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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sinnar, Synnar, n. Also: sinnare, -er, synnare, -air, -er(e, synar(e. [ME synner, sinȝer, sinnier (c1325), synnar (c1400), e.m.E. sinner (1579); Sin v.] One who sins, a transgressor against divine or church law; a person seen as guilty of original sin. b. specif. An adulterer, a fornicator.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 10.
Be contryt harte & verray schryfte, That the synnare ma vpe lifte c1450-2 Howlat 743 (B).
Send sum succour doun sone to the synnare 1456 Hay I 12/9.
And quhy suld ȝe synnaris than pas up in the hill anerly as a lytill sparow allane? a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 2 (Arund.).
This breuit buke of sober quantite, Off synnaris callit the contemplacioun c1490 Irland Asl. MS 19/32.
The prest … may mak interrogacionis to knaw … the stait of the synnere 1490 Irland Mir. II 6/19, etc. a1500 Lanc. 1373.
Synaris c1552 Lynd. Mon. 447.
So Adam wes cause radicall That we bene fragyll synnaris all 1562-3 Winȝet I 114/27.
Quhy admittit ȝe sic oppin sinnaris, without repentance and satisfactioun to ȝour communion? c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 22.
Synnairis a1610 Misc. Spald. C. II xxvii.
Godlie ballett of ane synnar cryand on God for merce in tyme of trowbill 1664 Pitcairn Spiritual Sacrifice 99.
The successe that weary and loaden sinners have alwaies met with(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1141 (Bann.).
For ws synnaris his celsitude beseke c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) ix 17 (B).
I wretchit synner, vyle, and full of vyce c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxx 15.
To us, synnaris, ane drop send of thy grace 1567 G. Ball. 24.
We wratcheit sinnaris pure, Our sin hes vs forlorneb. 1581–2 St. A. Kirk S. 473.
Jhone Scheves and Margret Clapen adultaris being callit … and we willing to wyn synneris wyth quietnes rather nor sevirite to repentans [etc.] 1600 Gunn Traquair Ch. 8.
Compeared Janet Howatson, sinner with the late David Stewart 1615 Misc. Maitl. C. II 180.
It is statut … for punishing of sinne and vyce that the actis of the kirk maid … be the ministerie and thair sessioun of kirk aganes transgressouris and sinneris be put to dew executioun