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

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

Thar(e) for(e, Thairfor(e, adv. Also: tharfoir, thairfoir, -ffoir, -ffor, ther(e)for, therfore, therfoir, -foare, -foer, theirfoir, thirfor. [ME and e.m.E. þeruore (c1175), ðer fore (c1220), þer for(e, þar(e) for (all Cursor M.), therfore (Chaucer), therefor (Shakespeare).] a. For that, for that action or thing, on that account.There is some overlap with b and c below.(a) 1375 Barb. i 568.
The endentur till him gaf he That soune schawit the iniquite. Quharfor syne he tholyt ded, Than he couth set tharfor na rede 1399 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 42.
That the said Davi has giffin in … almous to the said religious men twenty mark of annuale rent … doand na nother thing ther fore bot prayere c1400 Troy-bk. i 16.
Jasone & Hercules … dyd no-thing bot ete & drank And payit tharfor with mekle thank c1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
Yhour men of Inglande … has heryde Lawadyr dalle … the qwhilke at the makynge of thir letteris was tholyt & nocht don tharfor 1432 Soc. Ant. II 387.
The sayd Neyl had ordanyt in his testament at the sayd executorys suld sel his tenement … and it at thai aucht get thairfor to pay his detts with 1456 Hay I 6/27.
Alsa sone as he [sc. Lucifer] had maid this enterpris and his anerdaris was consentit and maid thame tharefore oure Lord God Almychty quhilk kend his thocht … ordanyt the bataill aganis him and his complicis c1475 Wall. i 440.
Thir tythings sytts me sor; And be it knawin, thow may tak scaith tharfor 1488 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 1.
The forsaidis land wytht the forsaid forfront and yarde the said Henre payande yerly thar for to the forsaide Wilyam … vj s. viij d. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 61/59.
Nocht to that behufe Put God sic bewty in a ladeis face, That scho suld haif the thank thairfoir or lufe 1513 Doug. xi Prol. 157.
Quhen thou fallys be syn tharfra [sc. grace] … Of thy meryt thou gettis hyr nevirmor, Ȝit quhen thou dewly disponys thé tharfor, … Of Hys gudnes the etern Lord … Restorys the meryt, with grace 1515 Reg. Privy S. I 402/1.
To Johne Striveling of Kere [etc.] … of all and hale the males, proffittis and dewiteis of the half of the landis of Brekland, Kynloch, with the pertinentis … with power to poind and to distrenȝe thairfoir efter the forme of law 1546 Reg. Privy C. I 24.
[He] hes sworne that he sall lelely and trewlie minster in the said office of Chancellary … and the Quenis Grace and Lordis of Consel thocht him hable thairfor 1555 Glenartney Doc.
That thai salbe callit and accusit for the samin … and ponist thairfoir 1582–3 Exch. R. XXI 560.
The haill rest of this act payit to the thesaurar and comptrollar, ilkane of thame thair avin partis thairof, and thairfoir deleit 1596 Dalr. I 232/21.
Al halie men bot cheiflie King Aidan, the palme and price of this victorie ascriuet chieflie to the prayeris of S. Columba, and thanked him thairfor 1605 Dundonald Par. Rec. 88.
George Cadvell … fund … to haif callit Patrik Brydein … ane loun, and thairfoir decernit ane failȝeour to the Kirk c1650 Spalding II 376.
Thay behovit to pay thair levy money, … and to len money to the Estaites, or becum cautioner thairfoir(b) 1483–4 Acta Aud. *133/1.
Gif the saidis Henry has ony accioun again ony personis … that he cal thaim therfor & justice salbe doun 1571 Sat. P. xxvi 122.
Quhen the Regent gaif him that hauld, ye saw He was the Kingis & sweir theirfoir to stand 1634 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 97.
Desire Mr. Robert to excuse my not seeing of him at his house. I have my own reasons therefor 1668 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 227.
For building of ane dwelling house … [to] imploy measones or workman … and to furnish meat and drinke to them during ther building theroff and to pey them therfoir 1696 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 14 Feb.
[Owing] to Andrew Aitkin [ … ] for merchant wair to be deduced therfore £7 2 s. for nyntein sheep skins

