Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mere, Meir, a. Also: mer, meire, mear(e, meer(e. [L. merus undiluted, unmixed, pure, e.m.E. and late ME. mere (1444), meere (1551).The example in sense 1 is appar. direct f. the Latin; sense is after similar e.m.E. uses.]

1. Pure, undefiled, intact (virgin). a1500 Henr. III. 147/31.
O worthy wirschip singuler, To be moder and madyn meir As cristin faith confidis

2. a. Of divine or human motives: Nothing else but, nothing less than (what the noun expresses); simple, entire, disinterested. 1563 Ferg. Answer 23.
Of the mear mercy of our God 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 198.
Seing it hes pleased … God of His meir mercy to deliver [etc.] 1567 Acts (1597) ii. 4.
God who of meere grace elected vs 1574 Reg. Privy C. II. 402.
My lord regentis grace of his mere favour and clemency … hes frelie dischargeit [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. II. 166/19.
Quhilk was done be the meir proviedence of God to saif His servantis 1621 Crim. Trials III. 506.
Yit nottheles this his present aggriement wes of meire affectioun 1630 Skene Mem. 218.
His Majestie … off his … certane knawledge meir motive and deliberat mynd … creattis [etc.]

b. Nothing else but, simple, pure, unadulterated.Of circumstances beyond the control of the person concerned or to which no blame is attributable. 1606 Reg. Privy C. VII. 498.
Yf the same did fall furth be meir accident 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 56.
Quhilk the supplicant did in meir simplicitie and ignorance not intending to wrong any thairby 1655 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 136.
Quhilk he declairit was out of meer necessitie 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 38.
The palais wheir the advocats used to plead … had fallen down by meer antiquity

c. Nothing less than, nothing short of (something more or less blameworthy); sheer, downright, unmitigated.Also maximising superl. 1558-66 Knox II. 264.
Understanding our hoill wisdome to be but meare foolishnes befoir … our God 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 513.
Mere calumpniatouris and untrew spekaris 1581 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 44.
The samen done in mere contempt 1586-7 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 142.
For he had querellit me twyse of befoir with mere inventions of his awin 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 149.
Thow haid in thy purs meir witchecraft [which] daylie thow vsit be the inspiratioune of the Deuill Ib. 150. 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 134.
Wha dois not sie the ineptie and mere folie of this maner of argumenting 1600 Elgin Rec. II. 82.
The minister dealt onlie with him of meir malice and hathrent he buir agane him 1648 Inverness Rec. II. 198.
The weyhous … hes lyin idle throch meir sleuth this whyle bygone 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 142.
Meir untruths 1684 Fountainhall Decis. I. 302.
By meer force & bangistry the M^cDonalds had possessed a part of his countrysuperl. 1585 Colville Lett. 312.
The leard of Fenntrey, a mearest kathelike

d. Nothing more than, bare, mere. 1566 St. A. Kirk S. 267.
Thai ar mer layik and ignorant personis 1569 Ib. 214.
Bot onlie hyr awin meir assercion 1626 Justiciary Cases I. 50.
Quhilk is bot ane meir heirsay 1642 Baillie II. 5.
Any man, let be a young man and meer stranger