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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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

Wra(i)th, Wro(i)th, Wre(i)th, adj. Also: wra(i)the, vra(i)th, wrayth, wraeth. [ME and e.m.E. wrað (c1175), wroð (c1200), wraþ (Orm), wrath (Cursor M.), wrothe (Chaucer), OE wráþ, ON reiðr.] a. Angry, furious, enraged; ferocious; inclined to violence or war, in the senses of Wra(i)th n.¹ Also const. againis, at, for, of, to, with something or someone or on (for) someone's behalf. Chiefly predic. Also wraith as the wind. b. Grieved, sorrowful.The first example in quot. 1595 in b may belong in a. Some examples in a may belong in b.a. predic. (1) a1400 Leg. S. i 523.
Than wes the hound na thing wrath, Na schup to do na man schath a1400 Leg. S. x 442.
The puple … As woud men … went towarte the kingis ine His palace … to bryne Bot … the clergy com wel rathe & gat be-for tham that ware wrathe; & sobryt tham that nere woud wes c1420 Wynt. vii 3165.
Than ware thai mare wode than wrath 1609 Garden Garden 50.
Each oone of these are iustly wrongd and wraith 1626 Garden Worthies 149.
The Virtues therewith wrong'd weept & were wraeth(b) c1420 Ratis R. 1037.
Ȝhit … Thow sal bere al the blame … Fore comone voice is sum-deil laith To greif a lord, ore mak hym vraith c1420 Ratis R. 1271.
This eild … can nocht be restrenȝhit weill Quhen it is wod and wraithe sum-deill a1500 Henr. Fab. 2023.
‘Schir,’ said the foxe, ‘that ane word maks me wraith’ a1500 Rauf C. 100.
The carll … wox wonder wraith c1475 Wall. ix 1834.
Hys wyff was wraith, but it scho schawit nocht, Wndyr cowart hyr malice hid perfyt a1500 K. Hart 745.
The quene wourde wrayth the king wes sore addrede For hir disdane he culd nocht gudlie beir 1513 Doug. vii xiii 13.
The mair wod wraith and furyus wolx sche 1535 Stewart 51865.
King Edward … thoch he wes neuir so wrayth He passit hame in dreid of far moir skaith 1567 G. Ball. 38.
The eldest wraith was and angrie a1578 Pitsc. II 147/2.
The quene … heiring of this was wondrous wraith, angrie and wowit to God scho sould … punische that deid cruellie(c) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 469.
Appolyne … Was wroth ‘bycause … hys tempile, was Fyled' a1500 Quare Jel. 157.
And quho be wroth or quho be blith … I … sett no thing those by(d) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4422 (B).
Suppois ȝe luik as ȝe war wreth 15… Edinb. Univ. MS La.iv.6.
[The fa]rer we spek mor wreth is he(2) 1375 Barb. i 201.
Gyff ony of thaim thar-at war wrath a1400 Leg. S. iii 585.
Oure goddis … That thu aganis thé [has] mad wrath ?1438 Alex. ii 9501.
Alexander … Was wraith and sorroufull for [F. dolans et courouciés] his men c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2705.
Orestes in his hart was wroith Of suche welany c1420 Ratis R. 1730.
[A child is] For lytil blytht, for lytil wraithe a1500 Henr. Hasty Credence 27.
Thir teltellaris oft tymes … makis lordis with thair serwandis wreith [Maitl. wraithe] a1500 Prestis of Peblis 235 (A).
With ony wald he be baith wod & wraith Quha at him sperit how sald he the claith c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. v 22.
Ilk man that is wrathe to his bruthir salbe [etc.] 1558-66 Knox I 25.
The Father of heaven is wraith wyth thé c1650 Spalding I 224.
Haueing red and at lenth perusit the samen, his majestie waxt wroth thair with and becam impatientattrib. (1) 1375 Barb. xvi 245 (C).
Micht no man se ane vrathar man ?1438 Alex. i 2351.
The duke that was bauld as bair Said to him with ane wraith [F. irascus] sembland ?1438 Alex. ii 2570.
Thochtis ioyfull and wraith [F. couroucié] c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2741.
Menelay … Maid with hir wordis wroith 1513 Doug. iv viii 117.
And in hir sleip, wod wroth, in euery place Hir semyt cruel Eneas gan hir chace c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4525.
The Pope answerit with wordis wroith(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2168.
The cadgear als wraith as ony wind a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 770.
Golograse … Wod wraith as the wynd, his handis can wryngb. ?1438 Alex. i 2831.
Men that ar wraith [F. grevés] will nocht weill ta In thank to be defoulit sa ?1438 Alex. ii 10451.
Pryde … Said in his eir that shame was great That he sould … Forȝet his fatheris deid sa sone Bot gang hame … And gadder his hoste … And menteme weir, quha euer be wraith [F. qui qu'en ait esmaiance], Quhill he be vengit of his skaith 1595 Fraser Sir-Name of Baird 41.
Thair is twa yeirs bypast I haif never ressavit any word of you, nather of my father or uther frindis, quhairfore I was very wraith that ye … has na mynd of me. … Mr. James Browne has wrote an letter to me by which he has schawin me that my father is deid and … your mother-in-law; quhairof I am very wraith, yet I am very glad … that they departed guid Catholiques