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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
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Sek(e, Seik(e, v. Also: sec, seyk, seick, seikk-, sieck, seek(e, seak, sik, sic, sick(e, syke. P.t. and p.p. socht, sochte, schocht, scocht, soght, soch, soycht, soucht, sought, souch, south(t, sowcht, sowchitt, sougcht, sowght; saught, seicit. [ME and e.m.E. sekenn (Orm), seke (Cursor M.), seche (Ancr. R.), sech (Piers Plowman), seeke (1530), p.t. sohte (Layamon), sohhtenn (Orm), souht (Manning), sowhte (Chaucer), soght (c1400), p.p. i-soucht (Ancr. R.), soȝt (c1250), soght (Cursor M.), sought (c1400), sowth (c1485), OE sécan, p.t. sóhte, p.p. sóht, ON sœkja.]

I. tr. 1. To go in search of, look for, try to find (a person, place or thing); also, to seek or inquire after. Also, to serch (cers) and seke (out). Also fig. Passing into: b. To go to procure or to fetch (a thing). c. To make an approach to (a person) with a request or the like, to apply to, to petition. Variously const. d. To go to procure the services of (a tradesman or the like).See also Furthseik v.(1) pres. 1375 Barb. xix 606.
His men … Myssyt thar lord … Than gan thai consaill samyn ta That thai to sek him wp wald ga a1400 Leg. S. iv 366.
Hyr palace … Scho … dowit … with renttis fare Quhare mony now makis repare. For lele men of al kirsine led Sekis that cors … For heile of body and of sawle a1400 Leg. S. vi 34.
Sik a man of craft seke I That … Cuth mak a palace til oure kynge ?1438 Alex. ii 3774.
I am sa sikker … That in the letter sho sekes ane stra; [F. cele qui quiert le festu en l'estrain] c1420 Wynt. vi 1127.
Byd hym sek this certane plas Be name for in it … [is] off gold a sowme c1460 Thewis Gud Women 113.
Ore ellis to sek sum cumpany At war nocht lyk to be gudly c1475 Wall. iii 310.
Schir Ranald bownyde … Wallace to seke in Clydis forest braid 1513 Doug. vii vii 117.
Armour all wytles in his bed sekis he [L. arma toro tectisque requirit], Armour our all the lugyng law and hie 1609 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 71.
That the said Issobell Robertsoun come in to Patrick Jakkis close sekand ane capone 1613 Soc. Ant. X 223.
For ane boit to sek the ankir we tynt in Leyth Raid(b) 1375 Barb. xiv 530 (C).
To seik thame fer wes na myster a1500 Henr. Fab. 161.
Ga seik the iasp quha will for thair it lay a1500 Rauf C. 626.
Bid him seik him his self gif thair be sic ane 1488 Treas. Acc. I 94.
Til fallowis to seik bwtoris in Baythcatbog, ix s. 1513 Doug. i vi 129.
I seik Itale [L. Italiam quaero] and our auld cuntre fer 1513 Doug. ix vii 49.
In quhat part of this land thé left haue I? Or quhar sall I thé seik [L. Quave sequar]? O wailaway! 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 225.
To serche and seik the schippis that pyllijt the Scottis schippis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 701 (Ch.).
How came ȝe heir? … Marie! to seik King Humanitie c1552 Lynd. Mon. 241.
I mon go seik ane muse more confortabyl 1560 Rolland Seven S. 909.
His [sc. God's] treasure is … sa liberall and fre, To thame it seikis with all humilitie 1588 Crawford Mun. Invent. II 193 (5 Dec.).
The reid pasmentis I have causit seik throuchout the haill honest buithis in this toun 1596 Dalr. I 2/22.
Brutus … was seiking a resting place 1637 Maxwell Mem. II 262.
I wes seiking him this day with your lettir, bot he is not at home(c) 1633 Rutherford Christ's Napkin 15.
He was even going about to seek a slapp to break ov'r the dyke of his doubtings 1676 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 26 July.
He left Kirkcudbricht to seek his fortune(d) 1680 Fawside Coal Compt 63.
To George Lumsdaill to sicke his beirer £2p.t. a1400 Leg. S. xii 433.
Thane socht thai hyme dais thre c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 164/115.
The crawis him socht with cryis of cair In every schaw besyde 1513 Doug. xii xii 118.
This Turnus, half myndles and brane, Socht diuers wentis to fle throu owt the plane 1535 Stewart 33847.
Tha socht the fische rycht far befoir the net 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 56 (B).
I socht my self and I was sevin ȝeir tynt a1568 Bann. MS 163a/13.
Sanct Petir socht this gowly fast vp & doun 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 25.
Hir libertie, quhilk as euerie man may se cleirlie thay socht as the man that socht his wyff drownit in ane river agains the watter(b) a1400 Leg. S. iii 277.
For-thi be land and sey men sowcht Hym a1400 Leg. S. vi 33.
Oure Lord … hym fraynit thane, Quhat he soucht c1420 Wynt. vi 319.
The graffe, quhare this dede Pypyne lay, Thai rypyd, and the body soucht 1505 Treas. Acc. III 156.
To ane man that soucht ane spanȝell dog, be the kingis command, v s. 1565 St. A. Kirk S. 242.
James Chesolm in Scottiscrag com to Cowpar and thar sowcht hyr father and met wyth hym and sperit at hym gyf he had ane dochter lyand in child-bed 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 113.
A nychtbore wife demanding, ‘what thei sought that tyme of nycht’p.p. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 210.
Thoght all selcought war soght fra the son to the see a1500 Rauf C. 662.
Thocht he had socht sic ane sicht all this seuin ȝeir 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5240.
Will ȝe suffer the samin [sc. gold] to be socht a1578 Pitsc. I 1/11.
We … hes socht gadderit and collected all the notabill actis done be thir … princeis 1596 Dalr. II 367/17.
Quhat of his gudes shipbrokne cam into the handis of the peple, diligentlie scho caused to be soght agane 1601 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 184.
[He] beleives thair is gold thair, giff it wes weill socht(b) 1447 (1451) Reg. Great S. 106/1.
To wyn colis and stanis within the saide landis … sekande thaim as sic thingis ach to be soch(c) c1420 Wynt. iv 831.
Quhen that the Kyng off Pers was soucht And fundyn in the feld wes noucht c1420 Wynt. vi 2047.
The Thayne off Fyfe that thow has sowcht a1500 Henr. Orph. 191.
Quhen scho was soucht out throu that cald regionfig. a1500 Henr. Orph. 455.
Suld oure desyre be soucht vp in the speris(2) 1494 Acta Conc. I 324/1.
Lettrez … change[and] thaim to serch and seik the forenemmit per[sons] … and … thair eschet gudis 1500 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 87.
That thair be serchouris chosin within ilk burgh … to serche and seik the personis brekeris of the saidis actis of parliament 1511 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 98.
Gilbert Menȝeis … assit cerssit [ed. corssit] and socht Johne of Iruyne … and culd nocht comprehend him 1513 Doug. vi ii 136.
Thé nedis, tharfor, to hald thine eyn on hight, It forto sers and seik 1516–17 Treas. Acc. V 98. 1559–60 Treas. Acc. XI 7.
To serche and seik hors witht crelis to follow the Franche army in Fyffe 1574 Inv. Wardrobe 200.
Ordaning the said lord regent to serche seik and inbring all our soverane lordis jowellis 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 168. 1585 Crawford Mun. Invent. I 115 (5 March).
Under clud and silence of nycht … came … the nowmer of … personis … and serchit and socht the saidis complaneris 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 40. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Attachiamentvm.
The debtes auchtand to him … may be persewed and discussed … Quhilk is conforme to the act of parliament quhairby it is statute that the lands perteining to the debtour suld nocht be comprised vntill his moveabil guds be first searched, socht, and discussedb. c1450-2 Howlat 827 (A).
[He] socht watter to wesche him thair out in ane ydy a1500 Henr. Fab. 235.
Ane gentill hart is better recreate With blyith visage, than seith [Ch. curage than seik] to him ane kow a1500 Seven S. 1537.
Scho said I ȝeid to seike a knyf 1529 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 98.
Thairfor ve ordand the said Villiem for to seik the testiment and follow it befor ane sperituall juge a1538 Abell 71b.
Sche finȝet hir to seik sumthing tynt in ane nwk of the chalmir 1547 Treas. Acc. IX 94.
Direct ane boy to Sanctandrois to seik pavilȝeounes cordes, becaus nane culd be gottin in Edinburght 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5659.
Now let vs go in our garding and seik Herbes c1600 Montg. Suppl. vi 12.
Gritt foullis, for me, I think thai ar That seikis hett watter wnder yse 1661 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 196.
That that dismemberit part of the bodie of the lait murtherit Marques of Montrose … suld be socht out of the place of the church of this burghe wher the samen wes interrit 1667 Dumbarton B. Rec. App. i 8.
Confesses … that he came back to seike his mundall and coat, quhilk he said he left thairc. a1400 Leg. S. iv 284.
Scho bad thame gange & sek the kinge a1400 Leg. S. xxiv 360, 362. 1385–6 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS 410/2.
The forsayde personaris … souch hym nother with grace lufe na with lauch, to delay his dome c1460 Thewis Wysmen 258.
Wysmen … forgeif glaidly matalent And thai be soucht in gud entent a1568 Scott i 149.
Thy pursevandis ar socht To pund pure communis corne and cattell keir 1607 Kinghorn Kirk S. 10.
Having gain to seik the baillie to cum and reprove thame 1620 Perth Kirk S. MS 18 April.
Go seik ȝour maichis I am nocht the woman ȝe ar seikand 1625 Justiciary Cases I 23.
He … drank with Thomas Cromby, defender, and come throw the mercat and socht him to that effectd. 1535 Stewart 57101.
To seik him leichis that wer fyne and gude 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9913.
His messingers to pas and seik all quhair Cunning doctouris [etc.] 1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix 202.
Thay socht na taileȝours for to busc thair breikis

