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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Forquhy, conj. Also: forquy, -qwhy, -quhay, -quhi. [ME. forwhy, forwhi, OE. forhwý, -hwí.]

1. For what reason, why. a1400 Leg. S. xxi. 762.
That Clement … cause mad forequhy that he Aucht exylyt or dede be Ib. xxviii. 469.
Than demandit scho for-quhy That he had sa gret enwy 1456 Hay I. 172/7.
Thai wate not forquhy na quhat caus

2. For which reason, wherefore. a1400 Leg. S. v. 226.
Men brocht the cors of a ȝounge man … For-quhy that vedo can hym mene Ib. xvii. 264.
He … hele gat of his infyrmite, For-quhy vele it [sc. the church] dowit he

3. For the reason that, because, since. a 1380 Rep. Hist. MSS., Var. Coll. V. 77.
For quhy we had na sele propir of our awin, we hafe procuryt the sele of Robert Dalȝell 1389 Facs. Nat. MSS. II. 47.
For qwhy that … Dauid kyng qwhilom of Scotland … has gyvin [etc.] 1433 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 286.
Forquhi that we hafe vnderstandyn … that ȝe desire [etc.] 1456 Hay I. 3/7.
For quhy that the state of haly kirk is in sik tribulacioun that … I can se be na way [etc.] a1500 Bk. Chess 21.
Dyse … bene a sport forbodyn in the law, For quhy the wynning be the dycis chauce [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxiii. 11.
Speid home, for-quhy anone cummis the nicht 1533 Gau 32/28.
Forquhy as he is owr fader, thane arwe his barnis a1568 Scott vii. 14.
Fra scho be gon, hairtles am I, For quhy thow [sc. my heart] art with hir possesst