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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.

Thi-self, -sell, Thyself, -sell, pron. Also: thi selff, -selwyne, thyselfe, -selff, -selfin, -selvin, -yn, thaiself. [ME and e.m.E. þi sulf (Ancr. R.), þi selue, þi-self, þi seluen, þe-self (all Cursor M.), þei-self (1340-70), thy-selfe (c1400), thy self (c1475); Thi possess. adj. and Self pron.]

1. In reflexive uses.(a) a1400 Leg. S. iii 618.
I consall thé, That of thi-self thu haff pitte c1420 Ratis R. 710.
Throw dises may thow wyt & feill To knaw God and thi-selwyne veill c1460 Consail Vys Man 198.
Repref na folk thocht thai be ill, Behald thi-self and hald thé styll c1475 Wall. x 149.
That taill full meit thow has tauld be thi sell c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 14/39.
Thairfor I reid that thou excus thi sell 1533 Boece Proheme 3b.
Thou mon first insuffer mekill pyne Abone thy self 1558-66 Knox I 12.
Thou should not mack thy self chek-meat to the king 1567 G. Ball. 2.
Thow sall not mak to thy self ony grauin image 1567 G. Ball. 17.
Feill thow than sin, and abstane thy sell, Or thy rewaird salbe in hell a1585 Arbuthnot in Maitl. Q. 132/176.
Desist and ceis thy self for to torment a1605 Montg. Flyt. 14 (H).
Thou sall tell even thy sell, and we mell thou sall ȝell 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 19 May (see Thi possess. adj. (1)).
Thy self(b) 1490 Irland Mir. II 73/13.
Wyt [= blame] thai self and nocht him a1578 Pitsc. I 309/7.
Thaiself

2. In emphatic use. a. In place of thow. b. In apposition to thow.a. ?1438 Alex. i 417.
Thy-selfe may best this errand may, That thou oft carpis to assay! a1500 Seven S. 1830.
The ymage that stude abone the well … it is thi sell a1500 Seven S. 1514.
And in a chyere of honour Thy self befor the senatour a1500 Seven S. 1839.
Thy self may be the emprioure c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 14/52.
Quha kennes thi synnes better na thi sell? 1513 Doug. x Prol. 102.
Sweit Lord, thy self is sa inestimabill 1513 Doug. x v 69.
With thy scheild invynsibill tharwithall Thy selvyn [Ruddim. Thy selfin, Sm. Thy selvin] schrowd 1587-99 Hume 59/256.
For nane is like thee but thy sellb. 1517 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 43.
Iniurius wordis spokyn to Wilyem … ‘thow art fals thi selff’ 1535 Stewart 38540.
I sall found … ane kirk of greit auctoritie, And thow thi self thairof patrone sall be 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 98.
Thow suld speik the man first thi selff 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 147.
Quhen thow was speirit and demandit quhat thow was doand thair thy selff