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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1599
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Escheve, Eschew(e, v. Also: es(s)chef, escheyff, escheiff; ascheve; echeve. [ME. (rare) escheffe (c 1400), e.m.E. (rare) escheve (1520), eschew (a 1533), OF. eschever, var. of achever.]
1. tr. To accomplish, bring to a successful issue; to achieve. 1375 Barb. xvi. 493 (E).
This poynt of wer … Wes wndretane full apertly, And eschewyt [C. eschevit] rycht hardely 1375 Ib. xvii. 43.
He Mycht nocht off mycht no power be For till escheyff [C. eschewe] sa gret a thing ?1438 Alex. ii. 5337.
Ȝe may avow als hardelly As all that ar in cheualry May into armes to be ascheuit! ?1438 Ib. 9245.
The couartis fled all halely, … Bot the gude … Eschewit thare thair hardynes c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace (1570) vi. 855.
For to eschew [ms. enchew] a chance To further this, thay send for knicht Wallance a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 2229.
For aduentur is non so gret to pref, As I suppone, nor ȝhe sal it esschef c1515 Asloan MS I. 213/26.
The erll of Mar … challangit schir Edmond … of certane deidis of armes the quhilkis ware eschewit manfully
b. To overcome, vanquish. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxx. 7.
Ȝet mon he [Satan] falȝe of[t] tyme til eschew Sum that he wald rycht gladly grewe ?1438 Alex. ii. 10117.
This mekill battell that we se Sall in schort tyme escheuit be c1450 Craft of Deyng 153.
He that can weill eschef thir twa [temptations], in the hour of ded, ourcumys the deuill
2. intr. To gain one's end, to succeed. 1375 Barb. xix. 778 (E).
Giff thai mycht sa weill escheve [C. escheiff] … Thai thoucht thair fayis till assay a1400 Leg. S. x. 321.
To Sanct Mathow son went he, Wenand be hym wele til eschewe [: leyfe] a1400 Ib. xxxiv. 50.
Quha-sa wald mast hir gefe Of erand suld ereste eschew c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace xi. 261.
Grettar deidis thair men has apon hand, Than with a dog in battaill to escheiff a1500 Doug. King Hart 841.
Wait on me als quhylum quhair ȝe wend, For do ȝe nocht ȝe may nocht weill escheif
3. intr. and tr. To succeed in escaping (from). Cf. Eschew v. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace x. 193.
x thousand thar, that fra the ded eschewyt, With thair chyftane in to the ost relewyt a1500 Quare of Jelusy 271.
In this world fewe ladyes ar, or none Quhich schall vnsclanderit from his tong escheve c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxi. 42.
‘Scho and Distres … dois him greve.’ Quod Nobilnes, ‘Quhow sall he thame escheve?’ 15.. Christis Kirk 144.
Sum fled and weill eschewit [: grevit, etc.] 15.. Clariodus iii. 508.
Sen nane the chance of fortoune [can] echeve
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"Escheve v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/escheve>
