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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wa, Way, Wo, adv., interj., n. and adj. Also: wai(e, wae, waw, waav, va, vay, ua, wea, woe, wow, woo, vo, voo, uo. Compar. waer, waar. Superl. wast, wayest. [ME and e.m.E. wei (c1175), wa(ȝȝ (both Orm), wo (c1200), wai, way (both a1250), waa (Cursor M.), woo (c1350), woe (1533), wae (Spenser), weay (1683, Yorksh.), OE wá, wǽ, ON vei, vǽ.]

A. adv. and interj.1. In declarations or exclamations of grief, sorrow or lamentation. a. Wa is (wais, ways, wys, wois is, woe's, etc.) me (us, etc.), also wo is to me.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 1004.
Wa is me, Dere sowne, for this soroful cace! c1450-2 Howlat 43.
Wa is me, wretche in this warld, wilsome of wane 1460 Hay Alex. 10857.
Of freche wattir thai had sic ane falt That wa [MS ware] was thame the tyme that thai war borne For sic ane falt thai had neuer beforne a1500 Henr. Orph. 353.
Full wa is me to se yow changit thus a1500 Seven S. 465.
Full wa is ws scho said agane c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) liii 19.
John Bute the fule said, ‘Wa es me [M. waes me]! He is bedirtin, Fy! fy!’ 1533 Gau 104/4.
He ferit to brak this comand sayand wa is to me 1596 Dalr. II 43/31.
Wae is vs, quhom the malice of traytouris haue maid destitute of sik a king(b) a1500 K. Hart 465.
Way is me a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1246.
Sche cryit reuthfully: ‘Now thou art deid, thairfor full way is me’(c) a1400 Leg. S. xxix, 396.
Wais me That losit has it that lyf suld be a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 285.
[The townspeople, seeing the dragon, said:] Wais ws all, For now perise mone we all 1513 Doug. xi i 133 (Sm.).
Bot netheles, quhat harm, full wayis me 1513 Doug. xii xi 15.
‘Ha, ways me [Ruddim. wa is me]’ he said 1540 Lynd. Sat. 587 (B).
Wayis me for king Humanitie c1590 Fowler I 239/1.
Ways me! alas! that saying is to trew 1600 Crim. Trials II 179.
Bot wais me, for the thing that is fallen out! a1628 Carmichael Prov. 1674.
Weils wowars but waies thair hese they draw up sa far that they leive nathing in thair hois(d) a1500 Peblis to Play 67.
Ane vther said wys me lat be(e) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1886.
Now ar thay deid, and wo is me thairfoir c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1393.
Wo is me (quod he) to see this sicht 1622-6 Bisset II 181/3.
Auch allace vo is ws that wantis him for quhen we had him, we knew nocht [with] quhat … graces he wes indewed 1604-31 Craig v 9.
Woe is mee(f) 1638 Cant Serm. 13 June 1638 (1741) 67.
Woe's us all, we see … the glorious work pulled down 1680 Soc. Ant. XLV 246.
Woes us that we can nether shew nor receive kindness without danger(g) 1600-1610 Melvill 784.
Wois is me(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2981.
Allace, wo is to me

b. Wa, wa for (sorow, etc.), wa alace, wo on us.(1) c1475 Wall. iv 760.
At hir he speryt giff scho forthocht it sar. ‘Wa, ya’, scho said c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 7.
Christ cryis wa our the Phariseis, scribis and ypocritis 1570 Sat. P. xviii 79.
Wo will thay cry, and rew that thay him kend Urquhart Rabelais ii vi.
Haw, my thropple, the bean of my cragg is bruck! Haw, for Gaud's seck … Maaster; waav, waw, waw 1676 Welsh Gospel Summonds 13.
Wa then I would exhort you to look how ye should look upon sin c1688 Shields Heads of a Preface and of a Lecture Preached in Gaastown Preface.
Wa, what way dos it signify this ye'll say? Wa, then I'll tell you(2) 1490 Irland Mir. II 58/22.
The euill … pepil … sall cry with hyduus woce wa for sorow and dolour is to ws(3) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 578 (Ch.).
Out of Scotland wa alace, I haif bene fleimit lang tyme 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2096.
But wo allace I dout richt wounder sair(4) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1828.
Crying allace wo on vs euer mair(5) a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 1516.
Walla wa fa the holl of your ars

