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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sobir, adj. Also: -yr(e, -er, -ire, -are, -o(u)r, -ur, -re, souber. [ME and e.m.E. sobre (Manning), -ur (c1350), -er (Destr. Troy), OF sobre, L. sōbrius; cf. MDu. sober paltry, poor, etc.]

I. 1. Of persons: Moderate in the use or acquisition of things; not given to excess (in eating or drinking, also of sleep); temperate. a1400 Leg. S. xl 23.
He … sobre wes in drynk & met c1460 Thewis Wysmen 109.
He is euir sobyr, but exces, He is weil content of his riches, He is nocht our-cowatice [etc.] 1533 Boece 97.
Of slepe and fude na men mare continent nor sobir 1570 Sat. P. x 369.
Sober he wes in meit, in drink, and claithis

2. Abstemious in the use of strong drink, esp. wine. a1500 Bernardus 302.
A mane … of wyne that has vsage … and syne … At temporance bydis and sobyr syne a1500 Bk. Chess 1373.
Folk that laubouris in the wyne Sobir suld be c1520-c1535 Nisbet 1 Thess. v 8.
Tharfore … be we sobire. For … thai that ar drunkin ar drunkin in the nycht. Bot we that ar of the day ar sobire 1628 Pastor and Prelate 18.
He must be sober, not given to wine

3. Of human actions, activities or words: Displaying moderation or temperance; not characterised by indulgence or excess. c1420 Ratis R. 451.
The tothir qualite Of temperans I trow this bee: Sobyr mesing of irous wyll c1475 Wall. ii 393.
Than Wallace said, with sobyr wordis [etc.] 1533 Boece 492.
Sober and continent was thare conversacioun

b. Of food, etc.: Not excessive in amount; not too costly. a1500 Henr. Fab. 374.
Blissed be sober feist in quietie. Quha hes aneuch of na mair hes he neid 1535 Stewart 60604.
Far better war ane king and prince to leif Of his awin gude with sober sufficence 1553 Mill Mediæv. Plays 150.
That … all sic sumpteous bankating be laid doun aluterlie except thre sobir and honest [etc.] 1685 Old Tolbooth Rec. in Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI 59.
Lett hir be keept in the prisone and entertained with such sober convenient food which I judge may be 3 s. Scots a day

c. Of a price: Moderate; not too high. 1490 Lennox Mun. 136.
It sal be offerit … apoun resonable and sobyr price

d. In heraldry: Of a stone, seen as representing human qualities. 1494 Loutfut MS 11b.
Pourpre … in stane representis the mastique quhilk is virgine and sobir

e. Of an agreement: ? Reasonable, sensible.But perhaps erron. for sover (Sover adj.). 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3274 (Bann.).
Mak to me ane sober [Ch. faithfull] band That ȝe sall cum agane