e. With (the intensives) out, forth.(1) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3730.
Thair is ane thowsand … Sic fuillis as we gif thay war weill socht out 1570–1 Canongate Ct. Bk. 302.
To seik owt and deliver to the said Patrik his seasing of the landis acclamit 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 301.
And, in principio, sought out syne, That vnder ane alter of stane had lyne, Sanct Jhones nutt, and the foure levit claver 1593 Maxwell Mem. II 171.
I haif with greitt travellis sowchitt owtt thir lettres of hornyng 1639 Misc. Spald. C. II 234.
The saidis keyis … vold be lent or givin to … thair servantis to seik out thair processis in thair bonckers vithin the inner hous 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) i 49.
Seeking his lunets forth(2) 1594 Facs. Nat. MSS III lxxv.
To serche and sik out [hidden treasure]

2. To search for with hostile intent; to seek in order to attack, to bring to trial or punishment or to persecute; to go in pursuit of. 1375 Barb. ii 23.
How that he thar soucht was And how he chapyt wes throw cas 1375 Barb. vii 618.
And [he] thaim soucht sa angyrly That thai in full gret hy … rane to the plane 1375 Barb. v 102, etc. a1400 Leg. S. ii 129.
[Nero] gert sek all thai That Cristine fath before can ta ?1438 Alex. i 1923.
Thocht our fais hes fast vs socht ?1438 Alex. i 1686, etc. c1420 Wynt. viii 3252.
This crownare … sowcht naroly Thai mysdoaris here and thare a1500 Henr. Fab. 961 (Bann.).
I wilbe socht gif I be red absent a1500 Rauf C. 898.
Soudanis and sib men that thé with schame socht 1505 Crim. Trials I i 46.
I Johne Ogilby Scheref-deput of Inuernes … soycht Torculane Makcloide of the Lewis 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 64.
Thir Danys had nocht the sikkir faith and thairfor south all kirkmen to the deth 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 85.
As for the lordis quhilks our soueranis socht, thaj all fled in England 1576 Orkney Oppress. 76.
[They] serst and soucht me at twelff houris in the nicht for my slauchter 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Haimsvken.
Hame-suchen … is quhen onie person violently … enters within an mans hous, or seiks him at the same or assailȝies his hous c1600 Montg. Suppl. vii 57.
Lang thocht hes socht, and brocht me to this place 1603 Inverness Rec. II 16.
He … ȝeid throv the haill toun … seickinge the said Johne or his brother … purpoissinge to haue slain them 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 134.
Haymesukin is quhen ane man searches and seeks ane other man at his house … to slay him 1642 Strathbogie Presb. 29.
To beare him out in his wickednes, and disturbe the said Mr. Robert his peace, alledging that he was soght out of splene

b. To launch an attack against, to assail; also, to invade. 1375 Barb. xii 390.
The king … Has tane to rede that he wald nocht Fecht or the morne [bot] he war socht 1375 Barb. xvi 356.
For till withstand Men that thame soucht vith stalvard hand ?1438 Alex. i 630.
Seik we the first sa sturdely That the hindmaist abasit be! ?1438 Alex. ii 1540.
Thame of the citie blame I nocht That keipis thare citie quhen thay ar socht ?1438 Alex. ii 4461.
For he on athir syde was socht With comonis that him sparit nocht ?1438 Alex. ii 1644. c1420 Wynt. viii 3309.
The Lord off Dowglas … Gert seke this yhwman sa naroly That [etc.] 1456 Hay I 50/29.
Quhen schir Flumen herd tell that he [sc. Hannibal] was cummyn to seke him c1475 Wall. viii 441.
Thus is King Eduuard set, In contrar rycht to sek ws in our land

