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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Necessar(e, a. Also: necessair(e, -er(e, -our, neccessare, nesesar, nesseser(e, necis-, nesisar(e, nissicer. [sc. form corresp. to ME. and e.m.E. necessary, -ie, L. necessārius: cf. ME. (Chaucer and Gower) and F. (13th c.) necessaire.]

1. In attrib. use: Necessary, essential, needful, requisite. Passing into sense 3.a. Of material necessities. Also fig. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 654 (c).
With cordes sere And vther thynges necessere The hors they drew 14.. Acts I. 44/2.
The ayre sal hafe the necessare thyngis 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 99.
Sende to Lady Margret to by hir necessar thingis 1491 Acts II. 227/1. 1494 Loutfut MS. 3 a.
Quhat vittalis and othir necessaries thingis he bringis with him 1516 Reg. Privy S. I. 430/1.
Thare to by … lede or ony uther necessar thing for the beting … of the place foresaid 1532 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 59.
And all vther necessour thingis 1555 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 292.
To the irne wark necessar of the tolbuith 1566 Reg. Privy C. I. 446.
Artailyearie and necessar munitioun c1575 Balfour Pract. 496.
Or ony uther necessar part of the miln 1585 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. 166. 1594 Misc. Spald. C. v. 371.
All necessar houssis 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 209.
And uther such necessaris forrene commodities 1626 Justiciary Cases I. 52.
The necessar fude of meit and drink was haldin fra hir c1650 Spalding I. 130. 1658 Glasgow Weavers 23.
David Arnot … sall give him all sort of abulyeament necesser as becumes [etc.] 1672 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 13 July.
For cairing necessar graith from on hill to anotherfig. 1562-3 Winȝet II. 12/30.
Throw inlake of the heuinlie and necessare fuid of Godis Word

b. Of non-material things, esp. practical concerns or business. 1494 Loutfut MS. 34 b.
A hevy man that mycht nocht follow his necesser dedis 1506 Liber Aberbr. II. 370.
All othir necessar thingis to do, vse, exers and hant neidful to fisching craft 1518 Acta Conc. MS. XXXII. 66.
Without thai have effectuis and necessar erandis 1521 Douglas Corr. 78.
I and utheris hes presentlie directe this berar … towart the kingis grace … appone certane necessare instructiounes 1557–8 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 71/2. 1588 Reg. Privy C. IV. 245.
For the necessar supporte of the effearis of his estate 1596 Dalr. I. 297/7. 1598 Acts IV. 179.
Be the daylie greit incres of necessar debursingis in thair hienes … effairis 1607 Aboyne Rec. 187. 1622 Maxwell Mem. II. 199.
I knaw my nissicer affairris … best of any man 1623 Peebles Gleanings 17.
The said Margaret … being doing her necessar adois upon the feildis and coming thairfra hamwart 1633 W. Struther True Happiness, or King David's Choice 23.
About this greatest necessar one thing c1650 Spalding I. 220.
And althogh we must adhere to our most necessar and lauchfull covenant 1640–1 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 67.
His necessar charges and expenses being deducted a1650 Row 33. 1664 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I. 45.
To the doing off hir nesesar busines

