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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

A WAIT', AWAT, AW WAT, AWITE, AWYTE, adv. phr. (orig. = I know) in truth, I'm sure, assuredly, really, indeed. Cf. Atweel. [ə′wɑt Sc. but ne.Sc. + ə′wəit (see P.L.D. § 126.2); ə′wet s.Sc. + æ, ɒ]

1. Form a wait.Sc. a.1802 The Laird o Logie in Ballads ed. Child (1904) No. 182 a, xii.:
Carmichael turnd him round about, A wait the salt tear blint his eye.
Sc. a.1830 James Hatley in Ballads ed. Child (1904) No. 244 a, ii.:
James Hatley was in prison strong, A wait he was condemned to die.

2. Form awat, aw wat.Abd.(D) 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xl.:
Heard you! Aw wat, aw heard ye!
Abd.(D) 1920 C. Murray In the Country Places 32:
The herd may lauch at the laads wi' their lowin' een, But ye'll seen hae him i' the branks wi' the lave, awat.
Abd.(D) 1928 W. Robbie Mains of Yonderton 54:
Things cudna be better than they are. Na, na, awat, I've nae rizzen t' compleen.

3. Form awite, awyte.Bnff.6 c.1920:
Awite, really. “Awite it was.”
Abd. 1872 J. G. Michie Deeside Tales (1908) 60:
Ballater, awyte! umph!
Abd. 1995 Flora Garry Collected Poems 45:
An awyte it's nae exactly plizzent
To watch yer neeps turn blae an wizzent...

4. In phr. weel awite, — awyte, weil aa wat, lit. “well I know,” assuredly. Cf. aweel-a-wat and Eng. (arch.) well I wot.Bch.(D) 1926 P. Giles in Abd. Univ. Rev. (March) 112:
Weel awyte wis't fyles.
s.Sc. 1873 Murray D.S.C.S. 217:
Weil aa wàt, full well I know.

[From A = I + wait, wat, wite, Sc. forms of wot, Wit, v. (q.v.) = know.]

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"A Wait' adv. phr.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/a_wait>

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