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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)by(e, Thairby(e, Ther(e)by, adv. Also: tharbi(e, thairb(i)e, thayrby, thereb(i)e, therb(y)e, theirby. [ME and e.m.E. þer bi (Ancr. R.), þar bi (Cursor M.), therby (Chaucer), þare by (c1450), thairby (1588), thereby (1590).]

1. By there, by that place or thing. In early use chiefly preceded by nere (Nere adv.² 13 a).(1) 1375 Barb. iii 1.
The lord off Lorne wonnyt thar-by That wes capitale ennymy To the king 1375 Barb. xix 392 (C).
Thair-by ?1438 Alex. i 36.
The vale of Josaphas, That of mair stoir aboundand was … Than ony vther land thairby c1420 Wynt. vii 2027 (W).
Swa Fast it bled that all tharby Off that thing thocht gret [ferly] c1450-2 Howlat 623 (A).
That terrible felloun my spreit affrayd … I durst nocht kyth to copy Of renkis arayd All other armes thair by a1500 Henr. Fab. 849.
The beistis in the feild thairby a1500 Peblis to Play 137.
Thair by lay thre and threttie sum Thrimland in ane midding Off draff 1513 Doug. x ix 52.
A gret talent, Or charge of fyne siluer … Ane huge weght of fynast gold tharby, Oncunȝeit ȝit 1533 Boece 89.
He beildit an vthir ciete and namyt it Innernes fra the rivere and louch fleting thareby 1649 Lamont Diary 5.
Andro Lawmonthe … tolde that his … sister Janet … was maried vpon a minister in Yorke shyre … as also that his vncle Mr. Walter, was maried with ane olde gentellwoman therby(2) 1375 Barb. iii 483.
That the erle … was Amang the hillis ner thar-by 1375 Barb. vi 381 (C).
In Douglasdaill … Or ellis weill neirhand thar by c1420 Wynt. viii 3164.
Ilke man … Suld noucht fra thare plwys ta Thare plw-yrnys: bot lat thame ly On thare plwys, or nere thar-by [C. thaim by] c1420 Wynt. viii 5571.
A karle, thai sayd, wes nere there-by, That wald set settys … Chyldyr and women for to sla

b. With a verb of motion: Into that area, through that place. 1375 Barb. ii 539.
Menesteus That come percas ridand tharby a1500 Henr. Orph. 521.
On a nycht come traualand thare by The god of riches, and tuke herbery Wyth Tantalus

c. To cum thairby, to gain possession of. 1567 G. Ball. 27.
The flesche said, thow [sc. the spirit] hes vincust me, I traist eternall glore to se; Christ grant that I may cum thairby

2. By that, because of that, by means of that. ?1438 Alex. i 2971.
Be the scheild of syper cleir, Quhairin he saw an egill stand … He knew thairby it was the king c1460 Thewis Wysmen 382.
Thai tak debait one lytil evyne, … Thar-by ma foly sonest kith a1500 Henr. Fab. 1403.
Quha wait nor I may leir and beir away Sum thing thairby heirefter may auaill? 1490 Irland Mir. III 54/11. a1500 Seven S. 1742.
Now said the empriour we sall ken Thare by gif ȝe be suthfast men 1513 Doug. i i 58.
Juno inflambit … Scho thame fordryvis … Frawart Latium … By fremmyt werd full mony ȝeris tharby [Sm. tharbye] 1513 Doug. vii vi 107.
Hyr douchter hyd thir woddy hillys within, Tharby [Sm. Thayrby] the Troiane spousage to delay 1546 St. P. Henry VIII V 566.
Thai knew perfitlie that Ingland invadit the realme the scharper for the obedience gevin therbe to this sette and observing of religioune 1575–6 Inverness Rec. I 247.
The said Johne Fraysser … in resetting fra the said Kennocht Owir all maner of leddir that the said Kennocht can purchas and thairbe meitting the said Kennocht in all mercattis adjacent to this burcht 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 127/29, 30.
Gif al thingis var turnit in the propir langage of euirie cuntrey, na man vald studie to the Latine toung, and thairbie al communicatione amangis Christiane pepil vald schortlie be tane auay, and thairbie eftir greit barbaritie inseu 1593 Acts IV 34/2.
Considdering how thai ar rent and spilt with takkis pensionis and vtherwayis, ȝit becaus thay apperit to haue sum certantie thairby thay stude content 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 33b.
Qvhen ane woman accused of ane crime, alledges hirselfe to be with childe: that therebe sche may decline (delay) the judgement: the judge sould [etc.] 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I 208.
The tyme of the payment … being … betuix Michelmes and Martinmes they are thairby unhablit to satisffie thair creditors at the tyme a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1209.
Na man sould len his horse, his weapin, nor his wyfe, for therebie comes na gaines 1680-6 Lauder Observes 71.
The disconted partie … argued, that all his priviledge was only to prick doun any on he pleased, theirby to get him put upon the list of them who ware to be chosen