2. In predic. use: Necessary, essential, indispensable; needful, requisite. Passing into sense 3.(1) 1398–9 Acts I. 211/2.
With the consail of otheris, the qwhilkis sal be sene to thaim necessar 1456 Hay I. 204/28. Ib. 67/18.
Bot, as belangand the sacrament of baptesme, that is necessair but ony were 1490 Irland Mir. I. 29/1.
Mony thingis are necessar that oure prayere be ressonabile [etc] Ib. 42/15.
Twa thingis are necessare to cum to … blis euirlestand 1533 Gau 32/23.
The licht of grace is necesser to scheyne in the mirknes … of natur 1549 Compl. 10/13.
[The teacher's] faculte is as … crafty ande as necessair as is to be … ane marchant [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet I. 82/12.
Gif ȝe affirm with Caluin baptim to be sa necessar, that it sald nocht be contemnit 1558-66 Knox II. 300.
Nor yit how mekle was necessar to supporte the Quenis majestie 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii. 882.
In this case to speik ony mair At this time is not necessair 1570 Leslie 156. 1585 James VI Ess. 62.
First, that in quhatsumeuer ȝe put in verse, ȝe put in na wordis … bot that they be all sa necessare as ȝe sould be constrainit to vse thame [etc.] c1590 Fowler II. 44/5.
I wald thou satisfiit my petition quhilk is necessar 1594 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 57.
Having furneist us … in sic thingis as wer maist necessar 1640 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 210.
To tak from those that have mae nor is necessar [etc.] 1684 Decis. Lords F. 55.
The designation of a dwelling house was absolutely necessar or otherways [etc.](2) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 691.
Bukis that ware necessare To hyme to prech Godis lare 1490 Irland Mir. MS. 226 a.
How the haly sacramentis ar the spirituale medicinis proffitabile & necessare till ws agane our syn 1551 Hamilton Cat. 9.
Of lesum crabitnes necessare till judgis, maisteris and officeris 1614 Crim. Trials III. 284.
Prohibiteing the … furnishing of thir rebelles with ony thing confortable or necessar vnto thame 1705 Edinb. Univ. Chart. 163. — 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 74/30.
The wordis, sentences, and phrasis necessair for a poete to vse in his verse 1644 Army of the Covenant II. 318.
For transport of victuall baggage and vther necessar for the armie a1700 Charters Spiritual Disc. 78.
That respect which is so necessar for us(3) 1456 Hay I. 204/25. Ib. II. 67/2.
And tharefore say I that this sacrament is nocht necessaire in the last day to mannis salvacioun sa that [etc.] 1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 395.
Ane … brig … with bulwark … of aik and stain … necessar baith to watter and land 1531 Bell. Boece I. xxiii.
The superflew aboundance of all uthir thingis necessar to the use of man 1541 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 176.
Tua settis with feit necessar thairto c1552 Lynd. Mon. 678. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 11/4. Ib. 5/19, 78/19, etc.
Tyl ane godly reformation rycht necessare 1596 Dalr. I. 6/3. Ib. 116/28.
All things quhilkes ar necessar or proffitable to the commone vse of the peple 1616 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 156.
So far as … sal be necessar to that end 1617 Acts IV. 530/1.
The consent of the prelate … to be nowayis necessour to the said entrie or cheinging of tennentis — 1456 Hay II. 65/16.
For quhy it is mare nedefull and mare spedefull and gretter and mare necessair for the commoun prouffit 1490 Irland Mir. MS. 145 b.
His deid … was necessare for oure satisfaccioun 1523 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 182.
And all uthiris thingis necessar for tursing of cariage 1528 Red Bk. Menteith II. 385.
And vtheris officiaris necessaris for sure keping of the samyn [castle] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9910.
Wanting na kind of thing Of honestie nor ȝit was necessair For eis or helth 1569 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 366. 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. 230/32.
The scriptures contenis not al things necessaires for mens saluation 1622-6 Bisset II. 203/10. 1661 Conv. Burghs III. 540.
Conceaving it necessar foir that end 1664 Glasg. Univ. Mun. II. 480. 1698 Lanark B. Rec. 262.
What allars shall be necessar for the bridge(4) 1456 Hay I. 67/24.
It is necessair that ane be as prince and all the lave be … subjectis 1490 Irland Mir. I. 7/6.
Rycht necessare and conuenient ware at thi excellent maieste … knew the will of … Jhesu Ib. 119/19. 1513 Doug. iii. vii. 13. 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 188.
That it is necessar that ane kist be maid a1578 Pitsc. I. 38/30. c1590 Fowler II. 140/25.
Necessaire 1598 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. 192.
Necesser it is that thay be brocht … befoir his maiestie 1609 Acts IV. 435/1.
It is maist necessar that sic gravitie … be vsed by the lordis … in thair apparell 1611 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 13.
Necessair 1621 Acts IV. 632/2.
It wilbe necessour for the convoying of the said water that seuchis … be cassin 1664 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 634.
To evidence his descent it will be necessar he have a borbrieff 1681 Glasgow Weavers 6.
As also that necessar it is that [etc.] c 1683 Nat. Reg. Archives (Scotl.) Rep. (Ewart Lib., Dumfries) 24. 1692 Conv. Burghs IV. 155.
In the mean tym it uill be absolutely necessar you send for the provest off Uigtoun(5) 1533 Bell. Livy I. 105/9.
Seing that it was necessare to him owthir de or ellis assaileȝe … chance of armes Ib. II. 38/19. 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 41.
Therefor nessesere to send ane servand to your grace of adverteisment 1562-3 Winȝet II. 5/20.
Necessare it is heirfor to be also assuirit of [etc.] 1566 Oliphants 100.
Quhairfoir necessar it is to the said reuerend father to haiff lettres [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I. 32/15.
It was … mair necessar to gif plaice thair nor to attempt the thing that [etc.] 1583 Chapel Royal lxxxvii.
Thane it wer necessar for the owtsett off the said paleys … to tak away the cheppell 1606 Acts IV. 297/1.
How necessar it is to … vphald … the castell of Sanctandrous … for … preserveing of the samin 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 75 b.
Quhen it is necessare to attach sic men [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset II. 148/10.
It is baith godlie, lauchfull and necessar to pray for all the leving a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 205. 1638 Henderson Serm. 21.(6) 1549 Compl. 16/14.
I thocht it nocht necessair til hef [etc.] Ib. 37/8. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 759.
Then thocht the Lord it necessare Till hym [sc. Adam] to create ane helpare Ib. 3284. 1567 Sat. P. vi. 17. ? a 1570 Breadalbane Lett. No. 95.
I thoichit nesisar to derek ȝow the said berar 1588 King Cat. H ij.
I thocht it necessar to conionne the awld kallendar with the reformeit — 1562-3 Winȝet I. 23/17.
Ȝe, sa necessar thocht I it, that [etc.] 1583 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 100.
Hes thocht it conwenient and necessar that the haill kirk be wphaldin 1596 Dalr. II. 355/5.
The Quene … thocht verie necessar that commissaris conuinet to mak peice

