Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1704-1838, 1893-1908, 1998
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PROPONE, v.
1. To put forward (a matter) for discussion or action, to propose as a question for discussion, to suggest, bring forward. Obs. in Eng.Gall. 1704 Session Bk. Penninghame (1933) I. 125:
The said Mr Rowan proponed the affair of John M'Caul to this Presbyterie.Wgt. 1738 Session Bk. Wgt. (1934) (24 Feb.):
Questions . . . should be proponed.Dmf. 1808 J. Mayne Siller Gun 47:
But here the Muse Propones, for twa-three friends in arms, A short excuse.Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley xvi.:
It did not . . . become them . . . to propone their prosapia.Sc. 1893 Stevenson Catriona ii.:
The bits of business that I have to propone to you are rather in the nature of being confidential.Abd. 1898 J. M. Cobban Angel of Covenant xxiv.:
I would propone that all who have understanding and instruction be represented.e.Lth. 1908 J. Lumsden Th' Loudons 151:
Request her to name Whatna fee she'd propone.Abd. 1998 Sheena Blackhall The Bonsai Grower 78:
A fylie, an the guidfowk o Martullich blew on their neives an trampit their brogues, an chittered in their plaidies, an ruggit their bunnets doon ticht aroon their lugs, till Iain Dubh McHardy, their chief, proponed they sud aa treetle inbye the fiddler's hoose, far Will Anderson keepit a still.
2. Sc. Law: to advance or state in a court of law (Sc. 1946 A. D. Gibb Legal Terms 69), freq. in phr. to propone (a) defence(s), to state or move a defence (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 212). Also used absol. Derivs. proponable, adj., suitable for statement in a court of law, valid or acceptable as a defence: proponer, n., one who makes a statement or gives evidence in a law-court.Sc. 1711 Acts of Sederunt (20 Nov.):
For further preventing of unnecessary Delays in Processes, the Lords appoint all dilatory Defences to be proponed at one Time . . . any alleadgeance not proponed timeously . . . shall not be heard thereafter, unless it be come recently to . . . the Proponer's Observation.Lnk. 1718 Minutes J.P.s (S.H.S.) 228:
The lybell read in their presence, they proponed no defences for themselves.Sc. 1743 Kames Decisions (1799) 65:
Challenges of the first sort are proponable by exception or objection.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 125:
Sae leally I'll propone defences, As get ye flung for my expences.Ayr. 1787 Burns To Unco Guid ii.:
I for their thoughtless, careless sakes Would here propone defences.Sc. a.1814 J. Ramsay Scot. and Scotsmen (1888) I. 41:
He is said to have excelled in what was called proponing dilators, on which the advocates of the preceding age had valued themselves exceedingly.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xii.:
The answers to the defences . . . propone, that it signifies naething, in hoc statu, what or how muckle a plough-gate of land may be.Sc. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 795:
Pleas proponed and repelled are those pleas which have been stated in a court and repelled previous to decree being given.
3. Absol. To have the intention of doing something, to purpose. Now only in proverb, in which Eng. uses the equivalent form propose (orig. from Thomas à Kempis).Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 248:
Man propones, but God dispones.
