Show Search Results Show Browse

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Forsuth(e, Forsuith, adv. phr. Also: foresuth, forswthe, -south; for(e)suyth(e, forsoith; forsutht, -swtht, -suitht. [e.m.E. forsothe, ME. for soðe, forsoþ, OE. forsóþ.] Of a truth, in truth, truly, assuredly. Usually parenthetic.(a) 1375 Barb. v. 507.
I herd syndry men oft say Forsuth that his ane E ves out
Ib. xviii. 103.
Thai war sa few, forsuth to say, That ruschit with thair fais var thai
1385 Red. Bk. Grandtully I. 139*.
To the qwhylk askyng, I … forsuth answeryt that suthfastly yha
14.. Acts I. 30/2.
Gif forsuth thai mak … a change of land amang thaim selff
c1420 Wynt. vi. 2046.
Makbeth, luke wp and se, Wndyr yhon sayle forsuth is he
c1450-2 Howlat 603.
It semyt that thai sib war, forsuth I assure
1474 Fam. Innes 82.
We forsuthe … aganis al dedly sal leli and trewly defend
1513 Doug. vii. vi. 59 (Sm.).
Abufe myssuyr forsuth thai chaistyit war
1540 Lynd. Sat. Proc. 24.
So ȝe keip tryist, forswth we sall nocht felȝie
(b) c1420 Wynt. i. 790 (C).
Ane other best … That Monyceros forsuythe thai call
1499 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 625.
And I for suythe … bindis & oblisis me … to warand the tak [etc.]
1513 Doug. i. viii. 46.
I sall forsuyth exploratouris send to spy
c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 563.
Of ȝow forsuith nathing I craue
a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxxx. 118.
My sweit, forsuythe I sall For euer luif ȝou
1585 Douglas Bequest (Reg. H.) 4th March.
We forsuith … sall not absent ws fra the ressait of the said sowme
(c) 1422 Stirlings of Keir 208.
And I for sutht, the for said Gorge, … al our landis … sall warand
1460 Peebles B. Rec. 135.
We forswtht the forsayd balyeis … assygnayis al and syndry our forsayd landis
1539 Reg. Cupar A. II. 6.
And we forsutht … sall warrand, acquiet and defend, as law will
1594 Douglas Bequest (Reg. H.) 23 Jan.
And I forsuitht … sall warrand acquyet and defend this present tak … aganis all deidlye

b. Used to introduce a statement. c1420 Wynt. vi. 2123.
Forsuth, he sayde, thare wes nane than Swa lycherows a lyvand man As he was
a1500 Rauf C. 71.
Forsuith thou suld be wel-cum to pas hame with me
a1500 Bk. Chess. 90.
Forsuth he goith mys As in this writ sall beir to witnes
1513 Doug. ii. ii. 35.
Forsuyth, … I sal, quhat euer betyde, Grant to thé all the verite
1560 Rolland Seven S. 5439.
Forsuith ane King suld wirk nathing but auisement
a1585 Maitl. Q. xlviii. 17.
No, no, forsuith wes neuer none [etc.]
1647 Bk. Pasquils 152.
Forsuith, James, that's a pretty dance

You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.

"Forsuth adv. phr.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/forsuthe>

14796

dost

Hide Advanced Search

Browse DOST:

    Loading...

Share: