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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.

Respons, -sponce, n. Also: ra-, ri- and -sponse, -sponss-. [ME and e.m.E. respounse (c1300), respons (1338), responce, -sponse (1592), OF respuns, -spons, -sponse (c1050, c1155 and c1160 in Larousse), L. responsum (late L. -us), f. respondēre to respond.]

1. An answer; a spoken or written) reply. 1494 Loutfut MS 9a.
Quhen it is a hie mater he suld be blith til haue his responce in writ 1533 Bell. Livy II 282 (B.M.).
It is said that Turnus was na thing satifeit of this response 1535 Stewart 35534.
With that responce the herald hyne did go To Aweles, and schew him les and moir All his respons a1538 Abell 25a.
Sche wes tane and eftir hir constant respons sche wes slane 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 43.
For his principale ganging was to ber ane respons of the King of Ingland writtingis 1547 Cal. Sc. P. I 5.
The said Cumba vas depechit … with all rasponsis that come fraye the Schotis inbasatouris 1549 Compl. 183/12.
Ane propositione or ane responce of ambiguite suld be ay interpreit … to the best sens

2. Only Sc. till c1660: An answer attributed to a supernatural source.Esp., after 1560, applied to ‘answers’ given by witches or familiars.(1) 1492 Myll Spect. 284/12.
The king Acrysus had rispons of his goddis that [etc.] 1513 Doug. ii ii 118.
At hym inquiris he, By respons of the goddis, quha suld de Ib. iii vi 8.
Dyvyne interpretur, Quhilk the respons of Phebus hes in cur(2) 1558-66 Knox II 357.
The erle … was laid in the tolbuyth … that the response whiche his wyffis wyttches had gevin mycht be fulfilled 1587 Reg. Privy C. IV 218.
The tryale and punishment of sic enormiteis as … witchecraft or seikaris of responssis or help at witcheis 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 202.
Quhair ye socht responsis att hir, and travellit to be curit be hir devilisch incantaciounis 1591 Ib. 245.
Quha consultit with the spreit thairanent and ressauit be his respons that his maiestie wald be trublit 1606 Dundonald Par. Rec. 109.
Repentance … for seiking response at vmquhill Jonet Hunter, witche, anentis thame that stall thair beis 1622 Ib. III 512, etc.
A cowmoun consulter with witches … and ane seiker of help and responssis of thame 1630 Justiciary Cases I 145.
The devill was in use sumtymes to appeir … in the schape of ane dog and thairby the said Alexander did ressaue responsses frome him 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 238.
Sir Laghlan Macklain hath thrie responses from a witch before he undertook this journey into Ila Ib.
Thus endeth all these that do trust in such kynd of responces, or doe hunt after them 1685 Lauder Observes 196.
Argile had a responce that he should live to 80

3. A responsory. c1500 Coll. St. Salvator 158.
Ane collector with anthiphonis and responsis and yms breuit and notit for the chantouris

4. ? Cf. 2 and 3 above, also 17th c. Eng. = ‘Part of the liturgy said or sung by the congregation in reply to the priest’ (OED). 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 146.
Making thair thy inchantmentis and responsis to the Deuill thy maister, and thair casting ouer thy shulderis yerd and stane