4. Grave or serious in demeanour or attitude; not given to irresponsible behaviour; prudent, cautious; quiet, calm; restrained.Also in respect of (in or of) a characteristic, action, etc.Also comb.predic. (1) a1400 Leg. S.xxxi 64.
Na woman wysare … Sobyr & wele tacht in spekine 1456 Hay II 78/19.
To have compunctioun pitee and merci of thy subjectis and to be sobir and sparum [? erron. for sparin Sparing ppl. adj.] of thair gudis quhen thai fall in thy dangere 1460 Hay Alex. 837.
[Alexander] was wyse … and feir Sober with that weill temperit in prudence c1475 Wall. iii 308.
Perseys war trew … Sobyr in pes and cruell in battaill c1475 Wall. vii 926.
In wer he was rycht … sobyr, wicht and wys c1475 Wall. viii 1023.
Thai within on lowd defyit Wallace And trumpattis blew with mony werlik soun Than Wallace said ‘Had we ȝon gallandis doun, On the playn ground, thai wald mor sobyr be' 1494 Loutfut MS 130b.
He that is ledar of the host suld be walkryf sobir prudent and wndirstand in exercisioun off wer a1500 Bk. Chess 2053.
The king Mor sober is in till his first moving a1500 Bernardus 125.
Se thow be sobyr ande ber thé ewynli To thi nychbowr c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 255.
I semyt sober and sueit and sempill without fraud a1568 Bann. MS 218a/4.
Lady … Rycht sobir sweit full meik [etc.] 1653 Binning Wks. 647.
The child of God must be sober here. He ought to have a low estimation of all created things(2) a1500 Colk. Sow ii 68.
So gentill in all his gestis and appliable And sobir in seruice and amiable 1665 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 179.
Whether or not he knew anything scandalous in John Buchan, Doctor, gif he was sober and discriet in his carriage(3) 1456 Hay I 296/24.
He [sc. a king] suld … be till here wis counsale wele enclynit, sobir, temperit, and gracious [etc.]attrib. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 340.
Vortigern was ane sobir man, vnmyndfull of iniuris, and desyrand erar to amend … than to revenge ony iniuris 1566 Reg. Privy C. I 460.
Lyke … it wer lesum to everie tyranne to impyre tyrannouslie abone the sobir men dwelland besyde thame 1578–9 Reg. Privy C. III 78.
Your principale baronis … sic as the Lord Carlile, the lairdis Mouswald, [etc.] … with mony uther sobir landit men c1588 Cath. Tr. 253/1.
Souber and quyet spreites, who lyked to grund them selfes upon the assured rok of the kirk then to curiously cal al thinges in question 1667 Lauderdale P. II 46.
Sober men will be soe amazed … and the generality uill recurr to ther discontent 1705 in Sinclair Satan's Inv. World Suppl. lxxxvii.
Her husband … is a sober honest man

b. Sane; controlled. 1558 Knox IV 373.
That the foolishe madde and phrenetike shal governe the discrete and give counsel to such as be sober of mind 1562 Knox II 333.
Dansing … is termed the jesture rather of those that ar mad and in phrenesye then of sober men 1671 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct.) 2 Feb.
Andrew Larmont … being sick in body but sober in mynde

5. Of a person's demeanour or cast of mind, or of conduct manifesting these: Grave, serious, not trifling; indicating a serious mind or purpose or a responsible attitude.(1) a1400 Leg. S. iii 484.
Thane sad Andrew with sobyr cher: ‘Me ferlis, that sa wise a man as thu In sic foly suld fall now’ a1400 Leg. S. xix 361.
Sobyre c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 40/36.
Quhyte dow, quhair is ȝour sobir humilnes … quhair is ȝour pete went? a1568 Bann. MS I p. 6/18.
With sobir mynd and wirdis sueit a1568 Bann. MS 222b/3.
Now in this mirthfull tyme of May My dullit spreit for to reios I sall with sobir mynd assay Gif I can ocht in metir glos a1570-86 Maitl. F. 364/156.
That semlie than with sobir cheir Me of hir gudlynes forgaif 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. 254/34.
No man of souber and sound iudgment can iustly disaloue [etc.] c1590 Fowler I 70/87.
Her countenance, sad, sober, and so grawe(2) a1500 Henr. Age & Yowth 25.
This senȝeour sang bot with a sobir stevin; Schakand his berd c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xi 38.
So speid thé, man, and thé confes, With humill hart and sobir teiris

b. Of a person's behaviour, esp. in public: Quiet, peaceable.For further examples see Quiet adj.¹ 1 d (2). 1409 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 72.
Alsua gif thar happynnis ony discorde … amang thair men … thai sal mak thaim na party with thaim bot in sobir manere as the lach will 1409 Exch. R. IV ccx.
He sal cum … til cunnabil place ande in sobir manere 1456 Hay I 185/10.
He sall ger his folk sa graciously goverane thame … that he salbe content of thair sobir and gracious governaunce 1558 Crim. Trials I i 403.
He wes vpoune the schoir of Leith in sobir maner as become ane officer berand auctorite 1561 Crim. Trials I i 412.
The said Thomas than beand standand in sober maner, dowlatt alane, without armour or wapnis a1570-86 Arbuthnot in Maitl. F. 51/85.
I luif modest sobir ciuilitie c1575 Balfour Pract. 273.
That na man cum to the courtis bot in sober wayis 1587–8 Aberd. Council Lett. I 22.
John Leslie [etc.] … unbesett the foirsaids speciall persones … thair travelland and repairand in sobir and quiet maner to the said mercat 1590 Strathendrick 172.
Quhair they were in quiet and sobir mener doing thair lesum effearis 1611 Crim. Trials III 204.

