Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ago, ppl. a. and adv. [ME. ago (early 14th c.), p.p. of ago v. to go away, depart. In Sc. after Chaucerian models.]

1. ppl. a. Gone; gone past, by, or away; past, away. (Only in predicative use, and usually in rhyme.) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1304; Ib. 1706.
Gentreis is slane, and pietie is ago a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 210.
Grace is ago, how may thai chape mischans a1500 Bk. Chess 2077.
The feild is tynt & his victour ago c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxvi. 22.
The honourable vse is all ago 1535 Stewart 46457.
Quhen symmer come and winter wes ago c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5349.
Those schynand lampis bene ago a1568 Scott xxxiv. 24.
That ressoun, wit, and mynd, Ar all ago togiddir a1605 Montg. Misc. P. lii. 27.
Quhen he is ago

2. adv. In time past; in time gone by. 1513 Doug. xii. Epil. 3.
Ȝoir ago in myne ondantit ȝouth 1560 Rolland Seven S. 31/1.
It is lang ago sen I ȝow saw Ib. 33/27.
Within this ȝeir ago