c. To have hostile intention against, to intend to take (another's life). 1562-3 Winȝet II 12/19.
That ȝour grace nothir seikis the lyues nor landis of certane of the vnleirnit nobilitie 1558-66 Knox II 326.
I know it is but my lyef that is sought 1645 Dunkeld Presb. II 372.
Their persons and lyfes ar sought and layed awaite for by the enemy 1658 Rothesay B. Rec. 18.
Pursueing William Robisone and his sone withe a drawne knyfe … seiking thair lyfe

d. To assail, harass, ravage (territory, with robbery or the like). a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 301/21.
Thai landis ar with stouthe sa socht To extreme powertie ar brocht

e. To take legal proceedings against (another), pursue, prosecute. 1582 Waus Corr. 264.
Alwayis your lordschip sall neuer haif ane just motewe to seik me, owther in the law or by the law gif resoun may taik place 1658 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 196.
[John Dinand is] seiking [the pursuer for the same]

3. To try to discover by inquiry or investigation, to inquire into, to ascertain. Also, to seke out.(1) a1400 Leg. S. vi 425.
The ninte, for to sek Goddis will In althinge 1456 Hay I 212/6.
Quha will seke the begynnyng of the inhabitacioun of Fraunce c1460 Thewis Wysmen 408.
Thai goif one strangeris … Ande al thar faltis one thaim thai seik c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 96.
To sek the defferens betuex wisdome and foly c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 515.
Mony parabolys … that he had soucht be his wyt & visdome … and maid of thaim syndry bukis to tech othiris a1500 Henr. Fab. 1100.
Vnder ane fabill figurall Sad sentence men may seik and efter fyne 1533 Boece 36b.
Of this mater the verite amang the authouris is to be socht c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6099. a1568 Bann. MS 134b/2.
Ane king sekand tresoun He may fynd land a1578 Pitsc. I 2/3.
The maner of the reformatioun of the religioun and quhat was done thairin … socht gadderit wrettin and collected be ane Robert Lyndesay of Pitscottie 1588 King Cat. Sig. j iv.
To seike ȝerlie hir [sc. the moon's] place in the zodiake according to hir midde motion on the letter day of December at noone(2) 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in Cath. Tr. (STS) 77/28.
Quhat misterit men in this eage seik out ane neu interpretation

b. To seke one's wit at otheris (hand): said of stupid or ignorant persons who depend on others to supply knowledge or suggest decisions. c. To seke one's wisdom (in books).b. 1456 Hay II 155/28.
And that he be nocht blont and bestely to seke his wit at otheris c1460 Bk. Gude Counsale 42.
How suld a man be wyse that no thing knawis To gif thé counsale in thi parliament … Nor for to governe iustice in thi lande That hes ther wit to seik at othiris hanedec. c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 526.
He sais quhen men sekis thar wysdome in mony bukis it stoppis his wyt … for the farar he sek, the les he sal fynde at the ende

d. Const. indirect question. a1400 Leg. S. xx 14.
To seke Quhat man he was & of quhat land c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1945.
Tharfor richt besely thai socht How to rewenge come thai mocht c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2858.
In his wit [he] socht besely Quhat that his dreme betakin micht c1420 Wynt. v 2846.
The empryowre gert knychtis pas To sek quhare Saynct Sylvestyr was c1475 Wall. i 245. 1506 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 109.
That ye diligentlie serche and seik … quhair ony … personis … dois incontrair this our proclamatioun 1533 Bell. Livy I 89/9. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 266.
The devil tempis Man to elatioun, pryde, … yre [etc.] … gangand about lyke ane rampand lyon sekand quhom he may devoire or swallye 1571–2 Canongate Ct. Bk. 346.
It dependis nocht upon the administratioun of the pupill and his guddis nor yit is socht be that way bot onlie according to the desire of the breif quha is narrest agnet ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 154.
They, and all who reade his Declaratione, wer to seeke wherin the Generall Assembly haid plaide the traitors

e. To inquire at another. a1500 Sir Eger 353.
And sundry times at me they sought, If that I would or yarned ought a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 365.
At the Jowis he sperit quhom thai soucht

f. To try to discern or detect, to hope to discover (something non-material). a1400 Leg. S. xviii 549.
Jhesu Cryste … Thus lang in me has pennans socht a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 125/33.
Quhy dois thow seik heir in the sacrament the ordour of nature in Christis bodye c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 295.
So lang as tha seyk him carnallie, Tha can no wayis posses him spirituallie

