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.
Quotation dates: 1824, 1926-1931, 1993
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AN, adv. Heard in some districts for than = then. [ɑn]
1. Of time.Abd. 1993:
Fit did e dee an?Bch.(D) 1926 P. Giles in Abd. Univ. Rev. (March) 111:
There's been a gey curn craps o' ae kin' an' anidder sin' an'.Bch.(D) 1930 P. Giles in Abd. Univ. Rev. (March) 103:
Ye wiz a strong chiel 'an.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 18:
'An — Used frequently for than — then. (Used as n.)
2. Of manner = else, in phr. or 'an, or else. (See Than.)Bnff.2 1931:
Come awa' t' yir brakfast eynoo or an' yir porritch'll be caul.Bch.(D) 1926 P. Giles in Abd. Univ. Rev. (March) 115:
Ye ungratefu' vratch, ye can waid oot o' this yoursel' or 'an droon.
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"An adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/an_adv>
