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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Retere, -tire, v. Also: reteir(e, -teyr(e; -tear(e; -tear(e; -tier; -ter; -tyre; (retarie). [e.m.E. retyre (1538), F. retirer (c1155 in Larousse).]

I. intr. 1. Of an armed force; To fall back or retreat.Also, to retere a-bak (back), id.(1) 1533 Boece 333.
Saxouns … failȝeing in corage began to retere 1549 Compl. 15/1.
Nor ȝit he harde it neuyr sound to gar the men of veyr retere fra ane dangeir c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3109.
The king of Ynde … Tyll his cheif citie he reterit [: apperit](b) 1545 Douglas Corr. 162.
Whon the armeis must reteir 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary II 276.
Bothwell fled to Dunbar, and the lords reteyred to Edenburgh 1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix 215.
Doun fra that crage Kirkcaldy sall reteir a1578 Pitsc. I 137 h. of ch.
Hou ane man metthe king and causit him to reteire … be his lesingis c1590 Fowler II 109/13.
Gif we wald reteir aga[n]e, with what ordour might we returne?(c) c1623 Melrose P. 515.
They draue tyme … till they had water to reteare from the danger of our ordinance 1650 Baillie III 125.
He reteared a little which they behind took for a flight(d) 1626 Garden
Ever wher most perrell was appearing [he] Was there found first & with the last reteering 1626 Worthies 37. ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 187.
They will reteere, and laye downe armes(e) 1652 Dingwall Presb. 243.
The Lord hes smitten ws, bot we refused to retarie, … we revolt more and more(2) 1533 Bell. Livy I 236/5.
He had commandit his army to retere abak fra the tentis of inemyis 1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix 233.
With this the generall wes reterit a bak; Went doun to Leith a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 163.
He … resoluit to reteere back

2. To go away or withdraw (to a place) in order to obtain safety, shelter, rest, etc.; to withdraw to a haunt or usual abode, or to an appointed place.(a) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1672.
Thairfoir … Ȝe caus ȝour sone quhill the morne reteir 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 532.
[Darnley] wes compellit to retier to sic places as she appointed 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 70.
As disparat men to reteir … to forayne cuntreis to eschew the dew punisement 1584 Acts III 332/2.
Quhome the estaitis … ordanit to reteir to thair lugeingis thare to remane quhill the morne c1590 Fowler I 156/5.
The birds to nests, wyld beasts to denns reteirs ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 44.
Severall bishopps … have been hearde … to have reteered from the world; but … Mr. George Grahme out went them all, who [etc.] 1633 Acts V 9/2.
His majestie reteirit to the … Exchecker Hous, the clergie to the litle Exchecker Hous [etc.] ?a1650 Highland P. II 277.
Neill escaped thair hands and reteired … to the rock of Berrissay(b) ?a1650 Highland P. II 277.
Neill Mcleod was now forced to retire unto ane roke within the sea

b. To withdraw from office; to resign. 1650 Misc. Maitl. C. II 485.
As I cam in upon his majesties warrand, so upon his letteris did I ly asyd all intrestis and reteir

3. To return; to go, or come, back. Also fig. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1888.
In the meane time the knicht fra his tornay Reteirit hame 1572 Reg. Privy C. II 169.
Being laitlie … reterit fra the partis of Denmark 1573 Elgin Rec. I 139.
Thay reterit judicially in presens of the jugis aboin wrettin 1596 Dalr. II 304/19.
Quhill he reteirte with a gretter armie 1600-1610 Melvill 497.
I lyked nocht for to reteire sa nar'd 1626 Garden
When James the First … From England home there long detain'd reteir'd [: admeir'd] 1626 Worthies 132. 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 109.
He … took a compase about the toune … and soe reteired by another way, and stept up to the pulpet 1650 Dingwall Presb. 171.
In reguard of the greatnes of the storme after ther going gettward to Mr. Murdo McKenyie they were forced to reteire 1667 Highland P. II 16. 1692 Misc. B. Rec. 57.
Once to Bilbo, and not yeit reteiredfig. 1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. 5/19.
And mony be that way reterit out of the mirknes thay war drawin into be him [sc. Knox]

