Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wair, Weir, p.t. Also: warr(e, var(e, wayre, ver, werre, weire, veir, weare, wur, wor, vore, war(r)en, warryne, warin, weren, veryng. [Earlier and additional examples of Be v.¹] a. = Be v.¹8 b. b. = Be v.¹ 9.a. 1375 Barb. ix 689 (C).
He persauit … At thai war strange men at thair That nycht thair-in herberyit wair ?1438 Alex. i 158.
His helme and lance baith hewin wair 1585 Lett. Jas. VI to Eliz. 15.
Not only wayre the wordis … most louing, but also [etc.](b) 1375 Barb. vii 367 (C).
All his folk var fra hym gane a1400 Leg. S. xl 394.
He … askit hyme quhy that thai Vare nocht seruit of caile that day a1500 Lanc. 2972.
Ay in the feld he vrocht, Whill that his speris gon var al to nocht 1648 Sc. N. & Q. XII 74.
The heretores convenit and vare willing to … provid … mantinance for ane scooll(c) 1428 Liber Melros 521.
Bot I walde ger thaim hafe knawleg hw mekil lande the West maynis warr thai couthe nocht [etc.] a1586 Kamington in a1586 Maitland Geneal. Setoun 49.
These rented relictis be hir they warre releued(d) 1375 Barb. x 505 (C).
Othir [places] that neir The Ynglis mennis bowndis weir 1375 Barb. xviii 296 (C).
The lord Dowglas … Vist of thar com and quhat thai veir a1500 Lanc. 350.
The knyghtis weire Anoit all at the abiding thare(e) 1533 Gau 4/12.
Orisons the quhilk ver lang to vrit heir 1649 Lamont Diary 7.
All these [officers] that werre aboue louetennants werre to come before the comission 1654 Conv. Burghs III 370.
Sex commissioneris … ver appointed to meit with the heritouris(f) 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV ii 169.
The very same words … that weare spoken(g) 1532 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. ii 98.
Thai suld be placit in processioun in Haidentoun as thai wor in Edinburgh 1545 Douglas Corr. 156.
Ȝe vore so displesit(h) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 904 (C).
The houses … The which waren [D. warren] of tho traytoures … Frome the byrnyng reserued ware c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 24.
With strong hand … led away We weren all a1500 Lanc. 2969.
His ennemys that veryng in affray Befor his strok, and makith rovm alway 1513 Doug. v xi 1 (Sm.).
Thus, hiddirtillis, warryne derenys seir Exercit in wirschep of his fadir deir 1513 Doug. vi viii 3.
Sone thai warin [Sm. wer in] cummyn to the planeb. 1375 Barb. v 148 (C).
Scho hym tald … How that his brothir takyn wair In the castell of Kyndrummy 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 243.
The Erle Argaill had and has the charg to answer for this arttalȝery … quhai I wayt wilbe glad and tha wair his awn to sped tham to your grace 1630 Monteith Stewartry Ct. 6 May.
Part of siluer and part of pennyworthis quhill scho wair satisfeit of his part of the sowme acclamit(b) 1478 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 471.
The quhilk gifft … we haff ordanyt … Schir James Flemyng … to delyuer … to the said Thomas in our name lyke as we mycht do and we var present in propir personys 1581 Sat. P. xliv 270.
Sa may thou baldlie ane hear place cum craue Var not thou seis full ill the band to leid(c) a1400 Leg. S. xviii 49.
He trewyt na man vare, Quham-of hyme nedyt til have lare(d) c1520 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 385.
I traist yowr lordschip sal be als hartlie to me and it ver ane grettar matter 1648 Strathbogie Presb. 91.
It ver lost labour to him to come and shew himself, and thus to be deserted inordourlie(e) c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxiv 67.
Thy tuik thair lust, as thai wor wod, And suddenlie wer lost(f) 1529 Exch. R. XV 527.
Ay and quhill he wur beneficit