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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Vult, Wlt(e, n. Also: wult(t, vilt, volt, welt, wout. [ME voute, vowt (both ?a1400), OF vult, volt, vou(l)t, L. vultus.] The face, countenance, esp. as displaying emotion or attitude, the expression on a person's face. Also const. the vult off one's face. b. The vult of the Lord, the countenance of God as expressing displeasure or censure. c. (A) disposition, mood, attitude. d. The face in its physical aspect.(1) a1400 Leg. S. v 350.
Wlte a1400 Leg. S. xxv 705.
A laydy far … with blyth wlt 1513 Doug. x xiii 147.
Quhen … fers Eneas Beheld hys wlt and contenans in deyng(b) c1420 Wynt. v 3553.
Fayre off fassowne and off face … he was; Pert off wult [C. vult, W. chere] and eloquent a1500 Henr. Fab. 238.
Quhat plesans is in feistis delicate The quhilkis ar geuin with ane glowmand brow? Ane gentill hart is better recreate With blyith visage … Ane modicum is mair for till allow Swa that gude will be keruer at the dais, Than thrawin vult [Bann. vilt] and mony spycit mais c1475 Wall. x 77.
Quha couth behald thair awfull lordly wult 1513 Doug. iii iv 8 (Sm.).
Thir fowlis hes ane virginis wult and face 1531 Bell. Boece II 8.
Sum of thaim, with furius vult and continence desirit nocht bot battal 1557 Haddington Corr. 263.
The commendatour, as apperit be his wult and exteriour mowing of his body, grew crawbit 1640 Lithgow Poet. Remains 158.
These phisnomies of men, their variant faces … Not one like other in forme … Manners [etc.] … O strange! Mans frame, should thus all times be showne, By gifts and vults divers'd, yet clearly knowne(c) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1278.
Wout(d) a1538 Abell 54a.
Paip Conon … wes ane halie man. He had ane angelik welt(e) c1610 Melville Mem. 159.
Sche welcommit me with a mirry volt(2) c1475 Wall. vi 882.
The erlle beheld fast till his hye curage; Forthocht sum part that he come to that place, Gretlye abaysit for the vult off his faceb. c1520-c1535 Nisbet 1 Peter iii 12.
The vult [W., P. cheer] of the Lord is on men that dois euilec. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 16.
I lawlie beseik thi magnificence to accept my labouris with sik beneuolus wult as thai bene dedicatt to thi grace 1531 Bell. Boece I 67.
The goddis, quhilkis governis the empire of men at thair pleseir, schaw now ane plesand vult with us 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 305.
With quhat constance and plesant wultt thi sonnis contempnys the tormentis of ȝone tyran 1531 Bell. Boece II 497.
He was nathing content of this estate: howbeit, he schew gud vult for the time 1581 Sempill in Sat. P. xliii 32.
Sum sho promouis, and sum sho puttis to vnder … To all estates vntruethfull … Turnand her volt lyke woddercok in windd. 1580 Skeyne Descr. Well Sig. A 3b.
This watter … cuirand sair eyn, catarris, sair mouth, prolapsioun of the vult, and dolour of the tonsallis