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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Altare, Altar, n. Also: altair, aultar. [Variant of Altere, prob. after L. altāre and without any direct connexion with OE. and ON. altare. The forms altare, altar, aultar are also found in e.m.E. (16th c.).] An altar.The forms altare and altar become indistinguishable in the plural altaris, and in the singular the distinction may depend on editorial interpretations of altar' in MSS.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 444.
One herne … Ryght sodeynly descendet thar And russhand wpone the altare [etc.] 1450 Peebles B. Rec. 15.
Nane sal ga to the mes at our Lady altare quhil thai hafe sacrit at Sant Michaellis altare 1456 Hay I. 19/6.
Or he come to the altare, he becom stane blynd 1506 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II. 152.
Efter the forme of the frontell of the silouris of the hie altare in Glasgu 1517 Edinb. B. Rec. 171.
Ane pund of walx to our Lady altare 1551 Hamilton Cat. 211.
We … quhilk are participant in the Sacrament of the Altare 1568 Peebles B. Rec. 73.
The prebendarie and Chaplanrie of the Rude and Haly Blude altare 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 326.
When was this Altare of the lord erectit in Ægypte 1657 Balfour Ann. I. 2.
In the Trinitey Churche of Dumferlin, befor the altare of the HoleyCrosse(b) 1489 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 549.
In the college kyrk of Sanct Gile … apon the he altair of the samyn 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 64.
The pendale and antependale of the altair 1513 Doug. iii. v. 99.
Orestes … Smate of his hed befor his faderis altair(c) 1445 Peebles B. Rec. 10.
A pund of wax … to be brynt on Saynt Androis altar 1456 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 21.
At the giffin of the chapilnary of Saynt Nichallis altar to Sir Henry Hervy 1513 Doug. iii. viii. 76.
Our hedis befor the altar we array With valys brown 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. 22.
The … wphalding of Godis seruice at thar altar of Sanct Mark 1562-3 Winȝet I. 89/12.
As we grant it lauchful … that mony wald … resaue the haly sacrament of the altar … togidder with the Preist 1596 Dalr. II. 437/2.
At the altar he stude vnabaset without al feir(d) 1569 Invent. Q. Mary 185.
Ane parrament of ane aultar with subuestment thairof 1600-1610 Melvill 682.
On Kinglie Chappell aultar standis Blind candelstickis, and closit buikis

b. Attrib. with burd, towell. a1400 Leg. S. xlviii. 102.
Quhar tretyt is the sacrament Of Godis body at altare burd 1534 Treas. Acc. VI. 200.
Thre albis ... and thre altar towellis to oure Lady Chapell of Laureit