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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.

Greif, Gref(e, v. Also: greff, greyff. [Variant of Greve v.; cf. Northern ME. greif (14th c., rare) and ME. gref (c 1430).]

1. tr. To hurt or harm. = Greve v. 1 and 1 b. a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 3.
Sathane ȝet finis nocht … Al cristine men for to gref [: Eve] ?1438 Alex. ii. 7146.
Clarus … wele couth ordane his effeir To greif his fais with word and micht a1500 Seven S. 1349.
Sum vther way first thow him gref c1475 Wall. viii. 1490.
In all his ost thar sall no man thaim greiff 1513 Doug. x. vii. 176.
Full douchtely Pallas … Inforcis hym to greif hys fays that tyde a1540 Freiris Berw. 502.
In this place se that thow no man greif 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1825.
Wee beleifit That lecherie had na man greifitabsol. a1400 Leg. S. xlviii. 90.
Thu tel … In quhat tyme lest gref ȝe may To cristine men 1535 Stewart 48075.
Fortune … With grunschand luke quhen scho lykkis to greif

2. To wrong, trouble, oppress. = Greve v. 2. 14.. Acts I. 338/2.
Gif thar be ony confederacioun … thru the quhilk the nychtburhede is wrangwisly greffyt 1432 Highland P. II. 178.
Quhen that ony fyndis thaim grefit … of tha clausis or defawtis a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 118.
Pres nocht to greiff nouthir man na viff c1420 Wynt. viii. 2080 (W).
The Scottismen … That with the Inglismen oft ware Greiffit, and supprisit saire 1533 Bell. Livy I. 232/6.
This ire & indignatioun movit Appius to greif his armye with sa feirs commandmentis that [etc.] a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cx. 48.
Syne thame [the commons] defend that nane thame greif

3. To annoy or vex. = Greve v. 3. a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 525.
To me sic ȝemsel gef That my word thé nocht gref c1420 Ratis R. 1038.
To greif a lord, or mak hym vraith a1500 Seven S. 1463.
Grant me forgeving This anys, and neuir … Sall I ȝow greif 15.. Clar. i. 294.
Fynd I ȝow set to hurt my honestie, Dreidles at ȝow I will more greifit be 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4154.
Ȝe sall ȝour husband preif, Him for to temp, or anger him or greif a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxix. 101.
I tak my leif Fering with langer purpose ȝow to greif 1610 7th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. II. 713.
Giff he haid bein the King himself, he could not haiff bein mair magnifikly resauit, and, that no thing suld greiff himabsol. 1567 G. Ball. 32.
Quhen this schort pyne to ȝow greif, Than think on hell, the lang mischeif

4. intr. and reflex. To become angry or annoyed. = Greve v. 4. a1500 Henr. Age & Yowth 65 (M).
This galȝart grutchit and began to greif a1500 Doug. K. Hart 493.
Abyd, abyd, gud fallow, thé nocht greif