4. To endeavour, mean or hope to obtain, procure, achieve or accomplish; ‘to look for’, ‘to want’, to have as one's goal.pres. 1375 Barb. x 458.
The tother fled to sek warand 1416 Red Bk. Menteith I 285.
Gif he wile nouch so do we mone sek other remede on nede 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 130.
Ane idill lymmair that sekis his leving on vther menis laubouris 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 322.
Sekand defence of thair lyvis in sindry hyrnis of the said castell a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 137/12.(b) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2003.
He counsalit hir to seike remeid a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1264.
It semys saughtnyng thai seik I se be thair feir a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 108 (Asl.). c1490 Porteous Noblenes 173/16 (A). 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1030.
Gar lordis send thare sonnes … To seik science, and famous sculis frequent 1533 Gau 20/10.
Seikkis 1559 Knox I 420.
Bot foirseing ane storme, sche began to seik ane new wynd 1562-3 Winȝet I 21/28.
Quhilk auctoritie … ȝe esteme as nochtis … and thairfor … seikis ane vther ordinatioun of secularis c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 259.
Quhat better thing can man seik for his hyre Nor get all thing he justlie will desyre? 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 32.
Bot it is na moderat nor tollerabill thing that thai seik. It is the blude … of ȝour innocent king 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 137.
I pray God to … send ȝow repois. I am gangand to seik myne til the morne a1578 Pitsc. I 39/28.
No man wist quhair to seik refuge wnles he had sworne himself ane servant to sum common murtherar … to mantaine him a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 19/87.
To cruell folk seik na remissioun c1580 Maxwell Mem. II 148.
Gif Robert Hall seikis twa aikirs of land and twa kyis gars c1590 Fowler II 75/4.
It [is] requeseit for him to seik the pepills favour quhome he hes subdewed 1590 St. A. Kirk S. 685. 1591-2 Rob Stene 6.
He beiris as freind into thar faice, In secreit seikand thar disgraice 1620 Edinb. Test. L 281.
I ordane the saidis Agnes & Bessie Lyellis … not to seik the movabill airschip that will fall to thame be my deceis quhill efter the deceis of the said Mareoun 1622-6 Bisset II 248/17. — 1582 Waus Corr. 264.
Seik out that cours for me, for I man abyid it, and meit as I may(c) 1559 Knox VI 41.
Our hope is good that Hie … will perform the sam to His glory, which cheafly we seak in this our interprise(d) 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 124.
Gif faith ga na farder nor the mind, it is not the faith we are seekand 1596–7 R. Bruce in Wodrow's Life of Bruce 181.
He hounded out his man, the parson of Crawfordjohn to seek my living indirectly 1630 Rutherford Christ & Doves 24.
Bid that deceiving loun [sc. the Devil] seek his mercat in another place 1635 Dickson Wr. 78.
They are charged with oppression in over-reaching their neighbours … by scant measure … every one seeking a kinsh of his neighbour 1690 Cramond Kirk S. III 29 May.
Seeing he came out of that countrey from whence she came … and that he was seeking threshing or any other weeks worke but could have nonep.t. c1475 Wall. viii 594.
Iornay thai socht and sekyrly has found 1513 Doug. i ix 128.
Quhen scho to Troy forbodyn hymeneus socht [L. Pergama cum peteret inconcessosque hymenaeos] 1559 Knox VI 23.
Which deceate being spied, the brethrein soght the nixt remedie 1559 Knox VI 100.
Amongst us also were suche as more soght the purse than Christ's glorie a1568 Scott iii 37.
Speik fair, till ȝe haif gottin that ȝe socht 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 237. 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. ii 67.
Quhil in this weak estait, all meanes I soght To be aweng'd on him quhose schaftes did greiue me(b) 1375 Barb. iii 540.
Thai … soucht na nother sals thar-till Bot appetyt 1528 Douglas Corr. 133.
Sayand that I soucht succur thare, and sould be the war hard a1585 Maitl. Q. 255/59.
But when that all is gone he sought Than think his lance wes deirlie bought 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. (1591) F viij a.
Bot these euill men that sought the death, and put handes in themselfisp.p. ?1438 Alex. ii 1234.
All thy dede hes thow socht [F. Vostre mort avés hui toute jour pourseüe] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 63/109.
Luve him that thy lufe hes socht Fra hevin to erd c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 191/15. 1513 Doug. v vii 27.
Ane othir mache to hym was socht and speryt [L. Quaeritur huic alius] 1551 Hamilton Cat. 123.
Remede is socht be sum special medicin a1568 Bann. MS 248a/39.
Sen chanc hes socht … That scho is brocht quhair scho may byd(b) a1500 Sir Eger 527.
And though the deed be sought [L. he sought] on him, It is well sped to all his kin 1558-66 Knox II 357.
Yf ever we have injustlie sought his or thair destructioun and bloode

b. Of persons or animals: To seke one's mete, to try to obtain food (by hunting, begging, etc.); passing into: To try to earn one's living or livelihood. a1500 Henr. Fab. 810.
[The fox] seikand his meit be sent a1500 Henr. Fab. 62. 1513 Doug. vii viii 34.
The tame deir … was accustomyt so quhen he list eyt At his awin masteris burd to seik his meyt 1549 Compl. 12/25.
Ane hen that seikis hyr meyt in the mydding a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 16/32.
We had nather ȝuill nor pace Bot seikis our meit from place to place 1662 Soc. Ant. XXII 230.
The said Margaret Litster being seeking her meat and selling leiks

c. To try to obtain by force. c1490 Porteous Noblenes 177/9 (A).
Nor thair sall neuer man do wele his det That in armes first seikis proffit pray or gudis 1562-3 Winȝet II 12/19 (see 2 c above).

d. reflex. To try to obtain advantages for oneself, to promote one's own interests. 1559 Knox VI 46.
I wold not so instantlie begg such a libertie, in seaking wharof I suppose you be persuaded that I greatlie seak not my self 1649 Hist. Fragm. III 3.
These had bien enimies to the commone cause, and … still wer bot siecking themselves

e. To try to find a way, means, opportunity, etc. to do something or const. adv. clause of purpose.For further examples see Mene n.¹ 3, Occasio(u)n n.¹ 1 and Way n.(1) a1400 Leg. S. i 315.
The prefet … Socht ithandly occasione To bring hym to confusione 1513 Doug. iv xi 96.
Sekand the way … Forto bereif hir self the irksum lyve 1559 Knox VI 80.
Fraunce seakith all meanes to make them freends 1582 Cal. Sc. P. VI 146.
Sykene c1590 Fowler II 24/29. 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 261.
I pray ȝou sick all good occasiounes to hairme the traitouris 1640 Kirkcaldy Presb. 167.
Then he sought a time to resolve himself whilk was to Lambes 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. ii 67.
All meanes I soght To be aweng'd on him quhose schaftes did greiue me(2) a1400 Leg. S. xl 845.
Thai … socht opartunyte How that best mycht thane be c1590 Fowler II 22/15.
Idolatrous Papists … seikand the occasioun how vnder pretence of particularities they micht coulour thair cruelty

f. To try to find, obtain or procure (something non-material) for a purpose specified by a complement. c1590 Fowler II 28/29.
Thairby seikand sum pastyme mirrily to mock his folie 1634 Dumbarton B. Rec. 43.
In sae far as she socht help to bye a murning sheit for hir deid bairne, when sche had no bairne deid

g. To seke in, to collect (debts, dues). 1592–3 Glasgow Presb. in Misc. Maitl. C. I 54.
Connald Strutheris grantis that on Sondayes he ryidis to sek in his dettis 1654–5 Dumbarton Common Gd. Acc. 204.
For his chairges … for to seik in the tounes dewes

h. To seke (the) law, to institute legal proceedings, also of (= against, to obtain redress from) another. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1964 (B).
Quhair wald thow be? … evin at Sanctandrus for to seik law c1575 Balfour Pract. 54.
Gif ane burges do ane fault to ony castelman, he sall seik law of him within burgh 1582 Waus Corr. 264.
Quhair ye desyir me to fyind na falt with your lordschip to seik the law

