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

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

Movar, n. Also: movare; -ear, -er, -eir; mowar(e, -ear, -er(e; mowvar; moover; mwar. [ME. and e.m.E. mover (14–15th c.), moover (1513), f. Move v.; cf. also ME. and e.m.E. moevere (14–15th c.), mever (1497), meever, and OF. mo(u)veor, mo(u)veur.]

1. One who or that which moves something or sets it in motion. a. Applied to God, as moving the universe or creation. Alsofirst movar.Also applied to deities or divine powers more generally.(1) c1420 Ratis R. 659.
That is to say the fyrst moware That gouernys al thing les & mare Ib. 1476.
Mekil God, the first mwar, Has hordand al thing Ib. 1182. a1500 Henr. III. 171/50.
O Lord of lordis … Makar & movar, bath of mare & lesse 1513 Doug. vi. Prol. 126.
Ane movar, ane begynnar puttis he 1622-6 Bisset II. 389/11.
All prais be gevin to that almychtie movare of all thingis

b. Applied to the ninth sphere or Primum Mobile of the Ptolemaic universe: cf. Movabill 3 a. 1528 Lynd. Dreme 498.
The nynt speir and mouare principall Off all the laif

c. Applied to an emotion or impulse which ‘moves’ or arouses certain feelings or impels one to some action. c1420 Ratis R. 819.
Wanhop I call the thrid movar To mak thi spretis les or mare In wauerand for-wynynge Ib. 825.
The fyrst movar I cal bot yre That byrnis in thi thocht as fyr

d. A person who or thing which causes (a wheel) to move. a1538 Abell i a.
As the quheill turnis abowt be the moueirs of it sa the creatours of God had generall processioune fra God [etc.]

2. One who instigates or promotes (dissension, strife, war or the like). Also b. One who incites (another) to attempt (something regarded as undesirable).(a) c1420 Wynt. iv. 2108 (W).
The Romanis to dede were done Throu counsall of the consules That the first movare [R. matyr] of it wes 1524 St. P. Henry VIII IV. i. 265.
[He] was ane of gret movaris of the war betuix ws and ȝow 1531 Bell. Boece I. 35. 1592 Reg. Privy C. V. 103.(b) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 3079.
Anthenore and Eneas War mowaris of the tresoun fals a1578 Pitsc. I. 15/17.
Money gret dissentiounis rais … , bot it is wncertaine quha was the mowar 1585 Acts III. 377/1. 1586 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) I. 232.
He said that the Quene of Scottis wes both ane mowar and compassar(c) a1578 Pitsc. I. 69/12.
The principall moveris of this seditioun was the Duke of Buckinghame [etc.] 1606 Dunferm. B. Rec. II. 28.
The … inquest … findis … the said Henrie the first mover be uttering … injurious language(d) a1538 Abell 2* b.
Batel moweris comonly ar vincost 1626 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 9.
Taking ordour with all such persones as shall be moweres and raiseres of the saides tumultes(e) a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xv. 38.
Movearis of stryf and weir 1603 Glasgow Weavers 15.
As ane persoune seditious and mowear of truble(f) a1578 Pitsc. I. 49 h. of ch.
The Erlle of Douglas was judget to be mowvar of discord a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (B.C.) 374.
To be accounted as seditious persons and moovers of commotiounb. 1578 Reg. Privy C. III. 20.
The movaris ofhis majestie to attempt the same governament … hes sensyne … dissobeyit his majesteis chairgis

3. Something that is in motion or that causes motion. 1626 Reg. Great S. 355/2.
Presertim … machinam organicam motum perpetuum producentem … lie mower nuncupatam