Chiefly Sc. Obs. Also 6 sol(l)yst, 6–7 solist(e, solicite. [ad. L. sollicitus (sōlicitus), f. sollus whole, entire, + citus, pa. pple. of ciēre to put in motion. So Sp. and Pg. solicito, It. solli-, sollecito.]
1. Characterized by solicitude or care.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, VIII. vii. 71. I the hecht All maner thing, wyth sollyst diligence.
1644. Maxwell, Prerog. Chr. Kings, Ep. Ded. p. v. Episcopacie after the most exact and sollicite triall, is onely the crime [etc.].
2. Solicitous; anxious; careful. Also const. for, to (with inf.), etc.
α. 1533. Bellenden, Livy, II. i. (S.T.S.), I. 131. Brutus, seand þe pepill solist with þis suspicioun, callit þame to ane concioun.
1549. Compl. Scot., vi. 43. Riche kyng amphion vas verray solist to keip his scheip.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 253. He was verie soliste and kairful for his people.
1606. Birnie, Kirk-Buriall (1833), 8. Why then … are ye solist what befall a senslesse carrion?
β. c. 1535. Fisher, Wks. (E.E.T.S.), II. 431. Saint Paule … is veray solicite and carefull, lest the flocke of Christe shalbe corrupted by theyr heresies.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 307. The peple solicit and sair kairful for the state of the cuntrie.
a. 1614. J. Melvill, Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 634. We are not solicite neithir cairfull in this mater.
1644. Maxwell, Prerog. Chr. Kings, 106. Who knoweth not how ambitious, factious, and discontented spirits, are most ingenious and solicite.
Hence † Solicitness. Sc. Obs.
1549. Compl. Scotl., v. 32. I beleue that oure solistnes ande vane opinione vald altir. Ibid., xiii. 112. That ȝe gar ȝour solistnes of the deffens of ȝour comont veil preffer the solistnes of ȝour particular veil.
