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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rehers(e, n. Also: ra- and -heirs, -hears(e; -hairs; -hres. [In these senses, appar. only Sc. till 1585, f. Rehers(e v. Cf. e.m.E. reherse the rehearsal of a play (1490). Cf. also Rehersall n.]

1. a. The repetition (of a text or speech) over again. a1400 Leg. S. xviii 137.
Singand, with reherse Of the todyr nocturne the fyrst verse c1420 Wynt. v 2020.
And quhen he herd thaim [syng] thir wers, Ay off thame he made rehers

b. The act of saying or uttering. — 1494 Loutfut MS 4b.
It pertenis to thaim that [Lindsay MS ye] witnessing & the rehers of thair wordis

c. ? — 1586 Maxwell in Paisley Mag. (1828) 386.
Thir Inglis wers I will descryve Threttie rehers of Inglis wers

d. A formal statement or declaration. — 1456 Hay II 155/19.
Ane officiare bailȝie or juge … sulde have gude memoire to halde bathe the rehersis in his hert that parties makis before him

2. What a person has said; a recounting.As a written or spoken statement (of facts, a cause, etc.); an account or report (of a matter, action or event); a description.Freq., to mak (ma) (one's, a) rehers.(1) c1420 Wynt. ii 1031.
On this wys, as I maid rehers, The kynryk fyrst begouth off Pers 1467 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V i p. 613 (20 Aug.).
Of the quhilk landis the forsaide perteis sal make rehers to the said assise c1475 Wall. x 1134.
I will lat be, and spek off it no mar; Litill rehers is our mekill off cair 1533 Boece 511.
Quhen it was knawin that sic rehers was bot falt and foundit of malice 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 184.
I have writtin sum parte of this mater … makand na rehers quhat this ambassatour … hes writtin 1549 Lamb Resonyng 155/18.
Ȝe haue maid ane epilog and schort rehers of this pretendit homage(b) 1561 M. Napier Mem. J. Napier 74.
And gyf Jhone makis ane uthir rehairs to excus hymself, and to put the weit to me lord, belyf it nocht(2) 1429–30 James I Acts in Ayr B. Ct. 6 March.
The somondour sal somonde and mak hys rehers in court quedir at hime lykis be wyrt or be towng 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 2824.
And to the men of kirk for thaire rehers Gret giftis … he thame gaue c1475 Wall. xi 1362.
For all thi roid rahres Thow has na charge, suppos at I did mys 1490 Irland Mir. II 142/16.
And thocht he wauld … trow mar to it that he saw, na to the rahers of vthir 1515 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 41.
[The] governour … ansuerit first to his rehers and sayingis that [etc.](b) 15.. Clar. v 2875.
Blyth was the king to heir of his rehearse(3) c1475 Wall. viii 95.
With out rahers off actioun in that tid On athir part to gydder fast thai rid Ib. ix 315.
Off kingis fer I dar mak no rahers 1546 Corr. M. Lorraine 173.
We have writtin all reddy to the Kyng of France of the proceding heir … and ferther hes referit the rehers of the mater to the ambassatour of France quhilk was present 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Recordum.
The rehearse, reporte, or testification of the execution of the summondes(4) c1409-1436 Kingis Q. 127.
I haue wele herd and vnderstond Be thy reherse the matere of thy gref 1525 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 231.
Traisting alsua be credible rehers maid to thame that [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece I 151.
We have not socht the last boundis of Albion be rehers and fame of otheris 1547 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) No. vi (Hope v. Tod & Robertson).
He … kennis weill be rahers of the sadis … George Tod … that [etc.] c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii 833.
Be wrang reheirs 1565 St. A. Kirk S. 236.
Be hyr rehers and spekand wyth hyr awyn mowth c1575 Balfour Pract. 287.
That thay … sall sweir that thay have knawlege … be thair sicht or heiring, or be report and reherse of thair foirbearis a1578 Pitsc. I 237/25.
Bot … I knaw not bot be the authoris reherse 1597 Acts IV 128/1.
And quhatsumeuir they deponit … the samin wes be rehers and reporte of vtheris

3. The act of setting out the main points of a discourse; a summary. 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 169/25.
Quhairfoir I wald pray ȝou that ȝe will mak ane schorte rehers of the effect and substance of ȝour ressoning 1563 Davidson Answer 189.
Heir followis ane schort rehears