4. To go away or depart (fra or from a place, etc.); to remove oneself.(a) 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. iv 80.
Digressi, thay reteir 1585 Reg. Privy C. IV 2.
Sum of the liegis … has reterit and depairtit oute of the realme a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 589 (W).
Quhill danger and dispair reteirit [L. reteirrit; Wr. retir'de] Experience came in, and speirit Quhat [etc.] c1590 Fowler I 194/3.
I peace embrace from rest I doe reteire [: feare] a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xi 52.
Fra I beheld hir beuty bright, … I wes so woundit with that sight, That I micht not reteir 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas ii 330.
Till last the prise is wonne … And honour prostrate, blushing did reteare 1619 Garden
They thence without appoyntment bothe Sould discontent reteir 1619 Elphinstoun 1630. 1632 Fugitive Poetry II viii 5/128.
Having plaid with feare, My new set lesson, I will now reteare 1652 Blairs P. 46.(b) 1587-99 Hume 44/103.
In signe whereof … The sun retird

b. To move back or away; to appear to recede. c1590 Fowler I 129/94.
All such other obstacles sall from ws far reteir Ib. II 191/11.
[They] retered to the end of the great hall 1596 Dalr. II 43/24.
Of sik a maner sche [sc. Catherine Douglas] reteiris, that [etc.] c1600 Pont Cunningham 10.
Its bankes to passe, doth tueiss assay, And tueisse againe reteirs each day a1605 Montg. Sonn. ii 7.
Bright Titan, to the tropiks that reteirs

c. fig. To retreat from (fra) vice or moral weakness; to give up, renounce. 1549 Compl. 28/2.
Quhen the Israelieteis var reterit fra ther inniquite, Gode delyurit them [etc.] Ib. 170/21.
I exort ȝou to retere fra vanite

II. reflex. 5. To go back again; to remove oneself. a. Of a plant. b. Of a person.a. 1533 Boece 456b.
This mekillwort … sprede lurking vnder the leiffis as thai wald reteir thame bakwartb. a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 71.
My Lord Home was comandit to reteere himself furth of the toun … to mak place to … his enemie 1611 McCrie Melville 446.
I laucht to sie how lords … war fain for to reteir thame For rocks and stoannes(b) 1586–7 Warrender P. in Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 144.
In ende, retiring thame they prayit her that [etc.] 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 479.
The laird … retired himself home to his own lands 1696 Misc. Spald. C. II lxvii.
Mr. Gordon … retired himself to his chamber

6. To withdraw for safety, seclusion, etc. Also fig. (to, in, etc. a place) = 2 above.(a) 1546 Aberd. B. Rec. I 232.
That all nychtbouris … that ar now without the town, reteir thame selffis … within the same 1565 Cal. Sc. P. II 206.
[My … mind to] haif reteyrit me [to your majesty] 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 560.
Evir thinking at his plesour to reteir him to oure said soveranis castell of Dunbar 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 572.
It was … proponit, that efter thair divorcement … he sould reteir him in ane uther realme 1578 Reg. Privy C. III 12.
To depairt thame … furth of … Edinburgh … and … to reteir thame to thair awn dwelling places 1584 Misc. Bann. C. I 119.
The king's majestie having reteirit him selff fra Fyff to Stirling, and thairfra to Edinburgh to mak his residence all that wynter c1590 Fowler I 24/10.
Lowe [etc.] … Had caused me to a secreit place my self for to reteir 1615 Crim. Trials III 369.
He and his complices … retered thame selues to ane wood 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xxi 111.
My solitarie Muse her selfe reteirs [: ears], Un-usd abroad to haunt such pompous throngs c1638 Ellon Presb. 132.
[So that Papists might] reteir them sellfis to colledges [etc.] … for conference with learned men 1639 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 261/2.
Retier a1650 Row 488.
Some fled to Ingland, some reteered themselves and keeped quyet 1660 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 71.
I am necessitat to reteir myselff for my better health out of … Aberdein and from my charge(b) 1613 Conv. Burghs II 430.
[The merchants] sall all retire thame to thair chalmeris … at half hour to ten 1659 A. Hay Diary 27.
I retired myself … and cleared some accomptsfig. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 172.
He retireth himself, first, to God be prayer

b. To withdraw from office, or from life as an official. ?1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 239.
I … hes mellit sa far thairin [sc. affairs of the realm] that I cwld nocht retyre me from daly service bwt … jopart off my honour

7. Of an armed force: To retreat. = 1 above.(a) 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 67.
They haif reterit thame selffis northwarde 1570 Leslie 199.
Thay war constrayned to retire thame selffis a1578 Pitsc. II 159/3.
On the morne … they sall reteir thame selffis to the ferrie 1597–8 Crim. Trials II 31.
[You] wer forceit to reter your selffis(b) 1570 Leslie 232.
Bot the Inglismen was compellit to retire thame selffis within thair ennir court 1558-66 Knox II 355.
The Erle of Huntley was the nycht befoir determined to have retyred him self and his cumpanye

