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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Affer(e, Affeir, v. Also: afere. Cf. Effere. [OF. aferir, afferir to belong, pertain. Also found in ME. of the 15th c., but rare.]

1. intr. To belong or pertain to, to be appropriate to, to be fitting or proper for a person. Also without prep. 1375 Barb. i. 162.
I sall als frely in all thing Hald it, as it afferis to king a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 298.
He … leyryt Sic as til ȝung men afferyt, In gud thowis to haf delyt c1420 Wynt. v. 4936; etc.
The kyng … Cled ane rybald in clethyng, Swylk as afferyd till a kyng a1500 Henr. III. 146/15.
That myld … silence held, … As weill aferit a maid Infild a1500 Lanc. 1550.
Vp he ros, as he that wel couth do Honor, to qwhome that it afferith to 1513 Doug. v. iii. 54 (Sm).
Quhair, for to turne agane, as thame afferis, … thai mycht knaw 15.. Christis K. 66.
He chesit a flane as did affeir him 1560 Rolland Seven S. 96/5.
Spend not in Prodigalitie Bot as affeiris thy Facultie

b. With infinitive complement. 1375 Barb. i. 192.
Alkyn othir officeris, That for to gowern land afferis Ib. xvii. 248.
Spryngaldis and schotis on seir maneris That till defend castell afferis a1400 Leg. S. ii. 951; etc.
It afferyt nocht to man To spek that thing, that he herd than c1400 Troy-bk. i. 170.
Ne to me als as messingere Afferis notht, ne may affere, To stryve with wordes ȝow agane c1420 Wynt. v. 4951.
It afferys noucht to thé Prouddare than thi state to be 1456 Hay II. 91/16.
It afferis till all … lordis to be ever hamely and debonair c1475 Wall. vi. 678.
To mowff ȝow mor it afferis nocht for me

2. To appertain, to belong properly or naturally, to a thing; to be convenient for. 1375 Barb. xi. 28 (E).
God … wate quhat till all thing afferis Ib. 77.
Wapynnys and armowris purwayit thai, And all that afferis to fechting 1427 Melville Chart. 245.
To make a myllyn dame … quhare it best afferis for the myllyn demmande 1456 Hay II. 65/7.
Till knychthede afferis principaly to be amorous of the commoun proufitt 1528 Lynd. Dreme 507.
The sewin Planetis … moue naturallie, Sum swyft, sum slaw, as to thare kynde afferis 1549 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 196.
ij fair courthingis … as afferit for the he altair of our kyrk

3. To be suitable or fitting. a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 78.
Martha … bathe thar partis wysly steryt & gaf til thame al that afferyt Ib. xviii. 350; etc.
It thu bydis als, vith gud wil, Thocht it affer nocht, I sal fulfil 1415 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 36.
This ondir al pane that ma affer ye leif nocht undone 1425 Reg. Great S. 11/1.
That to the said Sir Wilyeam and George … yhe obey and intende as it afferis 1455 Edinb. Chart. 79.
We promit that thare sal be ane obit yherely done for him, sic as afferis a1500 Lanc. 1690.
Gar fet and clep … thi bachleris, And them resauf als hartly as afferis

b. As afferis (or afferit), used parenthetically. a1400 Leg. S. xvii. 202.
Al hyre covent … hyre exequies dewotly did, as afferyt 14.. Acts I. *91/2.
Gif ony … hapyn to disses and has not to bring him to the erde as afferis 1457 Wemyss Chart. 80.
Ilkane … sal infeft vthir in the landis … with claus of warandise as afferis 1474 Acta Aud. 33/2.
The said schiref sal peremptorly minister justice … as aferis 1565 Peebles B. Rec. 300.
Thair comptis beand laid as affeiris 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii. 389.
Thair suld be plantit … At euerie Kirk, as dois affeir, Ane Preichour 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. 20 b.
He salbe punissed conforme to the maner & quantitie of the crime, as affeires of Law

4. tr. To concern (a person); intr. to be of concern or interest to one. 1425 Reg. Great S. 11/1.
Til al the inhabitandis … and tyl al otheris that it afferis, straitly we bid [etc.] 1437 Reg. Panmure II. 230.
To al men to quhom it aferis or may afeir 1474 Edinb. B. Rec. 29.
The quhilkis articls and desiris we appruf … and … in sa fer as afferis ws … confermys 1493 Lindores Abbey 181.
This to all thaim that efferis or may affer suthfastly