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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sanctuary, Sanctuarie, n. Also: sanctwarie, sanctuari, sanctuarii, sanquary. [ME and e.m.E. sanctuary (Rolle), sentuarye (Chaucer), sainctuarye (1481), seyntuarye (Wyclif), seyntewarie (Piers Plowman), santuary (a1586), L. sanctuārium, OF saintuarie (c1120 in Larousse). Cf. Sanctuar(e n.]

1. A holy place; a church or temple; a shrine. Also fig. b. Within sanctuarii, in a holy place, on sacred ground. 1513 Doug. ii vi 45.
Panthus … Into his armys lappit to his breist The haly rellykkis of the sanctuary [sc. the temple of Apollo; rh. by and by] Ib. 51.
In quhat estait is sanctuary [Ruddim. -arie] and haly geir? c1520-c1535 Nisbet Ep. Ald Test. xxxiv 15.
Behald Thou fra Thi sanctuarj [P. seyntuarie; W. sanctuary], fra the hie duelling place of heuen Ib. xxxix 17.
Schaw Thi face on Thi sanctuarie quhilk is forsakin 1546 in Pitsc. II 67/14.
Sanctwaries 1562-3 Winȝet I 14/11.
The preistis of it hes contemnit my lawe, hes defylit my sanctuarie [L. sanctuaria] 1564 Knox II 450.
Go furth of the sanctuary, for thou hes transgressit 1581 Sat. P. xliv 27.
The Lord behaldis ȝour knauerie … As of his sanctuarie ȝe brak the vall ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 62.
Within this Ile of Colmkill thair was ane sanctuarie or kirkȝairdfig. a1550 Lang Rosair 159.
For thou art the chosin sanctuary of our Saluiour in quhom he hes lichtit [etc.]b. 1549 Soc. Ant. XI 89.
For violent handis putting on Schir Alexander Mernis his awn curat within sanctuarii of the kirk of Wyk

2. Passing into: A sacred place in which fugitives were by law or custom immune from arrest; also, once, applied to a statue. = Girth n.¹ 3. 1513 Doug. viii vi 69.
The haly schaw Quhilk strang Romulus dyd reduce and draw In maner of franches or of sanctuary [L. asylum] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2118.
He gaif to that ymage Off sanctuarie the priuilage, For quhat sum euer transgressour … Seand that ymage … Off thare gylt gat the kyngis grace 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Schireff.
And gif it be found suddaintie, he salbe restored to the libertie of the girth and sanctuarie 1602 Colville Paraenese 157.
Suld I … be aschamit to intre vithin the azil of thy blessed sanctuary 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 99.
James Malcolmesone … took occasion … traterouslie … to kill this Mackintoshie … after which he flieth to the yle of the loch of Rothiemurcose, as a sanctuarie or defence for him 1667 Highland P. II 42.
Aplecross … was spared be all his name as a sanctwarie, and he, hearing that other inhabitants came to it as a refuge, he came

3. As the name of a particular piece of sacred ground or refuge of this sort. 1549 Elgin Rec. I 98.
That na persoun cut or peill ony of the Sanquary 1636 Calderwood VIII 144.
The girth or sanctuarie of Halyrudhouse