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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Deliver, Delyver, v. Also: delivere, -livir, -lyvere, -lyvir, -lyvre, -lyvyr, -lywer, -lever, -layver; diliver, -lyver, dyllywir. [ME. delyvere, -livere, -livre (a 1225), OF. delivrer, late L. dēlīberāre. Partly also ME. delyver, variant of deliber, OF. deliberer, L. dēlīberāre to weigh well, etc.]

1. tr. To liberate, set free, rescue, release. Freq. const. fra, of, out of, etc.(1) 1375 Barb. i. 469.
Thai … Fawcht in-to mony stalwart stour, For to delyuir thar countre Ib. iii. 458.
He … deliueryt his men all fre 1385 Rotuli Sc. II. 73/2.
All prisoners taken on bothe the sidis sall be frely deliverid c1420 Wynt. v. 5302.
Quhy mycht noucht be All mankynd delyveryd fre Be thame-selff? ?1438 Alex. ii. 1950.
For mony ane man hes bene tane And syne delyuerit weill agane 1456 Hay II. 93/30.
He … delyverit out all prisonaris that war to be delyverit 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 25.
It is not the deliuerance of the quene that thai seik … For gif thai wald haif hir deliuerit [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II. 165/28.
Dauid Carr … , clensit of al cryme, shortlie eftir is delyuirit [L. liberatur](2) 1375 Barb. xviii. 228.
He wes swa glad that he wes swa Deliuerit of sic felloune a faa a1400 Leg. S. x. 95.
God now has visyt this citee Fore to deliuere it owte of care c1420 Wynt. v. 1196.
That God wald grawnt his saule to be Owt off hel delyverit fre 1456 Hay I. 182/30.
I can nocht say that he aw to pay his ransoun, na to delyver him of prisoun c1460 Vert. Mes 114.
For ilke mes … sundry saulys ar deliueryt and fred out of the payne of purgatory c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 40/18.
Sum doctouris sayis that fasting done out of cherite may deliuer thé of part of pane c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxv. 25.
The Lord of blis doing beseik Ȝow to delyuer out of ȝour noy 1562-3 Winȝet I. 118/23.
He … swa wes delywerit of ferther terrour 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 48.
That be that way he and his partinaris … mycht be deliuerit of an witnesse a1578 Pitsc. I. 31/29.
The chancellar requeistit his grace … to delyuer him selff furth of that presoun(3) c1420 Wynt. iv. 1722.
In takyn that thai delyveryd ware Fra serwytute Ib. 1714; etc.
Thai castellys the lutenawndys Delyweryd fra all Scottys men 1456 Hay I. 74/2.
The juge may … frely delyver thame fra my clame for evermare c1475 Wall. viii. 1097.
Deliuerit scho was fra this gud chewalry 1490 Irland Mir. I. 6/21.
To deliuer the pepill … fra the band of Sathanas and dampnacioun eternall 1513 Doug. iii. ix. 60.
Ȝe goddis delyvir this erd from sik wraik 1533 Bell. Livy I. 125/21.
I wil nocht exeme & deliuer me fra the punycioun that I haue … deseruit 1549 Compl. 3/1.
Iudith vas inspirit to delyuir the Ieuis fra the crualte of … Oliphernes 1596 Dalr. I. 244/21.
He besocht S. Colman to delyuer him frome this feirfull curce

b. To free (land) from weeds. 14.. Acts I. 386/2.
Giff thi malar puttis guld in thi land, and will nocht deliuer it and clenge it, he aw to be punyst

c. To dispatch by finishing one's business. c1420 Wynt. viii. 5278.
Here thi mes welle, and schrywe thé; And thow sall sone delyveryt be Ib. 5513. c1475 Wall. viii. 678.
Delyuerit thus, thai passit to thair king, … and tald that thai had seyn 15.. Clar. iv. 2480.
Both kingis, lordis, and ladies … went to chalmeris fair … Thair to delyver the ambassadouris

d. refl. To exert oneself, be active. a1500 Rauf C. 300.
Deliuer thé, and bring ane laid

e. pass. To be relieved by child-bearing. a1578 Pitsc. II. 14/25.
The erle of Lennox passit nocht fra Linlythgow till the ȝoung quein was delyuerit 1596 Dalr. II. 123/7.
The Quene was delyuerit of a bony barne