b. Consequently; that being the case, in that case. c. For that reason, on account of that.b., c. 1375 Barb. i 11.
Storys to rede ar delitabill Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill … Tharfor I wald fayne set my will … To put in wryt a suthfast story 1375 Barb. vi 564.
Tharfor a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 202.
Sir, ȝe sawit ws now, Thare-for lowing we gyf God & ȝou c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1347 (C).
Tharfore ?1438 Alex. i 857.
Better than ȝe May neuer with sword beltit be. Thairfoir for ȝow and for the king … This message do for ȝow I will ?1438 Alex. ii 198.
Thairfore ?1438 Alex. ii 2613.
Tharefore c1450-2 Howlat 39 (A).
I haue mekle mater in meter to glos … To the purpos Tharfor in haist will I hens 1456 Hay I 248/21.
Haly wrytt sais it is a fulis autoritilee to say, he has brokyn to me tharefore I sall brek till him a1500 Henr. Fab. 39.
Eloquence Nor rethorike, I neuer vnderstude. Thairfoir [Makc. tharfoir] meiklie I pray ȝour reuerence, Gif ȝe find ocht that … Be deminute, or ȝit superfluous, Correct it at ȝour willis a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1051.
Apoune the croce … thai him hing … To the boris his armes wes nocht lange, Thairfor with cordis thai his body drew c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 20/150.
As thou hir [sc. Mary Magdalene] forgaife, Thairfor forgife me as synner penitent 1567 G. Ball. 7.
I am thy God allanerlie, Serue me in feir and faith thairfoir 1571 Sat. P. xxvi 91.
Sen God hes put the sword into your hand, Justice to do … Tak heid, thair foir … Be circumspect a1578 Pitsc. I 30/4.
Traittouris became so … insolent that thay … spairit nather auld nor ȝoung … bot … wald cuit thair throttis and thairfoir carrie away thair geir and wairis a1578 Pitsc. I 285/7.
The Duike of Albanie is ane Frinche man borne … he hes not our leid nor knawis not the nature of our contrie … thairffoir my lordis, I think it best for me to cheise ane of our awin lordis quho wnderstandis ws and we him a1578 Pitsc. II 111/34.
Knawand thair tyme to be schort … thairffor thai caist all the wayis thai might to mak [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 195/27.
The nycht … cam onn mirke, the pairties thairfor sched 1612-13 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 19.
Forsamekill as thair is monie … beggeris … it is thairfoir statut and ordanit [etc.](b) 1375 Barb. x 276 (C).
Therfor 1490 Irland Mir. III 45/04.
Sene the syn faute & trespas be werray iustice requiris … forgevnes of him that it is committit agane … therefor be werray ressoune it is necessar that [etc.] 1515 Douglas Corr. 70.
Albeyt my lord and I … myght cum to tha partis quhere we plesyt it suld nocht be possybyll to cary the kyng … thyddyr … and therfore ther man be thocht sum other remed 1515 Douglas Corr. 70.
Therfoare 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 118.
Aulus Plancius … send … writingis to Claudius complenyng of the tresoun of Britonis [etc.] … And therfor necesserr wer to send support to the Romanis 1549 Compl. 17/6.
Ther is mony vordis of antiquite that I hef rehersit in this tracteit, the quhilkis culd nocht be translatit in oure Scottis langage, as auguris … ides … tribuns, ande mony vthir Romane dictions … ther for it is necessair at sum tyme til myxt oure langage vitht part of termis dreuyn fra Lateen c1616 Hume Orthog. 33.
Therfoer inferres the conclusion; as, noe man can keep the law, in thought, word, and deed: and therfoer noe man … can be justifyed be the law 1669 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 256.
Becaus the said Margret condiscendis to set the said Johne the uther thrie riggis … of her said halff of the arrable land … Theirfoir the said Johne sall grant and giwe to the said Margret for her said thrie pairts of the plowing land sowmes pasturage [etc.](c) 1615–16 Aberd. Council Lett. I 131.
This matter is thoght hier to be a matter of speciall importance … thirfor if ye have any farther derection … that ye wald derect it hier befoir the fourten day