5. To try to obtain by petition or request, to petition or request for, to ask for, to require.Also const. at, of or fra the person from whom the thing is requested, and absol.(1) pres. 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 151.
Thou sekis mercy and tharof myscheif makkis 1513 Doug. iv ii 9.
Beneuolence and gude luk, syndry wys, Thai sekyng and thai sers at ilke altar [L. pacemque per aras Exquirunt] 1518 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 48.
The said Jhone Todryk tuk the said mere to sek his warand of the samyn to this day xv dayis 1533 Gau 24/25.
Lwiff sekis noth the aune bot the thing quhilk pertenis to God(b) 1513 Doug. xi iii 68.
Lat Turnus quhar hym list go seik ally 1528 Lynd. Dreme 967.
In the law land I come to seik refuge 1531 Bell. Boece I 6.
Thus war thay constranit to seik his peace 1560 Rolland Seven S. 290.
I seik na vther thing Bot ȝour ane sone to haue in gouerning 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4047.
The grace of God is gottin for na thing, Quha list it seik with all humilitie 1591 Crim. Trials I ii 252.
Jonett Drummond, thair messinger send to seik the respons 1622-6 Bisset I 259/10.
To the greit discuraging of any man to seik his dew det or richt 1626 Aberd. Council Lett. I 251.
If thay refuis, and seikis the whole four yeiris to be advancit at one terme ye sall altogidder disassent thairfra 1647 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 78.
Of euerie stranger … seiking buriall in the said south syde of the kirkyaird, being ane barron or barrons wyf, fourtie merkis(c) 1580 Fam. Innes 138.
Robert Ines … promeist … that he suld never … seick any kynd off rycht intres or claime any part … off the landis … off Ines in preiudice of Robert Ines(d) 1553–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 381.
To sic your grace favor and suport in persuit of tham(e) a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 390.
He can hide his meat and seek more 1664 Alford Rec. 38.
The minister's wife had come to him seeking the lend of a pair of currecksp.t. 1567 Reg. Morton I 30.
We maist humblie socht ȝoure Maiesteis help and support to hir be ȝoure imbassadoure 1591-2 Rob Stene 15.
The ram … bullerand thruch his bludy breist … cursit the fox, and socht a preist 1624 Orkney Witch Trial in Misc. Abbotsf. C. I 146.
Ȝe soght the said thrid, and the lass refussit 1629 Black Orkn. & Shetl. Folklore 104.
Saught 1635 Justiciary Cases I 248.
Thay socht ane lane fra him of ane pistolet 1688 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 248.
You sought a soup barme, quhich she refused youp.p. 1610 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 119.
To be resolved of all suche mater of scruple and doubt whiche we haif in that commissioun soght be the Maister of Tullibairdin 1631 Justiciary Cases I 154.
Wm. Selkirk and Jon Brounlie thair aithes being socht sueir [etc.] a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 274.
The partie's oath of calumnie may not be sought upon ane part of the lybell or exception, bot upon the haill 1635 Anal. Scot. I 292.
Without any recompense to be sougcht be him, his aires, or successoris(b) 1582 Perth B. Ct. 12 Oct.
Without ony forder liquidatioun or taxatioun un ordinar to be scocht thairto(2) pres. 1513 Doug. i ix 75.
Sekand supple at Belus, and sum new land [L. nova regna petentem Auxilio Beli](b) 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I 53.
To sers and seik trew tryall at all hands a1568 Bann. MS 75a/6.
Seik weill at weill and vyis thé voundir weil a1578 Pitsc. I 16/2.
Quhan ony past to seik redres at the chancellar c1600 Montg. Suppl. ix 21.
Ȝe may gang seik sum medicene Bot nocht at mee(c) a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 899.
Ye seek grace at a gracelesse facep.t. c1420 Wynt. vi 87.
This Stewyn than pape sowcht succoure At Constantyne the empryowre 1533 Bell. Livy II 154/19.
Or he socht ony helpe at his evil willare 1560 Rolland Seven S. 469.
At thame his counsall than he sochtp.p. 1596 Melvill 334.
The leivings of the said ministers left incerteanlie to be sought from yeir to yeir at his hienes checquer(3) pres. c1475 Wall. i 54.
Foly it was … Succour to sek of thar alde mortale fa 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 89.
To sek ane honorable peax of the empriour(b) a1585 Maitl. Q. 110/71.
Let luif meit luif of hir I seik na mair(c) 1622 Canongate Hammermen in Bk. Old Edinb. C. XX 98.
For the liting of the maisteris at thair aune hand and not siking consent of the dekinsp.t. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 79.
King Ewyne … was the first king of Scotland that socht ony athtis of his subdittis 1562-3 Winȝet I 14/22.
I socht of thaim ane man that wald mak vp the haigep.p. 1541 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 506.
Thar was na commoning nor concord soycht be the said Arthour of the said David 1564–5 Rec. Earld. Orkney 279.
All farther chargeis to be sowcht of thame for the saidis landis 1670 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 27 April.
To compone … with Sir Adam Blair anent the leavie money now sought off this toune(4) pres. 1573-1600 King Cat. in Cath. Tr. 216/10.
To seik from the clyent mair than he aucht to gif(b) 1690 Cramond Kirk S. III 24 July.
Severall persons in this paroch … forefault thair pledge of marriage by fornication … yet seeke backe from the session the halfe of thair pledge 1697 Cramond Kirk S. IV 13 Aug.
They all unanimously agreed … that John Wells & George Pollock seek the tokens from the communicantsp.t. c1475 Wall. i 32.
Quhen Waltyr hyr of Waillis fra Warayn socht 1624 Orkney Witch Trial in Misc. Abbotsf. C. 143.
Ȝe came and soght ane luik beir fra the said Williamabsol. a1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlviii 51.
And namely of breikis gif ony man seikis Sall haif the pair ay for a pund 1604-31 Craig i 13.
Let him not want, suppose be shame to seike a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1777.
Ye lay up lyke ladies and seiks lyke dawes 1633 Rutherford Christ's Napkin 15.
O it is a sweet thing ay to be whinging, and crying, and seeking about Christ's pantry doors

b. To try to enlist (aid or backing; to find (caution). 1587–8 Aberd. Council Lett. I 25.
Insofar as he socht uther lordschip and mantenance nor the provest and baillies thairof 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 39.
Charge sic as ar contenit in the letters of lawburrowis to seik cautioun

c. To pay addresses to (a woman, with a view to marriage), to woo, court, ask for. Here passive. 1570 Leslie 240.
[This] was not the nerrest way to cunques a lady and princes … in mariage quho suld rather be socht be curtes … behaviour

6. To make it one's aim, to intend, attempt, try, endeavour (for) to do, or to be, something.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 988.
He socht to saw thare bere & ry c1420 Wynt. v 2699.
For to recowyre hys hele he soucht 1551 Hamilton Cat. 6.
He that hiely sekis to knaw the haly misteris … of God 15.. Clar. iii 370.
He drew his sword and thocht that it was wonder Him to behold quhilk as ane lyoun bold [ed. wod] Never seicit to sched his foes bluid 1557 Facs. Nat. MSS III xl.
Sathan, … seiking to downetring and to destroye the Evangell of Christ 1566 Anal. Scot. I 101.
As also that hir maiesty geve no credite to those that seak be all means to mak us, and that our just caus, appear odious 1567 G. Ball. 98.
To seik to slay him with cruell intent 1567 Sat. P. vii 72.
Our prettie prince … thay socht for to deuoir a1568 Fleming Bann. MS 160a/28.
The man quhilk on the sie His leving seikis to gane c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii 35.
Seikand to knaw how all sulde be 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 29.
The Hamiltonis socht to haif depriuit hir of all rycht 1570 Leslie 212.
Seike 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii 100.
Ilk ane his awin hous seikis to edify 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 126.
Still seiking, with new pyking of quarrellis … to have his life 1596 Highland P. I 153.
Seking be all privie … meins … to bereave him of his lyfe 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. i 49.
Cease, serpent, seik no to subdue And kill ane hert 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. ii 67.
I soght To be aweng'd on him a1624 Edinb. Univ. MS La.ii.319.
And seik with haisste to lieue [the] earth And peirse the firmament 1638 Justiciary Cases I 292.
The said Thomas … searchet and socht … to have rancounterit with the said noble ladie [etc.](2) 1559 Misc. Spald. C. IV 89.
Than seik ye to be equall with him quha can hef na merrowis 1628 St. A. Baxter Bks. 90.
Incase ony service [man] presume or attempt to craue or seik to be prenteis, he salbe alluterlie excludit

