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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Divers(e, Dyvers(e, a. Also: dywers, -wars, dyweris, -veris (pl. -verssis), -waris; divershe, devers, diveris, diver. [ME. divers (c 1250), diverse (c 1300), OF. divers, -verse, L. dīversus.]

1. Different in kind or character; distinct, separate. ?1438 Alex. ii. 8.
Flouris … on seirkin hewes, As kynd thame colouris geuis diuers Ib. 1588.
In his play is more dyuers thing Than in the chace 1456 Hay I. 79/3.
Als mony men, als mony divers willis is in the warld Ib. II. 108/5.
The kyndis of divers condiciounis of influences of the hevin a1500 Henr. Fab. 901.
With doggis all diueris and different c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 15.
His baner … Quhairin wes clowttis ane hundreth scoir, Ilk ane of diuers hew Ib. xlvi. 39.
Quhome natur of conditionis maid dyvers 1513 Doug. x. ii. 100.
All the hevynly wightis dyd … rown, In opynyonys full diuers 1560 Rolland Seven S. 490.
Ilk ane thay tuke ane diuers dait 1581 Sat. P. xliv. 50.
Mony … Diuers in maners, doctrine, and condition 1593 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 815.
Gif thay be of diuerse presbitereis 1596 Dalr. I. 85/13.
Four languages, he says, [thair] was diuershecomb. 1513 Doug. vi. xi. 57.
The bissy beys … On diuers colorit flouris skalit wide

b. Preceded by mony. (Passing into sense 2.) 1456 Hay I. 137/35.
To the quhilk thare is mony divers opyniouns and argumentis Ib. II. 122/30.
Mony and sindry divers maneris of metis c1460 Wisd. Sol. 703.
He mellis hyme … with sa mony diuers materis a1500 Seven S. 532.
Mony diuers kynd of bestis war thare c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 148.
With mony diuerse aufull instrument Id. xlviii. 16.
In weid depaynt of mony diuers hew a1578 Pitsc. I. 18/1.
Quhow mony diuers oppressouris … we haif susteined

2. Various, several; a number of. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 1071.
Than come diuerse medicinaris nere 1405 James of Douglas Letter to Henry IV in Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
I gert cry in diuerse placis the trewis to be kepit 1428 Liber Melros 520.
The quhilkis assis made … delays dyuers dayes 1444 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 12.
Upon this the alderman askit instrumentis diuerse 1482 Edinb. Chart. 146.
Certain and diuers gret sommes of money c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiii. 43.
Religious men of diuers placis 1515 Treas. Acc. V. 21.
For beif at divers tymes 1537 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 84.
The polecie and dyueris otheris actis necessar to be done 1549 Compl. 131/32.
We behufit fyrst to reueil it til diuerse men 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 227.
Thair is diuers and sindry schippis cumis furth of Burdeaux 1570 Leslie 59.
Vissieting religious places, and doting thame with divers giftis 1596 Dalr. I. 39/6.
The falcoun … and diuersh vthiris kyndes of halkes 1598 Conv. Burghs II. 39.
Efter lang ressoneing vpoun the qualyficatioun of dyuerssis and sindrie merchandis 1604 Stewart Mem. 112.
Ane act … anent warning of tenentis for devers ressonabell causses 1629 Chron. Perth 32.
Thair wer diueris foirstallaris … convenit befoir justices

b. absol. (With or without of.) c1420 Wynt. i. 931.
Dywers othir … Off natyownys and off ceteys sere ?1438 Alex. i. 1961.
Caulus to erd was borne doun thair, And dyueris deid 1441 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 6.
Diuerse of the merchandes of this burgh 1474 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 29.
In presens of ws and diuerse of the craft 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 27.
As diuers that wes in the schip … can report

c. In the phrase other(is) divers. 1470 Peebles B. Rec. 164.
With other diuers and mony of the parischynaris of Peblis 1482 Edinb. Chart. 147.
Iames bischop of Dunkeld, … Thomas Lord Stanlie, … and vther diuers 1494 Dunferm. B. Rec. 52.
Befoyr Dawyde Stewart … with othir dyweris 1498 Halyb. 256.
Befor Master John Barrye and othir dywars 1509 Douglas Chart. 193.
Schir Alexandar Rammysae … wytht wder dywaris 1569 Rec. Earld. Orkney 129.
Befoir thir witnes … , with utheris divers off the assyssoris a1578 Pitsc. II. 14/8.
The lord Askyne … with vthiris dyuers