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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Par-, Perquer(e, -queir, -quire, adv. and a. Also: -queer(e, -queire, -queirr, -queyre, -quear, -quier, -quyre. [OF. par queur (11th c.), -cuer, -cueur. Cf. Parcure adv. Only Sc.]

A. adv. 1. By heart; (to learn, teach, know, etc.) thoroughly, perfectly.(1) 1375 Barb. i. 238.
Than all perquer he suld it wyt a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 414. 1579, 1617 Despauter (1617) 116.
Edisco, to learne perqueere 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 402.
I cannot love perqueer nor rejoice perqueer(b) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2931 (Bann.).
And it to cwn perqueir se nocht thow tarrow c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 36.
That craft I leirnit sone perqueir 1540 Id. Sat. 486 (B).
For I knaw nocht the craft perqueir Of luvis gyn Ib. 2059. 15.. Clar. ii. 745.
He teichit hir parqueir What scho sould say c1568 Lauder Minor P. iv. 4.
That thou culd teache all sciencis perqueir 1604 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 38.
That be the oft repetitioun … of the said catechisme the people may lerne the same perqueir(c) a1610 J. Semple in Sempill Ballates (1872) 247. 1670 Hay Fleming Six Saints I. 119.
To learn your lesson perquire (2) 1535 Stewart 3167.
The law of nature than tha had perqueir c1540 Lynd. Kitteis Conf. 82. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8360.
Of cunning men that clergie had perqueir a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxviii. 131. 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 734.
Of his auid sermon he had perqueir a1585 Polwart Flyt. 694 (T).
I neuir haid … Ane vers in wreit in print or ȝit perquere 1597–8 Misc. Spald. C. I. 122. 1603 Elgin Rec. II. 116.
And haid perquer … the soum of the Christiane faith 1611 Crim. Trials III. 154.
As gif he had it perquier 1654 Johnston Diary (1919) 203.
Perquyre(3) 1538–9 Crim. Trials I. i. 213.
He would get three chapters perquire in one day 1608 Craven Argyll Diocese 60.
Who shall be able … to get perqueir one written sermon 1655 Argyll Synod II. 84.
The getting of the catechise per quire

b. (To repeat, etc.) from memory; (to do so) in detail, accurately. c. By rote, mechanically. a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1180.
Ane officer … bad he sould … gif ane count perqueir c1500-c1512 Dunb. xc. 32.
Gif thou can not schaw furth thi synnes perqueir 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 672.
The blak bybill pronunce I sall perqueir 1571 Sempill Sat. P. xxviii. 182.
The Justice Clerk my dittay red perqueir 1573 Three Reformers 67.
The commentaris turde [sic] ouir perqueir Syne soung … Sa rawly … and far of That [etc.] 1576 Orkney Oppress. 19.
He pronouncit the decreits perqueyre in defalt of scrybis a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 651 (W).
For I can tell you all perqueir His counsall c1590 Fowler I. 193/8.
I mak thir verse but light and beames perqueire 1628 Edinb. Univ. Chart. iii.
They repeitt perqueirr all that hes bein taucht unto theme the whole weik

d. Loosely, as an asseveration: Indeed, certainly.Some of the quots. given under the previous senses above may equally belong here. 1535 Stewart 30549.
Siclike as this and mekle mair perqueir He said to him a1568 Bann. MS. 230 a/6.
For he that pacience can nocht leir He sall displesance haif perqueir

2. In the phr. to leif parquere: Short of money; without financial resources. a1568 Scott i. 46.
The pulling doun of policie reprufe And lat perversit prelettis leif perqueir a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xcvii. 62.
Thai haue na feir To gar thair nychtbour leif perqueir 1656 Baillie III. 315.
Mr Matthias Simsone … is iike to get the stipend and Mr Rule to live perquire 1677 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. III. 122.
The relict … ought also then to have half a year's rent by advance … since she cannot feed on the air or live perquire, her head bound to the heck

B. adj. a. Of a person: Skilled; expert; knowledgeable. b. Of a skill or ability: Demanding or revealing special knowledge; expert.a. 1535 Stewart 7133. Ib. 13401, 16158.
In all prattik of weir he wes perqueir 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8497.
Ane cunning clerk in clergie richt perqueir a1669 Sempill P. 6/20.
Within a month I shal make thee parqueer … that will be but in saying, In words not sense Ib. 22/469.
Parquier a 1723 Durham Subtile Self Ded. A3.
To … be spiritually perqueer in … self-denialb. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii. 597.
With thair sle craft and quent cunning perqueir 1572 Sempill Sat. P. xxx. 72.
To thé Dame Nature gaue abilite … Rype of ingyne with iudgement perqueir

c. Of a route: ? Well-known; familiar. — a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1467 (Wr.).
For they tooke ay the nearest gate Omitting oft the best Their nearest perquearest Is alwayes to them both