A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1513, 1588-1596
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Lew-warm(e, Leuwearme, a. Also: lue warme. [Late ME. lew-warm(e (c 1450, 1486), thereafter appar. only Sc. in lit. use, but widespread in mod. Sc. and north. Eng. dial.; f. ME. lewe (c 1300), OE. *hléow (ȝehléow, unhléow and hléowe adv.).] Warm, lukewarm. b. fig. ‘Tepid’, lacking in enthusiasm or ardour. (Cf. Lukewarm a.) — 1513 Doug. iv. xii. 81.
Fech hiddir sone the well watir lew warm, To wesch hir woundis 1513 Ib. viii. iii. 25.
Blude … scalit new, Beand lew warm, thar full fast dyd reik 1513 Ib. iv. 27. c1590 Fowler I. 64/167.
The sun … dois mak the place … almost lew warme 1596 Dalr. II. 462/10.
Now thair conschiences ar compellit … for the baptisme of thair saluatioune to receiue water I wat not how lue warmeb. 1588 King Catechism 134.
Thay … quhilk ar idil, sleuthfull, and quhom the scripture callis leuwearme (nother het nor cauld)
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"Lew-warm adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/lew_warme>