2. To hand over, put into one's hands; to give over.(a) 1389 Liber Melros 449.
Thir lettres sene, the qwilk lettres yhe delyuere to thaim again c1420 Wynt. ii. 1553.
He delyveryde hyr all fre Tyll hyr systyr Ib. iii. 766.
Towe to spynyng delyverand 1442 Foulis Chart. (Reg. H.) 18 Jan.
I obelys me straitly to ger the forsaide evidentis … be selyt and deiyuerit … to my forsaide lorde 1456 Hay I. 167/4.
It suld nocht be put in my count … that is nocht delyverit me in payment Ib. II. 10/7.
Than delyverit the knycht the buke to the bacheler c1475 Wall. vi. 396.
Gud reward he gart delyuer thaim thar 1497 Halyb. 141.
Joys Boyman dylywerit to my vyf, 9 li. 1513 Doug. vii. vii. 36.
Wylt thou suffir … thy ceptre and crown delyuerit be [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet I. 33/11.
Cause ȝour prophete Iohne Knox to … cause thaim delyuer thair ansuer in wryt a1570-86 Maitl. F. clv. 17.
It that thow gevis, delyuer quhone thow hechtis 1603 Elgin Rec. II. 108.
Comperit John Warden and denyit that the breddis war delyverit to him the nycht befoir 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 59.
The Committie … ordaines the said David Macbrair to present the boy that delyverit the hors 1675 Carnegie Lett. & Chart. 358.
With ane peic[e] of monnij … which was leikways delywert up(b) 1431 Acts II. 20/1.
This contribucion sal be taxit & raisit … & deliuerit to the auditouris of it 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 7.
The alderman … deliuerit thir last twa sowmis abowyn writtyn, and sall deliuer to John of Fyff yet viij lib. 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 33.
Deliuerit to the Qwenis selue … in hir closit … ij elne of vellus for colaris 1506 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II. 161.
The sowme of sex score of merkis, deliuerit be him to me 1526 Acts II. 313/1.
William Adamsone … sall bring the writingis … and deliuer the samin agane to the Kingis Grace c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1138.
Vpon his kneis he did him ȝeild, Deliuerand him baith speir and scheild 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 253.
Thai deliuerand to him the haill tymmer that is thair … now 1576 Exch. R. XX. 504.
David Fowlar, … usar of the said precept, declarit that he deliverit [it] … to Iohn Kellie 1581 Treas. Acc. MS. 49² b.
To [the man] that deliuerit the blak curtelt hors 1596 Highland P. I. 185.
I desyrit of him the band … quhilk then I deliverit to be sightit … be him(c) 1545 Douglas Corr. 156.
To gar delayver one-to me my copeboirde of plate Ib. 159.
To gar delayver it vith the nixte poste

b. To hand over, make over (lands) to another. 1385 Red Bk. Grandtully I. 139*.
To delyvyr and … vp to gyf to the forsaide John al the landys of Logy 1415 Reg. Great S. 39/1.
Thair ayris sal frely delyver and upgif to … Villiam … the sayd landis of Bowntacte 1492 Acta Conc. 225/2.
To deliuer … the saidis landis … at the vsche of the termes contenit in his assedacioune