8. To return to a former topic of discourse. 1609 Hume 178/432.
But I leave them brethren and reteare me to our selfis

III. tr. 9. To withdraw (an army or irregular force) (to another place).In the quot. from Dalr., perh. a single instance of the sense ‘to cause to return, to rally.’ 1533 Boece 86.
Cadall … left the ilis and reterit his armye to ferme land 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 86.
And … constrenit thame to retere the maist part of thair army 1570 Sat. P. xi 78.
That thow and thyne sall ȝit reteir Ȝour campis 1558-66 Knox I 255.
And tharefoir command the ordinance to be reteired 1591 Crim. Trials I ii 263.
The said erll … to reteir the saidis brokin men to their awin countrey 1596 Dalr. II 299/20.
Al the rest he had put to flicht, gif … thay had not bene helpet, reteired, and … put in ordour agane 1639 Spalding I 215.
Wee will … recall our fleit, and reteir our land forces

10. To withdraw or remove (a person or thing) (from or to a place or person); to regain, recover, reclaim.(1) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1669.
Gif ȝour grace … wald Reteir ȝour sone fra the gallous agane, Than [etc.] 1596 Anal. Scot. I 375.
I … reteirit the nobil man oute of ward and brocht him to my ludgeing 1614 Bk. Islay 181.
Use all … dexteritie to reteir saulflie out of thair handis the laird … and the bischop(b) 1682 Irvine Nomenclatura Ded. *vj.
Many times you put healing words into their mouthes to retire them from justice(2) 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 13/12.
Then wrangles thair Men killd, vnkilld, whill Parcas breath reteir c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxv 7.
Thy punysmentis & plaigis reteir Frome me(b) 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 22.
Quhen thou hes thy saull powred furth on some … wickednes, … how is it possible to thee to retire it, or draw it hame againe 1592–3 Cal. Sc. P. XI 56.
From the lords of Scotland I have retyrit only a part of my expenses incurred in Spain

b. To hold (a person) back from a way of life. c1590 Fowler I 298/98.
God … reteir my stepps From those far crooked wayes

c. To put away. 1651 Hist. Carnegies 445.
My … freinds being heir make this poskript, it may be thought strange to ȝou, for I reteired my letter and will add noe more

11. a. To receive back (a document). b. specif. To recover (a document setting forth an obligation, usu. upon fulfilling the obligation specified). c. To withdraw (a book or document) from operation or circulation.a. 1586–7 Warrender P. in Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 152.
Retire the inclosit from his majestie and keipe it 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 9.
The petitione given in was againe reteired from the clerk, not being touched nor redb. 1610 Binns P. (S.R.S.) 20.
I pray you, brother, adverteis me with the first occasione when thir soumes is payit that I may reteir my obligatione 1645–6 J. Hope Diary (1958) 142.
I sent backe to Mr. English his 100 lib. st. and retired my tickett 1666 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp in Misc. Maitl. C. II 530.
When he borrowed of your grace vpone tuo severalle nots now reteired 1675 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 7 June.
And had payed James Cockburnes bairnes nayne hundrethe markes thairoff and reteired thair bands with ane dischairge 1679 Stirling B. Rec. II 26.
[For arms borrowed] to … retire the thesaurers receipt 1681 Stair Inst. i vii § 14.
This presumption is stronger in relation to bonds, which are most ordinarly taken away by retiring the same without taking discharge; and therefore, being found in the hands of the debtor or his heir … are presumed to be satisfied and retired Ib. iv xlv § 24.
It may be elided by … probation that … the security was in the author's hand with a blank … disposition albeit it was not a right to be retired upon payment 1683 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 201.
That he … may sie all bullion received upon bills … which bills are to be retyred within a competent tym 1701 New Mills Manuf. 240.
Alexander Weir to retier from William Blackwood quhat recepts said William hes of the deceast George Clerk … granted to him in part his bonds to the company and to discompt said recepts with bonds said Alexander hes in his custodyc. 1669 Jus Populi 36.
That book which was … unhappy in giving the rise to such troubles, … how slowly it was retired

12. To return or restore (a document or sum of money) (to a person, or with indirect object). 1668 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 341.
A young man who reteired me my tiquet I gave to you upon these papers formerlie 1687 Corshill Baron Ct. 174.
Seaven fourtine shilling peices and some od turnouris, which … wes retired againe to the said owner

IV. 13. To retere from, to abandon or give up (a belief). a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 414.
This [sc. Christ's intercession] would be to the believer the last refuge, and whateuer come, it is never to be loused or reteired from