A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Compare, Compair, v.1 Also: conpair. [ME. compare (1447), OF. comparer (earlier comperer Compere v.), L. comparāre.]
1. tr. To compare (one thing to or with another). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 140.
Latt no wyld weid … Compair hir till the lilleis nobilnes c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. lxxxi. 18.
He … may comparit be To bras fundin in goldin myne 1549 Compl. 45/1.
Ther is na faculte, … that can be comparit til oure stait Ib. 140/32.
I can nocht conpair the comont pepil … , bot ontyl beystis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3659.
Lucane doith Allexander compair Tyll thounder 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3089.
We will tell … How scho comparit the Kingis persoun Vnto ane theif a1578 Pitsc. I. 267/20.
I compair ȝour lordschips to ane honest mearchand a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxx. 35.
Had our estates bene weill compaird, I had no vterlie dispaird 1596 Dalr. I. 58/19.
This scheip may be comparet in heicht til a gait 1611-57 Mure Misc. P. xx. 8.
If compaird in worth
2. intr. To enter into comparison. 1611-57 Mure Son. vi. 14.
[He] with Jove may weel compair in happines
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Compare v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/compare_v_1>
