Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ensample, Ensa(w)mpil(l, n. Also: ensampile, -pyll, -pell, ensawmpyll. [ME. ensample (c 1250), -saumple, etc., OF. essample.] An example, pattern, model.

1. Without article.(a) 1375 Barb. i. 119.
Walys ensample mycht have bene To ȝow Ib. iii. 71.
He set ensample thus mydlike 1456 Hay II. 19/6.
All his werkis and dedis here, he did for oure ensample and enformyng c1420 Ratis R. 43.
That we weil be ensample may Se fall a1500 Bk. Chess 170.
Forȝet thi self & in ensample se The lyon king of bestis(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxv. 38.
For mene suld … be gud ensampil se Sa gud or betyr for to be c1420 Wynt. vii. 1219.
Hys awyn oys … May myrrowre and ensawmpill be Till alkyn statis c1420 Ratis R. 1464.
As I sal ȝit ensampil schaw Of sere men levand c1460 Consail Wys Man 256.
Sa scho be kepyt fra … ill cumpany, Na ill ensampill so hir by

b. To give, mak, or tak ensample. a1400 Leg. S. ii. 1108.
Paule … gud ensampill can ws mak, How we suld wirk till we are here Ib. xxxi. 19.
Ensampil ma thai ta of the maydine Eugenia Ib. xxxvii. 150.
Til gyf ensampil vthyre til That are frawart & dure of wil c1420 Wynt. viii. 5429.
Here-by men may ensawmpill ta, How man may his awyne fortowne ma 1456 Hay I. 88/1.
Tharfore to geve otheris ensample in tyme tocum, he suld be punyst Ib. II. 106/33.
Do thame sum courtasy that otheris may tak ensample to prouffit in sciencis a1500 Seven S. 2561.
That vtheris ensample tak be me And do the richt and falset fle

c. Const. of (some quality). a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 5.
As be ensampile is of it That men fyndis in haly writ Ib. 197.
Of quham ensampil he acht hafe Of holynes a-beoufe the lafe c1420 Wynt. vii. 833.
Ensawmpill he wes off chastyte 1490 Irland Mir. I. 166/22.
Thou art ensampile of chastite

2. With ane, the, that, etc., or in plural.(a) 1375 Barb. xx. 563 (E).
His honest leawté gert me bring In this ensample her 1456 Hay I. 211/6.
As to this … God gave us ane ensample quhen he led his peple in the desertis Ib. 293/31.
We fynde mony faire ensamplis in the lawis … tharof a1500 Seven S. 1183.
It proffettis … na thing Ony ensample for to say ȝow 1566 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 86.
That ȝe may be ensamples to the flocke(b) c1420 Wynt. viii. 749.
The lawys imperialle, … And the ensampillys befor set, … Makys for the Brows Robert c1475 Wall. viii. 483.
Thir ensampyllis war noble for to ken a1500 Seven S. 2557.
Thi lyf is defendit now Be ensampillis that thi masteris tald 1573 Sat. P. xl. p. 276.
Following the ensampill of this maist zelous seruand of God(c) c1420 Wynt. ii. 671.
Be that ensawmpyll off consalle All alienys thai banyst hale Ib. viii. 665; etc.
All thir clerkis … , Be ensawmplis befor set, … Mad fynale deliwerans