7. To exercise or practice (a craft or skill). c1420 Wynt. v 5332.
The Dewyll … cowthe noucht Wyth all the wylis that he sowcht Ourecum Saynct Serff 1531 Bell. Boece II 205.
[They were] constranit to fle in Ireland or ellis to seik sum craft to win thair leiffing a1568 Bann. MS 140a/26.
Thow ȝeid with elwand scheir and thymmill Full mony a day seikand thy craft 1603 Aberd. Council Lett. I 93.
Ȝour industrie … in seiking and following furth all laughtfull treadis

8. To make one's way to, visit, repair or resort to a. A place.Also, to seke the way, to make one's way, proceed (towards a place).(1) 1375 Barb. iii 479.
Thai … soucht schawys and setis set 1375 Barb. v 559.
The king had in custome ay … to … sek a cowert him allane a1400 Leg. S. xl 101.
Thare-for … He … dressit hyme Rome to seke c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1884.
[They] socht his bed c1420 Wynt. v 1902. c1460 Consail Vys Man 170.
For lawte wald neuir fenȝhed bee Na sek hyrnis in na degree 1490 Acta Conc. I 153/2.
[They] sall … seik or ger seik the four hed pilgrimage of Scotland & thare say mes c1490 Porteous Noblenes 184/26 (A). a1500 Bk. Chess 2185.
And of wertew the well it suld be socht a1500 Lanc. 3289.
With al his fors the nerest feld he soght a1500 Lanc. 534.
Secith 1513 Doug. i viii 115.
The Sycill see And placis reddy fra quham hidder drevin ar we, We sall seik, and to the Kyng Acestes 1513 Doug. iii ii 58.
To seik ȝour ald moder [sc. Crete] mak ȝou bane 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 89.
The callour ayr … Maid seik warm stovis and beyn fyris hoyt a1538 Abell 103a.
Thow gaif na rewerence slayand thame at soucht girth 1567 Sat. P. iv 9.
Scotland I socht in houpe for to get hir 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 526.
In case he socht it [sc. the chalmer] my lady Murrayis seiknes mycht be a sufficient excuse quhy he suld not have it 1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix 87.
Infekit watter sowllit thame cheik and chin: Persauing that, sorrow mair thay socht it [sc. the well] a1585 Maitl. Q. 225/71.
With wofull hairt then did I seik the bray Abone the water brok quhair I had bene c1700 M. Bruce Good News in Evil Times (1707) 16.
See ye not the well-affected people seeking the lee and lowen-side of the house?(2) 1513 Doug. i ix 138.
Achates … The way towart the schippis socht in hy [L. iter ad navis tendebat]

b. A person. a1400 Leg. S. iii 97.
Thane Sante Andro sone scho schocht a1400 Leg. S. ix 120.
Sir kynge, quhare-til gert thu Thi men with tresour sek me now? a1400 Leg. S. iv 383. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 3.
The king turnit on ane tyde towart Tuskane Hym to seik our the sey that saiklese wes sald a1500 Seven S. 2140. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 20/148.
I sall … every morrow seik thé at thi graife 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 313.
This wald not serve: he sought ane vther [sc. witch]

c. specif. To approach or resort to (God) in prayer, etc. a1538 Abell 12*a.
Ȝowng Iosyas kyng soucht God in his barnhage 1567 Sat. P. vi 66.
Sa lang as Juda … Did seik the Lord with all thair hartis desyre

d. To make an approach to (a person) (with an offer, suggestion, etc.). 1568 Q. Mary in Facs. Nat. MSS III lviii.
O thai mak thame to be meik in maner, that thair anger war past, seikand me with appoyntment

9. To carry out a search in or of (a place), to search.(1) 1375 Barb. ii 62.
Thai fand nocht The-quhethir the chambre hale thai socht 1375 Barb. x 760 (C).
Thair gudis haff thai sessit all And soucht [E. souch] the housis euirilkane a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 771.
Sancte Machore … al the place by Socht to & fra, til he fand A sted til hyme wes gannand c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1561. c1420 Wynt. viii 2491. 14.. Acts I 331/2.
At thai [sc. the bailies] sek nocht the burgh lauchfully for leper folk to be furth put 1471–2 Acta Aud. 20/2.
Cummyng vpoun the said Walter … quhare he wes in his bed … [they] socht the hous that he lay in a1500 Henr. Orph. 194.
He … gert his spere be soucht fra end to end Scho was noucht thare 1546 St. P. Henry VIII V 560.
Incontinent tha … sowght the chalmeris, and schote furth all the howsald men 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2325.
[He] Socht his bed heid quhair that the keyis lay(2) 1600-1610 Melvill 167.
The magistrats … haid sought out all my lettrones and wryttes(3) 1554 Corr. M. Lorraine 384.
My lord Drummond cerst and socht the haill cunctray and culd nocht comprehend the committaris of the said slauchtir 1559–60 Soc. Ant. XI 522.
Thay brak up the duris thairof and … sarsit and soucht all the secreit placis [sc. for gold and silver] a1578 Pitsc. I 214/13.
[Andrew Wood] said he [sc. the king] was not thair and bad them searche and seik his schipis … if they wald not gif him credance

b. To examine or explore an area in order to find a suitable place for (a foundation, mine to be sunk). 1456 Hay I 44/9.
The masons fand a hedeles man in the place quhare thai sought the ground 1503 Lanark B. Rec. 13.
To the colyair at socht the collhewcht

