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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.

Scope, Scop, n.² Also: skope, scoip, scoop(e; skawp. [e.m.E. scope (1536), skoape (1567), Ital. scopo aim, purpose, Gk. σκοπός mark for shooting at, aim.]

1. a. A mark for shooting or aiming at; a target. fig. and lit. Passing into: b. An end, aim, goal; (one's) purpose or intention in doing something or behaving in a certain way.a. 1561 Cal. Sc. P. I 589.
We shoot both at one scope, [union of this isle] 1562 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 4.
Seing also the haill scripture of God to tend and shote at this scope and mark 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) xx.
The deuils power, which is the different ends & scopes that God as the first cause … shootes at in all these actiones of the deuil c1647 Reg. Panmure I xli.
Ane mell for his majestie to play with, … ane scoop conforme theretob. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 27.
Schir James euir having ee to his awin scope hinderit this purpose 1568 Buch. Indict. 33.
Thingis wes thane sa covertlie handallit that … thai … could [not] compas or considder the scope and end quhairvnto hir intentioun was bent 1584 Reg. Privy C. III 645.
His majestie hes thocht it maist convenient to mak manifest the cours and scope of the dangerous and indirect dealing pretendit 1586 Gray Lett. & P. 72.
Nay, that is not the scoope; for … can they once subuert … England [etc.] 1588 King Cat. 15b.
It is concerning æternal lyffe, quhilk ve sould nawayis doubt to remaine for the chosin eftir deathe, and this is the scop and end of faithe, hop, patience, and Christiane exerceis c1590 Fowler I 280/160.
Or must I lose the scope And butt to which I did intend? Ib. 299/120.
And al vnto this scop To leade thé in the onlye way of thy most blissed hop 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. i 124.
Flie the voluptuouse voice, Quhich hes no other scope But guyde thé on the rock Id. True Crucifixe 2734.
A scope to ayme at, standing not for ease, Bee diligent to follow 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 347.
Yet thir scop and ends did much differ a1658 Durham Subtile Self 81.
All men out of Christ are living to themselves. This is their great scope and end in all that they do Ib. 154.
Take this as the great scope and upshot of sufferings 1658 Argyll Synod II 171.
The brother who did writt the letter had no scop or intention therin to wrong the said Mr. Duncan

2. The intended meaning, argument or purpose of a writer or speaker; the drift, subject or theme (of an author or a writing). 1563 G. Hay Confutation Abbot Crosraguel 69b.
These wordes may be euen so understand, as the sentence of Ignatius, for all tendeth to a scope c1590 Fowler I 304/28.
That I may well conwoy These lynes vnto the scope quhilk I desyre a1624 Edinb. Univ. MS La. ii 319.
Quhane erthlie thingis I mak my skope Thay chaing 1635 Dickson Hebrews 4.
Which to show is a part of the Apostles mayne scope 1649 Alyth Kirk S. in Sc. N. & Q. 1 Ser. XII 74.
The main subject and onlie scop of all the sermons a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 749.
From the native series and order laid down … it will follow, that natively the scope of this vision is to set out the good condition of the elect in opposition to [the reprobate] Id. Clavis Cantici 26.
If we would understand … the parable … we would first consider the scope … and then lavel the exposition, as serving to illustrate that scope Ib. 36.
Can it be thought, but he lavelled what he wrot here at a scope?

3. ? Only in Dumfries: The area of jurisdiction of a burgh; (its) bounds. 1537 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 196a.
It is statute … that all personis fremen dwelland to landwart cum and mak residence within the skawp of this burcht 1563 Ib. fol. 204b.
That person that dwells within the scoip of this burgh as remanent thairintill and keipis skot lot wache & word

4. Freedom (to pursue a specified course of action). 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i xix 2 (1678) 200.
Which is much safer then that they should be allowed scop to break out into the extreams of either cruelty or cowardliness