Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Pur(e)teth, Puirteith, n. [OF pouer-, poverteit (12th c. in Tobler-Lommatzsch), povretet (12th c. in Tobler-Lommatzsch), pauvreteit (13th c.), etc., L. paupertāt-, inflected stem of paupertās: cf. Poverté and Povert, and also Pureté. (For the suffix cf. also Danteth n.) Also in the mod. Sc. and Northumb. and Cumb. dialects as puirtith, poortith, etc.] Poverty. = Poverté n. — c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 118.
Bot now in winter for purteth thow art traikit 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2811.
To sic pureteth he grew … That he behuid to sell his heritage Ib. 3120.
Thairefter cummis necessitie, Hounger, pureteth, and pouertie Ib. 3092. 1567 G. Ball. 73.
Extreime puirteith nor greit ryches, Thow gif me not