a1585 Maitl. Q. 279/2.
O deith … Quhy art thow so iniust withowt respect To ȝouth and eild and mid age odious c1590 Fowler II 75/17.
The king … giue lousse with les respect the brydill to his crueltie

b. To have (a) respect to (vnto), to give heed or consideration to; to take into account.Also, once, to have respect (gif something is the case).(1) a1500 Lanc. 381.
To dremys, sir, shuld no man have respek 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3597.
Sa vnto God ȝe haue ane small respek a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. 50.
Now, Lord, send thow … hes respek on to all syk As trublitt be with payne 1609 Crim. Trials II 284.
I sall hew ane speciall respek to my promise that I hew maid till his lo.(b) 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece I 232.
Gif thow wil have respect to letteral exercition, thow sall find thair generall study in every science Id. Livy II 213/34.
Thocht … the sam had analyit thare hertis and myndis fra all respect that thai had to thare awne gudis 1551 Reg. Privy C. I 114.
My Lord Governour … havand respect to the lettres of salfconduct … ordanis [etc.] a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 141/31.
Bot gif ve vil haue respect to the godheid of the Sone, he is al vais equal with the Father 1562-3 Winȝet I 24/13.
To maruell … that sa litle respect hes euir bene had to the grammar sculis 1558-66 Knox I 235.
That he will have respect to thame that ar injustlye persewed; that he will apardoun thare formar offenses a1578 Pitsc. II 75/26.
That sentance nocht haiffing respect to the iudgement of God(2) 1563–4 Craven Ch. in Orkney II 26.
We man haif respect gif the said Johnne tynt ony money … within the place of Birssay

c. Of a word: To have relationship or reference to (another word). 1531 Vaus (1531) 3.
It [sc. the superlative degree] may conuene witht ony of thame to quhilk it has respec

d. Partiality or favour to, unto or of a person. 1531 Bell. 1531 Boece (M) I 208.
Doyng iustice to his subdittis but ony respect of the colletigantis 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 17.
Withoute respect tyll ony wycht, Suld kyngs geue euery man thare rycht 1560 Rolland Seven S. 172.
This emprice hauand sa greit respect And inwart lufe vnto hir sone alone 1584 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 98.
To stand xxiiii houris in the joggis, but respect of persounis a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 244.
He hade great respect to his friends and kinsfolk, quhairby he purchest thair fauor

3. A fact or motive taken into account in reaching a decision or conclusion; a consideration.(1) 1560–1 Cal. Sc. P. I 510.
[An embassy … whereof Lord James shall be principal—as meetest for many respects] a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 122/3.
[These statements] ar baith trew efter diuerse respeckis and co[n]sideraciones 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV i 118.
The publick estait (quilk I mon prefer to all prevat respectis) 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii 133. Pitsc. II 304/28.
Gif that ȝe vnderstude The gude respectis hes thame mufit To mak this ordour, ȝe wald lufe it 1603 Philotus 820.
Respeck [: geck] 1619 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 109.
The consaill … for sundrie guid respectis moving thame and for the love they carie towards … thair schoolmaster [etc.] 1633 Lithgow Poet. Remains 111.
For Lords of Session none should be Call'd Lords for no respect … Saue only two(2) 1566–7 in Tytler Hist. of Scotland (1864) III 412.
I haue upon respects committed him to ward 1576 Reg. Privy C. II 523.
The subjectis … transcending the boundis of thair dewitie … upoun prevat respectis 1590 Digest Justiciary Proc. M 11.
The dome of deid … wpone certanerespectis mitigat be ws 1638 Aberd. B. Rec. III 142.
That wpoun quhatsumewir respect he presume not to transgres the meanest poynt of his commissioun

b. For his awin respectis, ? for his own ends. c1650 Spalding II 431.
He … now beginis to tir the sklaites af of that matcheless roof, and carie [them] doun to the colledge for his awin respectis

c. In all respeckis, on every point. 1591 Grant Chart. 180.
That thai … salbe … with his lordschip wsitt and respeckit in all caces and respeckis

4. Deferential regard or esteem. 1526 Douglas Corr. 115.
The luving gude mynde and respect ȝe have to my soverane c1621 Melrose P. 433.
Drumfreis cairies their olde respect to the name of Maxuell 1635 Aberd. B. Rec. III 72.
Thay … with all submissive respeck and obedience acknowledgeit [etc.] 1675 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii 33.
I am with all respek and love a wellwisher to you

b. Standing in society, status. 1624 Reg. Privy C. XIII 633.
This honour of barronet sould be conferrit upoun none but upoun knichts and gentlemen of cheife respect for ther birth, place or fortounes [etc.] 1611-57 Mure Hist. Rowallane 251.
Rankine … haveing plyed himself much to the hwmore of the Duke of Albany … rose to no meane respect

5. Of a place: To have respect to, to face, look towards. 1533 Boece 89.
In that parte of Albion quhilk to the est has respect [L. quæ orientem spectat], … he beildit … Innernes