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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Differ, v.¹ Also: difer, differ(e, diffeir(e. [ME. differre (Wyclif), OF. differer, L. differre. Cf. Defer v.¹]

1. tr. To delay, postpone, put off. = Defer v.¹ 1. a1400 Leg. S. l. 824.
Quhat torment thou has thocht To do to me, differe thou nocht 1513 Doug. xi. ix. 59.
The kyng … gret materis … Left and differrit [Sm. defferrit, Ruddim. deferrit] quhil ane other day 1528 Douglas Corr. 134.
I send writingis … differrand the remainet to be declarit … be ane greit frende of myn 1551 Hamilton Cat. 15.
We suld nocht differre our spiritual resurrectioun 1559 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 32.
Throw thair wairding the commoun effairis of this burgh [are] diferrit and hynderit 1574 Conv. Burghs I. 34.
The principall caus concerning thair estait is ovirsene, diferrit and dilayit c1590 Fowler II. 81/8.
The Romans … vnderstood weill eneugh that by sic sufferance the occasioun of weir was not removed bot diffeired 1596 Highland P. I. 164.
They differit this rest of the matter quhill thaire cumming to Ardkinglass 1645 Misc. Hist. Soc. I. 121.
If ȝe haif any scrupil thairin, differ your opinioun till we meit

2. To hinder or impede (a person). = Defer v.¹ 2. a1400 Leg. S. x. 84.
Quhame that thai had euir marryte In thare wittis or differryte, Sancte Mathew gaf the heile parfyte 1533 Bell. Livy II. 181/26.
The small pepill refusit this distributioun … traisting the samyn mycht differ thame of ane … greter proffit

3. intr. To delay (to do something); to postpone action. = Defer v.¹ 3. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 4/13.
We differ to present our said aduertisment … quhill thy gracious licence be had thairto 1570 Leslie 294.
Sho differrit to gif aunswere to that 1596 Dalr. I. 148/29.
He walde differ to seik a reuenge quhill anothir tyme 1628 Red Bk. Menteith II. 77.
Therfore haif I written to the brethren to differe to that tym

4. intr. To have course or passage. a1400 Leg. S. xii. 283.
Al his guttis … Owt thai ruschit ine that place thare, & ine til his mowthe differyt