Page:Studies in Lowland Scots - Colville - 1909.djvu/263

Rh to the O.Eng. sewe and shore in Shore-ditch, and derives from O.Fr. essuier, esuer, to dry, but the true sense is to drain dry; Lat. exsucare.

The "Records" yield an interesting group of Latin-derived words, mostly verbs, which, though most probably only a reflection of grammar-school influences, are curious as following French rather than English formation. They are these—

Accrese, Fr. accroissement; Eng. in-crease—"Conveniencie that might accrese to this burgh" (1696).

Compesce, Lat. compescere, to restrain—"To compesce these troubles" (1706).

Contigue, adjoining, contiguous; Fr. contigue—"Four seats contigue in the head of the trans or entry" (1702).

Dite, to write; Eng. in-dite; Lat. dictus; Fr. dit—"For paines in dyteing securities" (1700).

Evite, avoid; Lat. vitare, to shun; Fr. éviter—"Put to expense which they cannot evite" (1715).

Exerce, exercise; Fr. exercer; Lat. exercere—"Exerceing the said office" (1693).

Exoner, exonerate; Fr. exonérer—"It is but just that they be exonered and freed" (1716).

Expede, Fr. expédier, to despatch, expedite (cf. impede); Lat. expediri—"Expenses depursed for expeding the signature of the saids lands" (1696). The plural adjective, saids, is a curious survival of Norman-French usage.

Exeem, exempt; Lat. exemptus—"Fisher baats are exeemed by law" (1697). Fr. exempter is not followed here.

Obleidge, oblies; Fr. obliger, to bind—"Inact & obleidge themselves as shall be needcessitated” (1700). The pronunciation here is English of Queen Anne's time.

Suplee, supply; Fr. suppléer—"Power to lay on the suplee and public burden of this burgh" (1701).

The following words, from general sources, represent elements that still live in the vernacular:—

Ashet, Fr. assiette, a plate or dish, large platter on which meat is served.