Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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VIEVE, adj. Also viev, veev(e), veve, vive, misprinted veen (Sh. 1953 New Shetlander No. 35. 5); weeve; veef. [vi:v]

1. Of persons: brisk, lively (Rxb. 1825 Jam.). Also deriv. veefy, id. (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., obs.).

2. Of pictures, images: life-like, closely resembling the original (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh., ne.Sc., Edb. 1973). Adv. vievlie (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl).Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 148:
Yet, here so vive, Ye'd think they live.Bnff. 1865 Banffshire Jnl. (27 June):
Her image noo is in my view, As veev as if in life.Ags. 1887 Arbroath Guide (30 April) 3:
Jist as vive an' life-like as gin it really were himsel'.Abd. 1946:
An old lady seeing a snapshot of herself said: — "My, it's right veeve!"

3. Of sights, sounds, colours, impressions, memories, etc.: bright, clear, vivid, distinctly seen or heard, not blurred or faint (Sh. 1973). Also adv. Adv. vively, veevily, veevly, vievlie (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., Sh. 1973).Abd. 1778 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 73:
But gin ye like to ware the time, then ye How a' the matter stood, shall vively see.n.Sc. 1825 Jam.:
"Vive prent", letter-press which may be read easily.Abd. 1836 J. Grant Tales of Glens 58:
It's a' like a vieve dream o' yesterday.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Tales 88:
He heard da plash just as veevilly as he heard himsell speakin.Per. 1878 R. Ford Hamespun Lays 24:
Some vow'd they had seen them as veve as daylicht.Ags. 1896 Barrie Sentimental Tommy x.:
This sight brought back old times so vive to him.Sc. 1926 H. McDiarmid Drunk Man 34:
Your acid tongue, vieve lauchter, and hawk's een.Sc. 1936 J. G. Horne Flooer o' Ling 46:
A wally goon O' vievest green is comin.Abd. (Bch. (coast)) 1956:
The soun was weeve — i.e. clear and distinct.Sh. 1972 New Shetlander No. 99. 12:
Da blude an da taers o Ulster Still stark an veeve in her sicht.Sh. 1991 Rhoda Bulter in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 70:
Veeve can I mind dat lang traik trowe da hill,
Whin me feet felt laek lead, bit left hardly a mett
Idda boannie green moss at lay tick idda gyill.
An I grett. Sh. 1991 William J. Tait in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 45:
An hert an sowl an boady seem
Pickit wi aa da bloed an ime
O history: dan sometimes I mind,
As veevly as I mind da sea,
Sunlycht an shedow o dy een,
An aa da sunlycht meant tae me. Sh. 1994 Laureen Johnson in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 172:
It wis aa at I could tink aboot an draem aboot in five weeks, til July, an dan da tinkin an da draemin feenished, an everything veeve an lively alang wi it.