c. To give up, surrender (a town, castle, etc.). c1420 Wynt. iv. 1435.
On nede thai yholdyn ware, And delyvyrid wes the towne Ib. 1838.
All thaire nawyn syne bad he Suld tyll hym delyveryde be 1447 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 197.
Oure wil is … that thir oure letres sene but … delay … yhe deliuer the said hous 1482 Fam. Rose 147.
Giff … the saide Lauchlane cavs or gerrys the saide Donalde … deliuer the saide castell 1565 Montgomery Mem. 198.
To delyuir the place of Kilwinning within the vtir walles and closing of the samyn 1577 Reg. Morton I. 103.
It is brutit that thay mynd to … charge the castell to be deliuerit vnder the pane of tressoun

d. To hand over as a hostage, captive, or prisoner. c1420 Wynt. vii. 126.
For ostage gret he tuk alsua, And delyveryd till hym war tha Ib. 1709. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlii. 19.
Thai had me bundin to the ȝet, … And in deliuerit me thairat 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 200.
Gif thai be fund culpabill … the saidis prouest … sall put and delyuer thame in the handis of the justice a1578 Pitsc. II. 9/32.
The ambassadour inquirit at the governour quhat was the caus that the pledgeis was nocht delyuerit at the day appointtit 1596 Dalr. II. 278/21.
Gif the Scotis wil delyuer her, he will ceise frome all force

3. intr. a. To give a decision or judgement. c 1400 Wemyss Chart. 37.
Schir Williame of Dalyhel [etc.] … sworn to delyuer and ordane … for bath the partis eftir thair knawlage and cunnyng c1420 Wynt. viii. 8.
Thai delyveryd wyth hale intent, And ordanyd wardanys twys thre 1456 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 15.
Thir … deponit and delyuerit in maner and forme as followis 1478 Acta Conc. 25/1.
Adam has raisit a summondis apon the arbituris for thair proceding & deliuering again him but power 1495 Ib. 419/1.
Thai ar sworne to deliuer and decerne in the said mater 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 33.
We the said jugis … sworne to deliuer thairintill eftir oure vndirstanding 1539 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 232.
Becaus the said pretendit deputis … put the said mater to the knowlege of xij personis of inquest … but ane odman to deliuer with thame 1555 Conv. Burghs I. 9.
Gif ony of thaim beis absent, it salbe lesum to personis that sall compeir to deliver

b. To decide to do something. c1420 Wynt. ii. 1154.
Sone thai delyveryt hale To ta thare gudys and thare towne 1535 Stewart 36031.
This Donewald … Quhilk in his mynd deliuerit hes sic thing, Rycht cruellie than for to sla the king

4. tr. To give as a decision or judgement that. Also with accus. and infinitive. c1420 Wynt. viii. 491.
Bot that wes delyveryd swne That that be na way mycht be dwne 1443 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 269.
The quhilk assise … deliverit that the forsaide Gilbert sulde haue as his awn propir landis the landis of Porterstane 1466 Acta Aud. 3/2.
The lordis … ripely avisit decretis and deliuers that [etc.] 1494 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 214.
The Lordis of Consale … decretis and deliueris that for ocht that thai haue yit sene the said … communite [etc.] 1514 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 152.
Thai fand and deliuerit the said Alexander quitt and innocent of the said slauchter 1538 Soc. Ant. II. 391.
The haill body of the town, baillies, cownsale and comunitie delyveris that [etc.] 1551 Elgin Rec. I. 108.
The assise deliuerit … that Issobell Dunnet … now cleid hir with ane honest man to be hir maister

b. To decide or settle (an action, etc.). 1466 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 396.
To delyuir and discerne the said actioune and finaly ende it 1478 Acta Conc. 19/1.
This day the lordis of counesale … had deliuerit all acciounes and summondis 1497 Dunferm. B. Rec. 77.
The balyeis has deleuerit the pays off breid

5. To declare, state, utter. c1420 Wynt. v. 987.
Or thai hys will mycht gette, To delyvere hys entent, He askyt thre dayis awysment c1552 Lynd. Mon. 607.
Delyverand thame the law 1611-57 Mure Misc. P. ii. 54.
Disdainfully delywring thus hir words