b. Relating to that, in connection with that. a1400 Leg. S. ix 149.
The thryd thynge wes rycht-wisnes … That, as the fend oure-come the man, That of the froit had etyne … Richt sa suld mane in lele fastinge Oure-cum the fend … The fend that falowis nere thare-by, That he ourcome the feynd vysly

3. a. Around that time, about that date, thereabouts; for a particular amount of time. c1420 Wynt. v 1611.
Ane hundyr wyntyr and sextene, Or nere thare-by, as sum men wrate, And variis as thai set thare date 1489–90 Acta Conc. I 135/1.
Johne … clamit the said landis to pertene to him & tuk vp the malez of the sammyn be the space of vj ȝeris or therby 1492 Acta Conc. I 240/1.
The act … wes pronuncit this day efter none be v houris at evin or thareby 1516 Caldwell P. 53.
Ane day att twa houres efter noine, quhill the morne thairefter att ten houres befoir noine, or thairbye 1559–60 St. A. Kirk S. 21.
In December twa yeir[is] bypast, or therby 1564 Reg. Privy C. I 272.
In the moneth of Julij last bipast or thairby 1569 St. A. Kirk S. 325.
The bairn borne … twa yeris syne or tharbi 1583 Perth B. Ct. 30 July.
iij bollis and ane half boll malt coft and ressauit be hir fra the said Dauid at Lambes last or thairby a1595 Descr. Isles 440.
The haill cuntriemen bides furth watching thair enemies ane ȝeir, half ane ȝeir, or thairby, as thai please 1624 Orkney & Shetl. Test. I 111. 1636 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 242.
Thair dyet of the pox this yeir … ane dochter to Andro Rae … ane dauchter to Mr. Johne Lauder—all within four yeirs ald or thairby 1673 Corshill Baron Ct. 111.
The said John, of the adge of twentie tuo years or thairby 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 316.
Within this tua yeirs or tharby

b. About that amount, quantity, length, and the like. 1498 Acta Conc. II 233.
The wrangus … withhalding fra the kingis hienes of gold and depois to the availe of a thousand crounis or therby 1503 Treas. Acc. II 231.
Ane pece Holland clath … contenand xxij or xxiij elne Flemys or thareby 1544 Reg. Privy S. III 140/1.
Ane half housbandland … extending to viii aikeris of land or thairby c1547 Echt-Forbes Chart. 204.
Thre angellis that buir the titill of Christ … veying thua vnce or thair by 1552 Reg. Privy C. I 130.
Ane speir of six elne lang or thairby 1563 Reg. Privy C. I 245.
To the nowmer of fourtie personis or thairby 1566 Rec. Earld. Orkney 376.
Williame schip, beand of the byrth of xiiij last or thairby 1573–4 Reg. Privy C. II 341.
xvi bollis of beir or thairby 1587 Acts III 459/1.
Euerie quarter of the realme quhilk contenis sevin scherefdomes or thairby 1627 Bamff Chart. 210.
Fourteine aikeris of infeild land or therby 1637 Banff Ann. I 78.
Therbye 1668 Edinb. Test. LXXIII 147b.
Ane litle quantitie of coallis, to the number of half ane daill or thairby 1678 Sc. Ant. I 6.
Of men and women lasts the number of fiftie seven or tharbie

c. Approximately that direction. 1595 Aberd. B. Rec. II 111.
Thairfra ascendand lineallie north or thairby to ane laich eirdfast stane 1615 Aberd. B. Rec. II 322.
[They rode] … thairfra kepand the hie gett sutherlie or thairby to Collielaw