b. Const. passive infin. or infin. with passive force or to be as copula: Needful to be, that requires or needs (to) be. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 16.
Yit ane thing bene necessar to avise 1536–7 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 84.
And dyueris vtheris actis necessar to be done 1549 Compl. 9/13.
Thir ordinances of the Egiptiens are verray necessair to be vsit in al realmys a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 130/11.
His reall bodye and bloude, quhilkis ar nocht necessar to be handelit 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 8.
Ilk bursar sa mony as salbe thocht necessair to be in the college of humanite 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 141. 1622-6 Bisset I. 110/7.
Sik as ar of that rank and moyane, ar nocht necessar to be advocattis 1649 Review Bramble's Faire Warning 8.
Necessare to be plucked up by the root 1662 Decis. Lords G. 19.
And it was … not profitable nor necessar to be proven of whom holden 1695 Glasg. Univ. Mun. II. 514.

c. ellipt. (Places, occasions etc.) In, to or for which something is needed. 1562 St. A. Kirk S. 179.
The superintendent ordenis inhibicionis in wryt to be direc to all kyrkis necessar to the same effect 1572 Peebles B. Rec. I. 344.
And failyene of lyme to lay dry werk in all places necessar 1699 Conv. Burghs IV. 295.
Sufficient … assyssers at all occations necessare

3. Passing into: Profitable, useful, desirable, suitable, fitting; appropriate, convenient. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 11/1.
The deploracion of sic miserijs wil nocht be plesand, suppois the tyme was neccessare thareto 1549 Compl. 7/1.
Nocht heffand ane perfect determination of quhat purpos or mater that var maist necessair ande honest to be dilatit Ib. /7.
That ther var na mater mair conuenient ande necessair for this present dolorus tyme Ib. 46/14.
Accedentis that ar gude or euyl, necessair or domageabil for man or beyst Ib. 18/6. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 642. 1552 Reg. Cupar A. II. 102.
The saidis … salhaif powar to big alsmekill as thai think speidfull and necessar 1562-3 Winȝet II. 47/11. 1585 Reg. Episc. Brechin II. 352.
The said annuellis … cannot be applayit agane to na godlie nor necessar use 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 164.
This visitation of the king's learns us twa necessare lessons 1594 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II. 270.
Gif any day wes omitit quhairin we haif nocht done sum necessar service 1596 Dalr. I. 120/4.
Gif ony … cause fal out … quhilke can nocht be agriet be our cuntrey lawis, incontinent quhateuir is thocht necessar … is citet out of the Romane lawis 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 209/67.
All that hard it [advice] necessaire it fand 1621-40 Melville Commonpl. Bk. 17.
Proverbes, necessar to be usit in ordinar speiche 1658 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 322.
Finding that the forsaid work … was most commendable and necessar

b. Of persons: Rendering essential or useful service. 1536 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 457.
Coke and baxtar with all uthir necessar servandis … that is to say coke, ledar, portar, gardnar, child of the hall [etc.] 1577 Orkney Oppress. 18.
Quhilk lawrichtman … was ane necessar officiar in everie seuerale yle and paroche of the cuntrie 1677 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III. 101.
Officers serjands dempsters and all other members of courte necessare

4. a. That is determined or follows inevitably; that exists by inherent necessity. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1390 (H).
O glorius kingdome … Quhairof all ewill is necessair absence 1543 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xxv.
Thair is na necessare caus quhy the samin suld be done bot gif it be to vsurpe the quenis gracis auctorite 1581 Burne Disput. 39 b.
Sence it is als necessar … that ane substance haue the auin substance, as that the accidentis haue thair inherence c1590 Fowler II. 43/35.
Gif the apostlis did not remaine in thair awin persons … it is necessare that thay ramanit in thair successeurs Ib. 44/17.
He neuer reputit personall successioun, to be an maist proper, necessare, and infallabill note of the kirk

b. Made unavoidable or highly expedient by circumstances. 1533 Boece i. ii. 35.
At the last necessare pece on ather partie was made Ib. vi. 47.
This necessare lyig bundin with Scottis 1641 Baillie I. 338.
At such ane necessare occasion 1649 Elgin Rec. II. 436.
The master or doctor to superintend ther play and in ther necessar absence the generall censor 1672 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 279.

5. Characterized by need, necessitous. 1553 Rec. Earld. Orkney 250.
Becaws my brodyr germen geff me the forsaid sowme in my gryt neid and necisare causis 1592 James VI in Ellis Orig. Lett. 2 Ser. III. 163.
Turne your eyes … to blinke upon the necessaire cace of youre friend