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.
Quotation dates: 1500-1629
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Compare, Compair, v.1 Also: conpair. [ME. compare (1447), OF. comparer (earlier comperer Compere v.), L. comparāre.]
1. tr. To compare (one thing to or with another). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 140.
Latt no wyld weid … Compair hir till the lilleis nobilnes c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. lxxxi. 18.
He … may comparit be To bras fundin in goldin myne 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 45/1.
Ther is na faculte, … that can be comparit til oure stait 1549 Ib. 140/32.
I can nocht conpair the comont pepil … , bot ontyl beystis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3659.
Lucane doith Allexander compair Tyll thounder 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 3089.
We will tell … How scho comparit the Kingis persoun Vnto ane theif a1578 Pitsc. I. 267/20.
I compair ȝour lordschips to ane honest mearchand a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxx. 35.
Had our estates bene weill compaird, I had no vterlie dispaird 1596 Dalr. I. 58/19.
This scheip may be comparet in heicht til a gait c1611–c1617 Mure Misc. P. xx. 8.
If compaird in worth
2. intr. To enter into comparison. 1629 Mure Son. vi. 14.
[He] with Jove may weel compair in happines
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"Compare v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/compare_v_1>
