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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.

Lufing, Luifin(g, ppl. a. Also: luffin(g, -ying, lwff-; luiff-, lwif-; louf(f)ing, -eng, louef-; loofing. [Cf. Luving and the older Lufand.] Loving.

1. Loving, devoted, friendly, favourable, welldisposed (to another etc.); also, of loving or friendly disposition.Very common in preambles and subscriptions of letters.(1) c1520-c1535 Nisbet I. 14. Ib. 16.
To be luffing and marcyfull and nocht to boste [etc.] 1551 Hamilton Cat. 220.
For that that thow hes … forsakin sa luffing a Lord(b) Knox Hist. 94 (Jam. (1808) s.v. Jo).
My joyis, my hairtis, what aillis yow? … Ye ar all my luifing subjects 1567 G. Ball. 136.
O God … be euer to vs luiffing a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. 45.
Scho is ane turtill trew, … Ane luifing wicht 1580 Hume Promine 132.
To all guid men luifing and liberall 1595 Melville Chart. 139.
My saull repoissis in my merciefull God omnipotent and luiffing father 1599 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 81.
Utherwayis (as your luifing friend) [etc.] 1605 Glasgow Chart. I. i. dcviii.
For setling of peace … amang thame selfis, as faythfull christianis and luifing citineris 1605 Old Ross-shire I. 30.
I … sellis to my luiffing friend Mr Jon Munro … fiftie bollis victual 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 1069.
Then luifing Ludouick … efter bothe his highnes' helthe And countree's state requyres 1623 Misc. Bann. C. III. 204.
I … constitutis Agnes Mayne my luiffing spous, James Primroise my luiffing sone and James Cathkine my lowing brother, my onlie executorstransf. a1585 Maitl. Q. lxviii. 153.
Quhais luiffing praysis 1587-99 Hume 12/34.
Thy luifing eye 1611 Reg. Panmure I. xxxvi.
The lady his wyf … wtterine swm fewe wordis in his commendatione of his honest and luifin hart(2) 1526 Douglas Corr. 109.
[Signed:] ȝour luffing frend 1559 Corr. M. Lorraine 429.
Lwffing 1586 Wemyss Corr. 84.
Your maisterschipis veray lufing freind 1597 Anal. Scot. I. 299.
Luffing gossip c 1615 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 259.
Ȝowris effectionat and luffing cussing 1617 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 144. 1632 Fam. Innes 221.
I rest your luffin brother 1636 Dumbarton B. Rec. 50.
To the provist and luffing friends, … your luffing friend(b) 1580 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I. 130.
Luiffing 1595 Breadalbane Lett. MS. (Reg. H.) 27 Aug.
Rycht honorabill schir and luiffing brother 1606 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 81.
Ȝowr Maiesties maist lwifing and faithfull subiect, and hwmill serwand 1612 Douglas Corr. 248.
Thus I tak my leif, remaning ewir your luifin cusing 1619 Sutherland Corr. 139.
Youris luiffing eme to serue yow 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 319.(c) 1543 Douglas Corr. 353.
Vryten at Dwnde, … Your louffeng systar 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I. 531.
Your assurit louffing frend James 1619 Maxwell Mem. II. 197.
Ȝour louefing brither 1628 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 293.
Youris louffing frend at power 1630 Ib. 318.(d) 1559 in Knox VI. 67.
Your loofing … freindis

2. Of one's disposition, actions, words etc.: Manifesting or proceeding from love, friendship or goodwill. 1532 Douglas Corr. 349.
Reduce to ȝour memory the hertly and luffying wordis of ȝour humanite … schewin unto ws 1569 Cal. Sc. P. III. 3.
[Waiting on Elizabeth's] loofing frendship 1570 Leslie 83.
Desiering him in broderly and luffing maner to lief in peace Ib. 152.
Ane young ladie of … guidlie favour, luffing countenance and cumly manners 1580 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I. 130.
Wyth our luiffinge commendatioun c1590 Fowler II. 61/19.
[St. Augustine] prayit for his mother Monica, quhairin he erred by ane luifing affectioun … towards hir 1604 Misc. Bann. C. II. 232.
Having considerit Godis mercifull and luifing visitatioun of him