▪ I. † ˈchesoun, n. Obs.
Forms: 3–5 cheson, -un, -oun, (4 -iun), 5 -oune, -owne, chesen, 6 Sc. chasoun, chessoun.
[Aphetic form of achesoun, encheason.]
1. Occasion, cause, reason.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 3905 He was þe chesun of hir fine, Of him sco deid in gesine. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 129 Þe Kyng for þat cheson wrathed with Thomas. c 1340 Hampole Prose Tr. (1866) 10 Here es forbodene athe withowttene cheson. 1382 Wyclif 1 Kings xxi. 29 For he is mekid bi chesoun of me [1388 for the cause of me]. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 73 Chesun, or cawse [1499 chesen], causa [1499 occasio]. c 1480 J. Walton Spec. Chr. in Monk of Evesham (Arb.) 6 And why this Cite destroied was Fals and coueitous men grete cheson was. |
2. A cause or occasion of offence; ground of complaint; complaint, charge, or accusation; in Sc. objection, exception, demur.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 10536 (Gött.) Ne sal na womman wid right resun Agaynes hir haue nan ille chesun. c 1425 Seven Sag. (P.) 680 Anothir cheson I have goode. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 711 The lordis..maid him tutour with thair haill consent, Into that tyme without debait or chasoun. a 1548 Priests of Peblis (Jam.) To that I can, nor na man, have chessoun. 1560 Rolland Crt. Venus iv. 316 All hir sawis they ratifeit but chessoun. |
3. Case, condition.
| c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2072 Þan hure spak þat burde briȝt: herknyaþ my chesoun. c 1450 Guy Warw. (C.) 4314, I may not telle, be my crowne, To no wyght my chesowne. |
▪ II. † chesoun, v. Obs.
In 6 Sc. chessoun, chesson(e.
[f. prec. n., after OF. achaisoner ‘to accuse, to picke a quarrell against’ (Cotgr.). Cf. med.L. occasionare = in jus vocare (Du Cange).]
To bring a charge against; to accuse, blame.
| 1500–20 Dunbar Flyting 273 Scottis Lordis chiftanes he gart hald and chessone In firmance fast. a 1548 Priests of Peblis, I lufe him not in ocht that will me chessoun. 1560 Rolland Seven Sag. (1837) A ij, Thairfoir my wordis, se that thou not chessoun. |