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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Act, Ac(k, Ak, v. Also: hakin, var. of *akin quasi-strong p.p. of ak in place of the usual akit, actit. [Orig. in p.p. actit, f. L. actum neut. p.p. of agere to do, transact, etc.]

1. tr. To enact, decree. c1475 Wall. xi. 1228.
The gret jugement, At king Robert ackyt in his parlement 1499 Dunferm. B. Rec. 6.
The qwhilk day it is ackit that qwha that alegis [etc.] … sal be punist 1550 St. A. Baxter Bks. 6.
It is ackin [sic] be the bredren off baxtorie … to stand ferme & stabyll with thair decane in all thingis 1622-6 Bisset I. 242/5.
The act … is of new maid & acted in favouris of the clerk register

2. To enter (an agreement, obligation, etc.) in a book of record. 1474 Edinb. B. Rec. 32.
Thai to be ratifiit … siclik as thir actis, and to be actit and transsumpt in the commoun buke 1479 Peebles B. Rec. 185.
[To] caus the clerk to ac that deliuerans in the common buk 1514 Lennox Mun. 211.
The saidis lordis … ar content that [thir presentis] be ackit in the officialis bukis of Glasgow 1547 Glasgow Test. I. 15.
Ten lib. of this some … is ackit in the officiallis bukis 1573 Reg. Privy C. MS. XLII. 3 b.
That the samin suld be actit and registrat in the buikis of … counsall and sessioun 1589 Bk. Carlaverock I. 283.
That this oure band … be actit and registrat in the Buikis of Secret Counsaill

3. In passive (to be, or becum, actit), of a person: To have one's name entered in a record as being under some bond or obligation. Freq. const. with for, or to and infin. (a) 1492 Acta Conc. 221/1.
Thai consent … that Thomas Kennedy … be ackit to content & pay … twentj li. 1493 Ib. 310/11.
He haid causit the said Adam to be akkit in the officialis buk for … j^c merkis 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. 20.
That thai be acit in the common bukis to … keip the said statutis 1564 Exch. R. XIX. 529.
I … grantis me to becum actit cautioner and sovertie for my cousing 1576 Reg. Privy C. II. 480.
The act and cautioun in the quhilk thay ar actit for the remaining of me … in the toun 1601 Elgin Rec. II. 95.
Johnne Cockburn is becum voluntarie actit that his miln sall nocht gang … on Sabboth dayes 1642 Fam. Rose 332.
To be bund, obleist, actit and astrictit 1669 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 95.
The said Mungo … becam acted not to truble, molest, or wrong the said Thome(b) 1557 Crim. Trials I. i. 397.
He is nocht hakin ... to haif past to the said raid, becaus he is nocht ane landit manne

4. refl. To enter (oneself) as being under a bond or obligation. 1553 Lanark B. Rec. 23.
Wylem Lowre, burges of Lanark, akkit hymself … to pay to David Blake … all the expens and costis 1580 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 301.
Quhilkis buikis the said Mr. James actit himself to preserue 1609 Stirling B. Rec. I. 123.
[He] actis himself gif hereftir he be fund giltie … he sall amitt & tyne his friedome 1656 Glasgow B. Rec. 349.
That the haill fleschours … be put in ward quhill they act themselfis to sell thair haill tallow … according to the tounis statutis