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.
Quotation dates: 1499-1585
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A-per-se, n. Also: A per sie, A per c, apercy; E per sie. [Late ME. a per sey (a 1500), e.m.E. a-per-se, late L. a per se ‘a by itself’.] A unique or pre-eminent person or thing; a paragon. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 78.
O fair Creisseid! the flour and A per se Of Troy and Greece c1500 Crying of Play 133.
In Edinburgh … Quhilk Is the lampe & A per se Of this regioun in all degre c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxviii. 1.
London, thou art of townes A per se 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 8.
Lantarn, laid stern, myrrour, and A per se 1535 Stewart 36550.
Of Albione he wes the apersie 1540 Lynd. Sat. 903.
Be the Trinitie! Ȝe ar ane verie Apersie 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 147.
Christ Jesus is ane A per C, And peirles Prince of all mercy a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xlviii. 21.
The muses wald haue gevin the grie To hir as to the Aperse & peirles perle preclair a1585 Ib. lxiii. 14.
The blythest bird … As A per C abone all elevat a1585 Montg. Maitland Quarto MS lxiv. 3.
The erthlie E per sie And flour of feminine maist fair
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"A-per-se n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 10 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/A-per-se>
