A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
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The-quhether, The-quhethir(e, adv. Also: the-quhethyr, -qwhethir, -yr, -quethir, -yr. [ME þeahweðer (a1175), þeh hweðer (13th c.), þohhwheþþre (Orm), þo-queþer, þohqueþir, þofqueþer (all Cursor M.), though-whethir (1357), OE þéah-hwaeþere.] However; nevertheless. 1375 Barb. i 332.
Sone to Parys can he ga And levyt thar full sympylly, The quhether [C. the quhethir, 1571 Quhair that he] he glaid was and ioly 1375 Barb. i 405.
Till gud Ector of Troy mycht he [sc. Douglas] In mony thingis liknyt be … Bot off manheid … Till Ector dar I nane comper … The quethyr in his tyme sa wrocht he That he suld gretly lovyt be 1375 Barb. ii 62.
Thai brak the dur, bot thai fand nocht The-quhethir the chambre hale thai socht 1375 Barb. iii 14.
All to few with him he had The quhethir he bauldly thaim abaid 1375 Barb. iii 520 (C).
The quethir 1375 Barb. x630.
[He] said ‘Away, I se ȝow weile' The quhether he saw thaim nocht a dele 1375 Barb. xii 191 (C).
The quhethir I say nocht this ȝow till For that ȝe suld follow my will To ficht a1400 Leg. S. xl 677.
Sanct Niniane, tak this gyfte, Ve thé bryng … The quhethire, tho it [sc. the boy] lathly be Impossible is nocht to thé For to recouer it ?1438 Alex. ii 2332.
Alkin thing That hes my hart sa subtely Wounded … That it na wound na ire may mak, The quethir wele oft it garris me quaik c1420 Wynt. viii 6959.
The trwys he pressyd hym fast till hald, The qwhethir [W. Ȝit than] offt ryot wald thai ma
b. Nevyr the qwhethyr, nevertheless. [Appar. a confusion of nevertheless and the-whether. Cf. ME never þe queder (a1400-50).] c1420 Wynt. viii 5298 (W).
William of Dowglas wes syne Schot with a springald throu the the; Bot neuer the quhether ȝit [R., Au., E2 yhit nevyr the qwhethyr] than he Contenit him full manfully
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"The-quhether adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/the_quhether>
