Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
OBTEMPER, v. Sc. Law: to obey, comply with, or perform, esp. a decree or order of a court (Sc. 1825 Jam., 1946 A. D. Gibb Legal Terms 60). Obs. in Eng. from 15th c. Rarely with to.Sc. 1705 Rec. Conv. Burghs (1880) 365:
Any clerk to be hereafter admitted obliges himself to accept of the office in these termes, and to acquiesce, submit to, and obtemper any act of the magistrats and toun counsell.Rxb. 1716 J. Wilson Hawick (1858) 57:
He would cause delate him to the circuit ensuing, if he walked not more submissively and obtempering to the laws both of God and man.Sc. 1728 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1843) III. 402:
Refusing to obtemper the Acts of Assembly.Sc. 1748 Caled. Mercury (Feb.) 22:
The Signal not being obtemper'd, several Shots were fired, which obliged two Ships to comply.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 126:
Whether the provost and the baillies . . . Shou'd listen to our joint petitions, And see obtemper'd the conditions.Sc. 1884 Edb. Courant (12 March) 3:
Lord Adam . . . granted decree of Absolvitor, pursuer having failed to obtemper Lord Fraser's order.Sc. 1949 Scotsman (19 Jan.):
Without any certainty that the decisions of the Court will be obtempered.Sc. 1962 Glasgow Herald (20 June) 6:
Practically every corporate body in Scotland, municipal or commercial, known to be using arms was compelled “to obtemper the law.”