2. In prophetic utterances, denunciations or curses. a. Wa is (the person denounced, cursed or referred to), wa is it to (the object of the pronouncement), wa thé be, may you be cursed.(1) c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 230.
Wa is hyme that is hyme alan … fore gif he fallis … is nan to help hyme a1500 Henr. Fab. 1789.
Wo is him can not bewar in tyme a1500 Colk. Sow i 144.
Wo is him that hes royne 1567 G. Ball. 187.
Way is the hirdis of Israell That feidis nocht Christis flock a1568 Scott xxxiv 151.
Wais ȝow, Quod Allexander Scote a1570 Misc. Spald. C. II xxvii.
Wa is the man that wantis a1599 Rollock Wks. I 414.
Gif thou have na mair, wa is thee 15.. Bk. Dean Lismore 77.
Ways ye man that na gowd can and no gowd wyll ȝow leyr a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1664.
Wo is the man hes a willard maister(2) c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 463.
Va is it to the land, of the quhilk the king is a barne(3) a1500 Seven S. 1403.
Wa thé be, Sa ill a deid has done to me

b. Wa worth (Worth vǽ. 2), let it befall in a harmful fashion, may ill or harm befall, a curse upon. 1375 Barb. i 515.
Bot off all thing, wa worth tresoun! a1500 Henr. Fab. 2450.
Wa [Ch. Ua] worth the well of that wickit vyce, For it is all bot fraud c1475 Wall. iv 744.
Allace That I was maide, wa worthe the coursit cas! a1500 Seven S. 595.
He … said full angerly, Wa worth ȝow 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 627.
Wo worth sic strang misfortoun … Quhilk hes opprest my spreitis maist joyous c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 196/9.
Wo wirth the fruct wald put the tre to nocht 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3562.
Wa worth the time & hour that I was wife vnto the empreour a1570-86 Maitl. F. 243/5.
Way worth maryage for evermair a1600 Watson's Coll. ii 54.
Wa worth thee, wanwordie, wanshapen wran 1600 Crim. Trials II 198.
Hard George Craigingelt cry, Grene cottis! Wo worth ȝow, for ȝowr heir cuming a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1658.
Wo worth reason ill used for it laketh reverence

c. Wa (be) to (thé etc.), may (you, etc.) be cursed. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xi 21.
Wa to thé, Corozaim! wa to thee, Bethsaida! 1540 Lynd. Sat. 95.
Now wander and wa be to thame all thair lyvis The quhilk ar maryit with sic vnhappy wyvis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1035.
Wo than, and duill be to ȝow Princes, all 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 150.
Saying ‘Wa be unto ȝow quhilk callis the evyll guide' 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4362.
O curst catiue, wo to thy cruelnes 1562-3 Winȝet I 40/11.
Woo be to thaim, (sayis he) quha in the rebellioun … of Core hes perissit 1570 Sat. P. xviii 73.
Wo to the scheddars of his saikles blude!

3. War him wele or war him wa, whether it did good or ill to him, willy-nilly. 1375 Barb. xvi 658.
He hynt than be the armys twa And war him wele or war him wa, He ewyn apon his bak him slang

B. noun.1. A state or condition of misery, misfortune, distress, affliction or trouble. Also proverb. and attrib.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 765.
Allace for wa! quhat aylis thé That soroful tale to tel me a1500 K. Hart 803.
The dayis watchis … said thai saw ane felloun mist. ‘Ȝa,' said Wisdome, ‘I wist it wald be wa. That is ane sing befoir ane hevie trist That is parell to cum’ a1550 Ave Gloriosa 62.
He sore did bleid On croce … And wesche ws fra all wa 1580-92 James VI Lusus Reg. 33.
O absence … Quhy workis thou us sic ua? 1600-1610 Melvill 179.
Fearing alwayes that wa, quhilk the Profit pronunces against sic as does the wark of the Lord negligentlie(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 172.
Bath God & man … that ws fra wa wane c1450-2 Howlat 748.
For ws, wappit in wo in this warld wyde 1490 Irland Mir. I 109/25.
My part is throu piete to help … him fra his miserie pane & woo 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 5.
Ȝe twa [sc. Venus and Cupid] Fosteraris of byrnyng carnail hait delyte Ȝour ioly wo neidlyngis most I endyte c1552 Lynd. Mon. 747.
The tre … Quhilk, … Began our misarie and wo 15.. Dunb. App. ix 35.
Devoyd all wo and leif in merines a1568 Scott xx 21.
All thy wo and cair a1568 Bann. MS 81b/23.
Uo 1570 Sat. P. xviii 78.
Wo and eik wrak mot fall that bludy band! a1578 Pitsc. I 3/16.
Ane hes that micht ane hundreith weill susteine And livis in vo a1585 Maitl. Q. 42/3.
Woe c1590 Fowler I 53/158.
Lowe retanis within his cloyster … doubt, dreid, dispair, … distrust, and hope with constant wow 1649 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 565.
I have been oftener … afraid for the wo of Christ to them whom all the world love … than I was grieved for any reproachful speeches … against me c1650 Spalding I 214.
Wnder this fair general lurked muche poysoun and gryte blood sched, wo, and wrack throwout the kingis haill dominionisproverb. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 915 (Wr.).
A wilful man wants never woe 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 17a.
Ane wreche … is the caws of his awin … wo 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. Prov. No. 94.
Quhen hope and hape quhen health and wealth ar highest, than woe and wracke, diseis and deith ar neirest a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 418.
Commer they cald yow wakin weaattrib. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1522.
There was never a thing sa wae bested as fuiles wyfe and bairnes bred

