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: 1375-1581
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Forlorn(e, p.p. and a. Also: foirlorne, forloirn. [ME. forlorn(e, OE, forloren, p.p. of forléosan to lose.] Utterly lost or destroyed.
1. a. As p.p. active. b. As p.p. passive.a. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxx. 392.
Bannand the tyme scho wes born That sagat had hyr-self forlorne ?1438 Alex. ii. 9267.
Mony ane knicht … That thair lyues had forlorne c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace x. 33.
Ȝong Wodstok has bathe land and lyf forlorn 1535 Stewart 23616.
Ȝone ar the men that lawtie hes forlorne 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 24.
We wratcheit sinnaris pure, Our sin hes vs forlorneb. 1375 Barb. x. 246.
Quhen thai the castell saw forlorn Thai fled c1420 Wynt. i. 494.
Ihesu Cryst [wes] of Mary borne, Tyll sawffe oure lyff that wes forlorne 1456 Hay II. 53/16.
But the quhilk esperaunce … we war all forlorne a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 584.
This child was iugit to be forlorne c1500 Crying of Play 83.
For litilnes scho was forlorne Sic a kempe to beire c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxx. 24.
But thy help this kynrik is forlorne c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 956.
Help me, ȝour man that is forlorne a1568 Scott xxxiv. 66 (M).
Sic luiffarris seindle meittis Bot leill luif ay forloirn is 1581 Satirical Poems xli. 156.
Sindrie vthers, … Diuers in maners, vnhappy, fals, forlorne
2. As adj., esp. forlorn son, the prodigal son. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 62/1.
For plesuir of his forlorne brether 1564 Reg. Privy C. I. 308.
Fyve paintit claythis of the forlorne son 1574 St. A. Kirk S. 396.
The supplicatioun … for procuring licence to play the comede … of the forlorn sone
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"Forlorn p.p., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/forlorne>
