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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.

Eith, a. Also: eth, eyth(t, eithe, eath. [e.m.E. eath(e, ME. eth(e, OE. éaðe.]

1. With infinitive: Easy to do, etc. (Chiefly in verse.)(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 159.
For eth is a man to til To do it that is his wil c1420 Wynt. viii. 636.
Thai are noucht eth till wndyrstand a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 21.
We ar … Throu spirituall pith … be grace eth for to tret 1533 Bell. Livy I. 230/32.
It was ether to spere quha had the gouernance of common weill than to inquire [etc.] 1535 Stewart 5838.
Far ethar is to hald nor for to draw(b) 1375 Barb. xvii. 454.
It wes nocht eyth till ta The toune, with sic defens wes maid c1420 Wynt. ii. 695.
To se that land … gyff that it wes eyth to wyn 1456 Hay I. 122/35.
It that is eith and esy to be done c1460 Consail Wys Man 121.
Sely barnis are eith to leire 1473 Acts II. 104/2.
It suld be richt eithe to reule it c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxix. 18.
Now the remanes are eith to turs 1513 Doug. iv. viii. 24.
I had providyt … That this displesour suld haue beyn eith to beir 1535 Stewart 154.
Plane langage is eith to vnderstand Ib. 5243.
Far eithar is to ony man to win This warld wyde 1573 Sat. P. xxxix. 35.
Scho … maid tham freindis … With stancheing bludesched wes not eith to ceice a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlviii. 260.
To come right in we thoght it very eith 1587-99 Hume vii. 74.
Their sall be sein … The modalls great of castills eith to keep 1610 in Calderwood VII. 67.
It is eath to discerne what is essentiall

2. Without const.: Easy to bear, travel, etc. c1475 Wall. ix. 166.
Command thi men … Thar schot off gown, that was nocht eith, to ces 1513 Doug. vi. ii. 91.
It is richt facil and eith gait … Forto discend and pas on down to hell