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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.

Beside, Besyd(e, adv. and prep. Also: besid, besyid, byside. [ME. be-, bi-, byside, early ME. bisiden, OE. be sidan by (the) side.]

A. adv. 1. At hand, near by, close. 1375 Barb. i. 26.
At Dumfres, rycht thar besid a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 54.
In the cuntre nere be-syd a1500 Henr. Robin & M. 43.
My scheip ma gang besyd 1495 Acta Conc. 388/2.
He wes besid quhen the said ox wes takin a1500 Doug. K. Hart 97.
Dame Plesance had ane pretty place besyd c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiii. 30.
Sum standis besyd and skaild law keppis 1533 Boece ii. vii. 70 b.
Colane … drew to ane litill know beside a1540 Freiris Berw. 502.
Ȝe mone be on the flure, Neirhand besyd 1596 Dalr. I. 47/14.
Besyd is the toune of Turef c1650 Spalding I. 80.
He … wes haistellie put in the … coach standing hard besyd

2. In addition, as well, besides. c1420 Ratis R. 1339.
For than may thow baith gang & ryd, And ȝhit begyne to laik besyde a1500 Rauf C. 785.
That I for liddernes suld leif, and leuand besyde c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxix. 40.
Thair is nane vther way besyd

B. prep. 1. By the side of; close or near to. 1375 Barb. xi. 442.
Besyd the kirk till kepe the vay a1400 Leg. S. v. 563.
He … gert be mad a pyte … besyd the alter 1385 Rotuli Sc. II. 73/1.
At the water of Eske besid Salom c1420 Wynt. i. 141.
Besyde ane hylle Ib. vi. 1156.
He wes besyd a dyke Ib. 1858.
Syttand … besyd the kyng 1439 Edinb. Chart. 64.
Beside the vaste lande neire byside the house of John off Turyng 1456 Hay II. 143/8.
Four chaumeris ilkane besyde othir c1475 Wall. i. 42.
Besid Kyngorn a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 238.
Beside ane riveir a1500 Doug. K. Hart 461.
Micht I langer resyde ȝow besyde c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 3.
Besyd ane gudely grene garth Id. lv. 26.
I saw cowclinkis me besyd 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xxxiii.
Beside Lochnes … are mony wild hors a1578 Pitsc. I. 58/5.
His wife … was buried … besyde hir first husband 1596 Dalr. I. 23/22.
The sisteris of the Scheines besyd Edinburghe 1616 Aberd. Kirk S. 83.
At the kirk doir besyid the tas

b. In comparison with. 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 34.
Thys ignorant blabryng … Beside thy polyst termys Ib. 365.
Besyde Latyn our langage is imperfite

2. Exclusive of, in addition to. c1420 Wynt. iv. 2026.
Foure score of thoussandis wes slayne downe, Besyd tha wytht-owte the towne 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 36.
And besyde that, God schawis him self sa mercyfull … to yow 1606 Edinb. Test. XLII. 73 b.
To find sufficient cawtioneris … by and besyde the cawtioneris quhilk [etc.]

3. At variance with; beyond, away from. c1420 Ratis R. 105.
Bot gif it be besyd resone 1513 Doug. 914/17.
All sic laubour far besyde me stud 1558-66 Knox II. 276.
It was besyd his text 1570 Leslie 8.
Oftymes beside the trewth 1596 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 866.
Taking of ocker besyd good conscience

b. Beside himself, out of his mind. 1593–4 Ayr Common Good Acc.
To tak afeild William Dawsoun quha is besyd himself and trublis the toun