c. To search, peruse, consult (a book or writing, one's memory, etc.). c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 523.
It sal nocht neid to manis wyt to sek ma bukis for wisdome 1464–5 Acts XII 30/2.
Thai haue socht the auld actis and statutis … of the inbringin of the bullioune [etc.] 1476 Acta Aud. 34/1.
The lordis ordanis that … the chekker rowis be soucht & sene gife it can be fundin that [etc.] a1500 Henr. Fab. 1214.
Seikand full mony decretalis off the law, And glosis als 1477 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 200.
The ald rollis and registeris war be command of the lordis of counsale socht 1501 Acta Conc. III 123.
[The Lords ordain] that the justice clerk seik the kingis adiurnale for thir panys that the sade Jhone is bund in 1549 Compl. 7/4.
I socht all the secreit corneris of my gazophile, ymaginant vitht in the cabinet of my interior thochtis

d. To examine, scrutinise, consider; to put to the test (something immaterial). c1420 Wynt. viii 644.
Thai studyusly The matere in thare faculteis Sowcht, and in the Buk off Feys c1475 Wall. v 324.
Tell thaim wald he nocht, Quhill scho hir selff ner till his langage socht c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 184/4.
Quhen I haif my mynd all socht 1533 Gau 31/30.
Faith is socht and prouine in aduersite as the gold is prouine in the fyr a1568 Broun Bann. MS I p.36/37.
The twynkleing of ȝour ene be socht Quhen synnaris schamefully ar schent 1598 Conv. Burghs II 28.
The commissioneris … decernis the said mater to desert quhill it be walkint and socht of new be consent of the haill brugh 1617 Aberd. Council Lett. I 144.
The remanent of the towns affairs … to be socht and handlit in parliament

e. To seke out, in senses c and d. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5201.
And presentlye … Ar rycht mony [sc. Antechrists], withouttin dout, Wer thare fals lawis weill soucht out 1596 Dalr. I 287/22.
Donalde … this hail mater diligentlie sochte out 1587-99 Hume 73/168.
Their proces will be lang in seeking out

II. Intransitive senses.

10. To make search, to search. 1375 Barb. iii 415.
Tharfor endlang the louchhis syd Sa besyly thai socht and fast Tyll Jamys of Dowglas … Fand a litill sonkyn bate a1400 Leg. S. xx 61.
& quhene thai al a day had socht In the wod, tha fand rycht nocht c1420 Wynt. i 451.
I suppos, quha than walde seke Amang thaim all wes noucht a breke c1420 Wynt. ix 710. c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 528 (see 3 c above). a1500 Henr. Fab. 2384.
We seik all nycht, bot na thing can we find a1500 Henr. Bludy Serk 41.
The king gart seik baith fer and neir c1475 Wall. v 790. a1500 Seven S. 2281.
[They] Past to seike fra land to land c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 100/13.
To seik fra Sterling to Stranaver A mirrear daunce mycht na man see c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 173/1.
I seik about this warld unstabille To find ane sentence convenabille 1513 Doug. ii viii 44.
With instrumentis of irne we pyke, and seik Round al about 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3748.
Thay socht in mony sindrie toun c1590 J. Stewart 53/17.
In euerie part insatiantlie he socht

11. To seke (out) for, to try to find or obtain. Also, to serch and seke for, and to seke after.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 65.
Thar-for for fud he yddir socht a1568 Bann. MS 158b/85.
And quhen it is so he seikis for his sark a1581 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 297.
In this lyfe we are but … strangearis, seking for ane citie and habitatioun, quhais beildare and maker is God c1590 Fowler II 55/5.
Behold the wisdome of the woman … she soght for na intecessour 1643 Misc. Abbotsf. C. I 178.
Katherin Barnie … did goe to ȝour heavie, quhar it did hing vpon the wall, to sik for ane spindle(2) 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II 252.
That … ye deligentlie inquire serche and seik for thair names 1638 Justiciary Cases I 292.
[He] ran up and doun within the utter court and … searchet and socht for the said noble ladie(3) 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 145.
Gif there be ony piece of thine heart inclined, and has a thirst to seek after mercie and grace(4) 1650 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 112.
The dean of gild to seik out for tua able men to be scourgers

b. Of sailing a ship: To sek up for, to sail or steer one's course towards (a harbour, etc.). 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 43.
I must stand by my taik-ling, shut my rudder a lee, and seeke vp for the next shoare 1632 Lithgow Trav. ii 44.
The tempest increasing … we were constrained to seeke vp for the port

12. To make request. 1608 Stirling B. Rec. I 121.
To stand att the kirk dure and thair to craif and seik, for uphalding and reparatioun of the said kirk, of the charitie and benevolence of the intrantis thairin 1641 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 253.
It was appointit … that nae young women that may seik be receivit in cot-houses, nor nae cot-houses be let to them

13. To go, resort, pay a visit (to, till, unto, about a person, also, an animal, or a place). Also const. to be (= have) socht (to) a person, etc.).In the past tense, also construed with to be.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxii 302.
Thar-for to thé here I hafe socht ?1438 Alex. i 1152.
He saw ane hardy Arraby Socht to the renk sa sturdely That he the Grecians febillit fast c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 99.
Thinkand quhat visdom it war to manis sone and quhat worschip to inquer, sek & folow till his king and creatore c1475 Wall. i 282.
Quha sperd, scho said to Sanct Margret thai socht a1500 K. Hart 167. a1500 Lanc. 3128.
Magre his fois he to his courseir socht 1513 Doug. i viii 115 (see 8 a (1) above). 1513 Doug. i x 19.
‘To thé I cum, to thé I seik,' quod sche 1513 Doug. ix i 23.
Eneas desolat levand hys cite … Is till Evander socht 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 184.
Litill lammys Full tayt and tryg socht bletand to thar dammys 1633 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 85.
Nather have we commodities for exchainge nor will straingers seik to ws vnderstanding of oure inlaik of money(2) a1400 Leg. S. vii 828.
Bot to the byggynge-place thai socht a1400 Leg. S. xvi 781.
Scho til wildirnes has socht a1400 Leg. S. xviii 1434. c1400 Troy-bk. i 198.
Or thai to see had southt 1456 Hay II 131/2.
[In Autumn] the foulis … sekis till hate landis and warmare regionis a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 380.
Syne thay sought to the chalmer a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 302, etc. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1042.
Sydelingis a bank he socht vnto ane syke c1475 Wall. v 37.
The worthi Scottis … Socht till a place for till haiff yschet out c1475 Wall. iii 225. c1475 Wall. iv 776. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 156/183.
The sowtar rycht effeiritly Unto the feild he socht 1513 Doug. ii xii 1. 1513 Doug. iv iv 72, etc. 1574–5 Reg. Privy S. VII 5/2.
Fyve boittis seikand thairto [sc. Crail] have laitlie perist in the mouth of the harberie

b. fig. To seke (up) to, to have as one's goal or ambition, to aim at. 1456 Hay II 85/15.
Flee fra all folyis and ignoraunce and follow and seke to wisdom a1500 Henr. Orph. 618.
Quhen oure desire wyth reson makis pes, And sekis vp to contemplacion c1490 Porteous Noblenes 184/6 (A).
All nobillis that seikis to hie worschip gif thai be wys and will awowe to serf thé [etc.]

