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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Secundar, adj. (n.¹). Also: -are, -air, seconder. [ME and e.m.E. secondarye (Wyclif), secundary (1386), L. secundārius, F. secundaire (1287 in Larousse).]

1. Of other than first importance or consequence, second-class, inferior, subsidiary. 1490 Irland Mir. II 72/5.
For thai propone the secundar and accedentale thingis to be maist worthi

2. Of quality second to, or generally below, the best; second-best, second-quality, lower-quality. Also freq. absol. = Secund adj. 3.(1) 1474 Treas. Acc. I 26.
iij quarteris of secundare vellus to the lynyng of the sammyn sleiffis 1560 Edinb. B. Rec. III 84.
The best cuppill of cwnyngis quhyte quhill Yule to be sald for iij s., the other pair secundar for ij s. iiij d. 1564 Stirling B. Rec. I 81.
Singill solit mennis schone, the best can be maid, iij s.; other secundair schone for men, ij s., xxviij d. or xxx d., eftir as thay ar of gudnes 1566 in Hay Fleming Q. Mary 499.
Sax pound of secundar threid in divers sortis 1571 Cal. Sc. P. IV 69.
Caus mak ane propir ring [etc.] … Item: [Two other] secundar [with stones and [etc.]](2) 1482 Edinb. Chart. 169.
Of ilk grete schip … xiii s. iiii d. The secundare x s. The mydlest vi s. viii d. — 1508 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 117.
That all stabulares … sall sell the best corne for iiij d. and the furallar and secundare for iij d. the pek 1538–9 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 93.
That thai sell thair best cunings for iiij s., and the secundare efferand to thair gudenes 1550 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 148.
The best mwttoun bowk for xiiij s., the secundare xij s., and the werst x s. 1551 Elgin Rec. I 110.
That na derar aill be sauld within this brucht nor xx d. the gallovne the best and secundar as it salbe sett be the cunstaris 1570 Elgin Rec. I 124.
That the pair menis schoin be sauld for twa s. four d. and secundar of minor price 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. V 385.

3. Of size second to, or generally below, the largest. 1584 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 370.
[That] the said quarriouris … for the secundare staynes [marg. mylne staynis] within the quantitie foresaid … be satisfeit and payet be said thesaurer

4. adv. Seconder good, of the second order of goodness, that is good in the second degree, i.e. less than the best. 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xii.
The olde heathen … diuided … men … in two rankes. As the good in these of the best sort, whom for their merit they made Gods: and in a seconder good sort … vnder the name Lares