b. In collocation with wele (Wele n. 1 c), q.v. for examples. a1400 Leg. S. xvi 753.
Vay

c. To wirk, do wa, to cause (a person) trouble, harm, to do damage.Wa in this usage is etymologically an adverb. 1375 Barb. xvii 526.
Thai … in Ingland gert bryn & sla And wrocht tharin sa mekill wa … That it was pite for to se a1400 Leg. S. xv 176.
Thai tuk sone Sancte Barnaba, & pynyt hyme, & wrocht hyme wa a1400 Leg. S. xxx 624.
The feynd, … Cesit nocht to wirk hyr way a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 300.
This fel dragone I sal sla, That ȝou has done sa mykil wa c1420 Wynt. i 615 (C).
Thai … mekill wa in warld sal wirk c1420 Wynt. viii 5650.
Edynburchis Castelle swa Dyde to the land anoy and wa c1530-40 Stewart in Bann. MS 140b/51.
Ȝour girnand god grit Garnega In to this warld mott wirk ȝow wa 1643 Baillie II 106.
Yow know what woe and danger selfie men … may doe

2. An instance of sorrow or distress, a misfortune, trouble or difficulty. Chiefly pl.sing. 15.. Dunb. App. vi 171.
Chryst ȝow conserve fra every wopl. 1567 Sat. P. iii 153.
All the wois that Ouid … Into his pretty lytill buik did wryte, And mony mo be to oure Scottis quene a1605 Montg. Misc. P. iii 9.
That curst inconstant cative till accuse, Quhais variance of all my wois I wyt 1611-57 Mure Sonn. iv 4.
Alace! that fortune ewer seimd to ease My endles woes 1621-40 Melville Commonpl. Bk. 57.
Na warldly wawis my mynd can toss I bruik that is ane otheris baine 1697-1707 D. Hume Accompt of Estate 51.
After many jars, wos and froes in my business with Crossrig and the Earle of Home, [it] came to a settlement

b. An utterance of the word ‘wo’ in denouncing or cursing; a curse, an anathema. 1586–87 Reg. Privy C. IV 142.
He pronunceit a wo aganis the inhabitantis of Edinburgh afferming that the last plague suld be gritare nor ony that precedit 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 450.
Remember that there is a wo, wo to him by whom offences come. This wo came out of Christ's mouth and it is heavier than the wo of the law. It is the Mediator's vengeance

3. Sorrow, grief, mental anguish.There is some overlap with sense 1. 1375 Barb. xx 483.
Sum of the lord Douglassis men … Ȝeid weill neir wood for dule & wa a1400 Leg. S. vii 624.
Ay the langare he sat sa, The mare grew his sorow & va ?1438 Alex. i 2407.
I die with dule and wa. Bot he stoutly contraryed be 1461 Liber Plusc. I 382.
Fill burnis wellis reueris … Of glowdis [= clouds] of sorow of angger and distres And baith [= bathe] my hart, in endles wo that payns a1500 Henr. Fab. 2465.
The keipar off the fe For verray wo woxe wanner a1500 K. Hart 416.
Dame Chastite … For wo ȝeid wode a1500 Seven S. 452.
Scho wist nocht quhat to do for wa Bot fled and schoutit and cryid allace c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 213.
Than ly I walkand for wa a1585 Maitl. Q. 277/4.
Ouide … Conseumd with woe, that August him disdaind c1590 Fowler I 131/133.
Notwithstanding all his plaints his woe, his doole, his noy, He happier is [etc.] 1604-31 Craig v 21.
Revert all his wae, Whome your beautie hurt

4. Physical anguish or suffering, agony, also applied to the pains of Hell.Some examples may belong in sense 1. a1400 Leg. S. ii 727.
Gyf he wit quhat wa that scho For hym tholyt, he suld nocht that do: For is na payne, … sa gret as to ber barne a1400 Leg. S. vi 250.
He vald firste quyke tham fla, & bryne thame syne in doile & va c1450-2 Howlat 499.
The wyis quhar the wicht went war in wa wellit c1475 Wall. ix 1538.
Decest scho was, … Bettyr him thocht, that it was hapnyt sa, Na Sotheroun suld hyr put till othir wa a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 749.
Ded … come now into tyme Him for to lous fra his gret wa and pyne c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 21/156.
Bot feiling wo with Thé of every wound 1513 Doug. vi Prol. 150.
Sathan … Prynce in that dolorus den of wo and pane a1568 Bann. MS 38a/47.
Thow salbe smord In hellis pane in wofull wa & weir

