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: 1375-1599
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Betide, Betyd(e. v. Also p.t. betid, betyd (betyde). [ME. bi-, betide(n. f. Tide v.]
1. intr. To happen, befall, chance (to or til a person).(a) 1456 Hay I. 245/10.
Quhat thing that ever betyde a1500 Henr. Fab. 2505.
‘I sall haif ane’, quod he, ‘quhat euer betyde’ c1460 Thewis of Wysmen 172.
Wysmen … takis thar tyme, quhen it betydis a1500 Doug. King Hart 487.
This cowartnes sall nocht betyde 1513 Id. Æn. ii. ii. 35.
I sal, quhat euer betyde, Grant to thé all the verite 1513 Ib. iii. vi. 189.
For los of tyme that may betyde 15.. Clariodus i. 392.
For weill or wo, betyde quhat may betyde 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 43/25.
Quhat euer chance for to betyde(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxi. 190.
He hyme tald. … How til his fadir it betyd c1450-2 Howlat 506.
On a time it betid, As tellis the writ a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 285.
It war wele set That to ȝou sic a chance betid 1513 Doug. ii. iv. 1.
Betyd, the ilke tyde, a fer gretter woundir 1513 Ib. xi. xiii. 13.
Gif so betyd … Hyr ferys gave the bak
b. With dative pronouns. usually of the person.(a) a1500 Golagros and Gawane 1033.
I rede thow wirk as I wise, or war the betide c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 234.
Mischeif sall the betyd c1500-c1512 Id. Tua Mar. W. 100.
Schame him betide! 1513 Doug. iii. vii. 57.
Gif evir in Tybir to entyr me betydis(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints i. 370.
Nane west [= wist] quhat it betyde a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 15.
Him betyde ane tempest 1513 Doug. xi. vi. 112.
Ane selcouth monstre, lo, betyd hes me 1533 Bell. Livy I. 80/21.
Quhare suddanelie betid him ane vncouth aventure 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 211/15.
Quhat him betid he tald to hir in plane
c. With nouns as object (dative) or subject. 1375 Barb. xi. 224.
Thai sal the les haf abasyng, Giff men betyd in thrang to be ?1438 Alex. ii. 3431.
And his cheualry may betyde To faill ane party of thare pryde!
2. a. tr. To meet with, experience. a1500 Golagros and Gawane 876.
Ye sall nane torfeir betyde
b. intr. To succeed, fare (well). 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 809.
He weill betydis that sometimes careis a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xiv. 6.
Found the on treuth gif thow wald weill betyde a1598 Ferg. Prov. 108.
Weill bydes, weill betydes
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"Betide v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 10 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/betide>
