Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sayar, -er, n.¹ [ME and e.m.E. segger (Manning), seiere (Wyclif), seyere (a1400), sayer (Caxton), saier (a1533); Say v.¹]See also mes-sayer Mes n.¹ 2 b and Na-sayer n.

1. A narrator or author. c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 522.
Be the documentis of wys clerkis that knawis the subtill ymaginacione of the sayar 1513 Doug. ix Prol. 27.
The sayar eik suld weil consider thys, Hys mater, and quhamto it entitilit is Id. Exclam. 29.
Far eithar is quha lyst syt doun to moyt Ane otheris sayaris faltis to spy and noyt

2. One who says or celebrates mass, the celebrant. 1558-66 Knox II 139.
The sayar of it [sc. Mass] to committ horrible blasphemye in usurping upoun him the office of Christ Ib. 274.
The lawis of the realme had appoynted punishment for sayaris and heararis of masse 1587 Acts III 430/1. 1593 Ib. IV 17/2.
Aganis the sayaris of messe and ressattaris or interteneyaris of excommunicat papists 1600 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 961.

3. Evil-sayer, one who speaks evil. 1588 King Cat. 40.
Quhisperars, bakbytters and euil sayers