5. The expression of sorrow or anguish, lamentation.Some examples may belong in senses 1 or 2. ?1438 Alex. i 1530.
Emynedus him menit sua, And grat, and maid sa mekill wa a1500 Henr. Fab. 1930.
Allace, quhat cair, quhat weiping is and wo, Quhen saull and bodie partit ar c1475 Wall. ii 264.
Led him with gret woo, Till hyr awin hous c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 437.
I haif a wattir spunge for wa, … Than wring I it … and wetis my chekis; … and welteris doune teris 1513 Doug. xiii iii 131.
Large wepyng, duyll, and wa 1535 Stewart 2488.
Of Scotland … the greit meseritie … The murning mude of euerie wyfe and man … The dule, the dolour thairof … The weiping virgen, the wo of euerie wycht

C. adj.1. Grieved, sorrowful, miserable, unhappy. b. In weakened sense: Sorry, regretful. Chiefly predic.predic. 1375 Barb. viii 347.
Way 1375 Barb. xii 141.
The lave went till thar ost agayne Off thar tynsaill sary and wa 1375 Barb. xx 196.
Than war thair hertis all so wa That nane mycht hald hym fra greting a1400 Leg. S. vii 332.
Jervsalem, euir va thu be c1420 Wynt. iv 1557.
Than were the Romanys sa wa, And for this cas disparyd swa, That [etc.] a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 350.
Quhen scho saw his face sa deformait; Gif scho in hart was wa aneuch, God weit c1475 Wall. v 104.
Fawdoun tyryt and said he mycht nocht gang Wallace was wa to leyff him in that thrang 1529 Hawick Ann. 27.
But Scotland's heart was ne'er sae wae, To see sae mony brave men die a1568 Bann. MS I p. 24/5.
In vertew ioyus in vyce baith wa and wan 1558-66 Knox I 278.
To schaw his Lordschipe, how wa I wold be eyther to hear, see, or knaw any displeasur that mycht come to him … or any of his house 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 168.
It will trouble him, and make him wa a1599 Rollock Wks. I 437.
Quhen thou art wa at thy neighbouris weil, and can not se him thrive, then thou wil hait him c1610 Jok Uplandis Newis 1a.
I hear that same to, and I am verrie wae for it … that sik buik leird men should give us sic evill exampleproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 39.
Ane begger is wae that another be the gate gae(b) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1466.
Inne-to hys hert he was full wo a1500 Henr. Robene & M. 125.
Scho … left him, bayth wo and wewche, In dolour & in cair c1475 Wall. iv 137.
Woo 1513 Doug. xiii xi 39.
Ene And the Eneadanys … luffyt haue I … Havand piete … for thar dyseys was wo 1515 Williamson in Doug. (Sm.) I p. xxiii.
I am ryght sory and voo therfor 15.. Clar. i 873.
I am woe That sic ane nobill prince is vexit so 1635 Hope in Misc. Hist. Soc. I 106.
I am woo to sie affares to goo in this sort 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 514.
Oh how joyful should my soul be to know that I had brought on a marriage betwixt Christ and that people … If it be not so I shall be wo to be a witness against themattrib. a1540 Freiris Berw. 417 (B).
With fenȝeit cheir and hert full wo and hevy 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7786.
Sa wald kindnes, … Of ane wo hart for to haue compassioun 1639 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 566.
It were but to shift the comforts of God to say ‘Christ had never such a cross as mine … ' But I hope that Christ when he married you married you and all the crosses and wo hearts that follow you … 'In all their afflictions He was afflicted' c1650 Spalding I 53.
Scho returnit home … with a wo hairtcompar. 1375 Barb. xvi 249.
Mycht na man se a waer [C. vrathar] man a1500 Seven S. 1119.
Waarsuperl. c1450-2 Howlat 963.
I couth not won in to welth wrech wast [B. wayest]

2. Angry, enraged. 1375 Barb. xi 550.
Anoyit in his hart and wa That [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xxix 970.
Thane wes the emperoure rycht wa That he herd Eustace sa say, & commandit his men … To … bynd thame in a place … & lyons los lat to thaim ga c1420 Wynt. viii 2660.
Fra he [sc. Edward I] hard his men slayne swa, Was newyre in warld a wasp sa wa

3. Reluctant. a1500 Rauf C. 247.
He said ‘I haue na knawledge quhair the court lyis And I am wonder wa to cum quhair I am vnkend’