c. Passing into: To make application, apply (to (once, at) another) (also, for something).(1) c1420 Wynt. v 878.
And quha that evyr tyll hym [sc. the Emperor Titus] soucht He denyit nevyr that thyng [etc.] c1420 Wynt. v 2699.
Quhare-for till medicynarys in hy For to recowyre hys hele he soucht c1420 Wynt. v 1132. c1420 Wynt. vii 2688. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 433.
I suld sickirly myself be consentand, And seik to your souerane, seymly on syll 1513 Doug. vii v 70. 1522 Rec. Earld. Orkney 95.
And quhilk of thir twa parteis that thinkis this dome hevy, tyll seik tyll ane lawman withtin yeir and day ?1544 Bk. Carlaverock II 29.
I trast heyes lordsscheyp walld spek for me, be cawys I schocht forst to heys lordsscheyp quhen he was in Scotland wytht the kyngis armyes 1565 Cal. Sc. P. II 207.
[Thus shall intelligence be intercepted, the sea coast towns shall] seeke [to the lords] [etc.] 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III 236.
The queen my maistres was mervalous gladde of the credit her majeste send with me to seik to her self and not to her counsalores nor nobilitie(2) a1400 Leg. S. xx 55.
Til hyme fore helpe it vald sek a1500 Colk. Sow iii 80.
Colkelby … bocht xxiiij hen heggis and … socht To his gud sone for godfadirly reward(3) 1460 Hay Alex. 19309.
For mekle neid and skantnes that I haife Of mother toung quhilk garris me seik and borrow At wyiser men

d. To have recourse (to, into God or Christ in prayer, etc.). a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 42.
Thus he be-gane to God seke 1531 Bell. Boece II 13.
The time sall wirk all thingis weil gif we meis the ire of God, for he repellis nane that seikis to him 1567 G. Ball. 220.
Now am I hidder socht To thé, Lord, allone 1638 Henderson Serm. 192.
He who is not humbled for sin, … he will never seek in to Christ 1661 A. Jaffray Diary 19.
My ignorance of God made me slow in seeking to him, and unclose in my walking with him

e. To have recourse, resort, turn (to or til a remedy, source of help or reassurance, authorisation, etc.). 1461 Liber Plusc. 384.
And thou will seik to thi saluacioun 1463 Aberd. B. Rec. I 26.
The forsaide Thomas til sek [ed. sok] til his warande gif he hafe ony til vpricht him c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 185/13.
Seik to solace quhen saidnes thé assalis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4482 (Ch.).
Sum seiks to [B. in] warldlie dignities a1599 Rollock Wks. I 305.
Wo to that … man that … can [not] grip nor seik to na uther thing, bot to the plesing of that fleschlie bodie

f. To make a hostile approach (to, till, towart a person). 1375 Barb. vi 627.
The king met thaim that till him socht a1400 Leg. S. xlv 274.
& al thai bestis socht hyme to In mykil brath ?1438 Alex. i 1126.
And syne towart thare fais thay socht a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 665. c1475 Wall. i 324.
Till hym thar socht may fechtars than anew c1475 Wall. ii 84.

14. To move, proceed (in a specified direction). a. Of persons or animals. b. Of things. Also in fig. context. Also, once, of movement in time.a. ?1438 Alex. i 1333.
With that he socht furth in the thrang ?1438 Alex. i 2694.
Soudainly to erd he socht ?1438 Alex. ii 10049.
Haistaly hidderwart thay socht c1450-2 Howlat 303 (A).
Thai … Seikis our the salt se fro the south fellis c1450-2 Howlat 878 (A). a1500 Rauf C. 656.
He socht in sa sadly quhill sum of thame he saird c1475 Wall. iii 238.
Thar kyne may ban that euir we hydder socht c1475 Wall. vi 201. a1500 Lanc. 2976.
His speris gone, out of the feld he socht c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 156/192. 1513 Doug. v iv 8.
Seik hard on burd endlang fast by the schor 1513 Doug. xii xii 120.
Now heir syne thar onsovirly he socht 1535 Stewart 46172.
Or ony man ane fit farder hed socht To bring to thé sic bodwart 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Georgics iv 286.
Prima repetens ab origine, seiking backward from the first beginningb. 1466 (1471) Reg. Great S. 215/1.
And quhare that north burn sekis in south upon him [granting] fredoume to strike it even furth quhare it was wont to rin c1475 Wall. vi 200.
The paynfull wo socht till his hart full sone 1513 Doug. iii viii 112.
Towart the left, … Socht all our flot c1590 J. Stewart 50/69.
That fyre heirof throch all his bodie socht

c. In fencing: To aim, lunge, thrust (at). 1607 Melvill 740.
Lyk fenseres, they mint and seik at ane uthir pairt

15. To seke on (upon), to advance hostilely on; to attack, assail. ?1438 Alex. i 1372.
Thir tua … Socht on thair fais sa sturdely, Quhill [etc.] ?1438 Alex. i 2368.
He socht vpon him at ane syde c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2266.
With hole cast [we] syne vpon thaime soucht a1500 Lanc. 3147.
Rycht freschly one thar ennemys thai soght a1500 Lanc. 3309.

b. impers. It is socht on (one), ? = he is attacked. c1475 Wall. iii 304.
I sall be bound to thé For Inglismen, that thai sall do him nocht, Nor to no Scottis, les it be on thaim socht

16. (For) to seke: ‘To be looked for’. a. To be found, that exists anywhere, of all. b. Not to be found, unobtainable, missing, absent. c. Far to seke, to be looked for far away, hard to find.a. 1513 Doug. x iv 45.
Astur, maist sovyr horsman forto seikb. a1568 Scott ii 144.
Send for thy broder Jok, I sall nocht be to seikc. ?1438 Alex. i 1977.
Far was to seik ane better knycht 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 79.
Thow … hes gewin mony ryche rewardis To thame that was full far to seik a1538 Abell 113b.
Sic abbatis hes Robert Bellentyne ar now far to seik 1570 Sat. P. xxii 28.
Ouir lait it is the stabill dure to steik, Quhen sturdie steid is stollin and far to seik

d. With negative: Not needing to be looked for, not missing or hard to find, present in abundance, present. ?1438 Alex. ii 2503.
On segis quhare silkis was nocht to seik c1450-2 Howlat 238 (A).
All se fowle and seid fowle was nocht for to seike 1513 Doug. Comm. i iv 49.
In Affrik bein na hartis, … albeit perchans now ther be nain, in tha days tha war not to seyk a1540 Freiris Berw. 26 (B).
The Carmeleitis and the monkis eik, The four ordouris wer nocht for to seik