c. Of non-material things: Not trifling, considerable. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 66.
Nane to the end may bring … bot [God] him gid with grace, In quhilk of natour hes sober conforting 1593 Misc. Spald. C. I 5.
Thaes quha manteinis him at this tyme haid sober caus to prais him for his loyaltie

6. Of a person's life or circumstances: Modest, not grand, not exhibiting excess or luxury; poor; decent, respectable. a1500 Bk. Chess 2141.
In sobir wys richt so he wald begyne And so incres in mor & mor 1531 Bell. Boece I 242.
It war mair plesand to hir to be in Scotland, praying for the vailyeant pepil that was slane with hir husband, during hir sobir life, than to leif in honoure of ony princely estait 1531 Bell. Boece II 351.
Ane hard and sobir life … with miserie and gret laubour 1565–6 Reg. Privy C. I 418.
Sanctandrois quhair he wes in sobir and quiet maner, belevand to haif levit at Goddis peace 1567 G. Ball. 8.
Leif ane chaist and sober lyfe 1568 Grey Friars II 65.
[They] being willing to help him to ane sober lyff

7. Of the air or a wind: Temperate, gentle. Of moisture: ? Light. a1500 Lanc. 2475.
The soft dew one fra the hewyne doune valis … And throw the sobir and the mwst hwmouris Vp nurisit ar the erbis a1500 Quare Jel. 18.
Tho was the ayer sobir and amene c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 37/249.
The air attemperit, sobir and amene a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 43 (Wr.).
The aire was sober, soft and sweet c1590 J. Stewart 220 § 81.
In smokie sops the suawe soft souber air Vrocht vaporit vobs [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II 242/3.
Thay sayled with a sober and safte wind

8. Of the pace, or method, of doing something: Slow; ? deliberate or ? performed quietly. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 291 (L).
With sober paice so I approche Towardis the revar a1659 W. Guthrie Christians Gt. Interest (1776) 81.
The work of the law … which is either more violent and sudden or more calm and gradual … this work is either more violent and suddenly expede or it is more sober and lent

9. Of clothes, cloth: Plain, not gaudy. ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 124.
Wind in sober claithis, and laid in a cribe 1562-3 Winȝet I 11/12.
Ane beutiful persoun is lustie aneuch in ane sobir rayment 1569 Edinb. Test. I 247.
Sex elnis … of sobare taffiete price thairof vij li. 1611-57 Mure True Crucifixe 2340.
His greatest wealth a sober seamelesse coate

II. 10. Of material and non-material things: Little, small in size or amount; slight. 1548 W. Patten Exped. into Scotl. p. 50 in Dalyell Fragm. Sc. Hist. (Edinb. 1798).]
[Sober, is the proper terme whearby the Scottes doo signifie smal, litle, easy, or slender(1) 1513 Doug. x xi 23.
War I beluffyt … Thou … Suld not deny me sa sobyr a thyng, Bot at I mycht withdraw … Turnus 1534 Linlithgow B. Ct. 5 Oct.
That the pund of candill with sobir small weikkis be sauld for v d. the pund 1541 Perth Guildry p. 513 (31 Oct.).
Our Souerane lordis liegis … diuers tymes hes murmurit the sobir pas of breid of quhit bakin be the baxter craft of the said burght 1547 Cal. Sc. P. I 36.
[I answered I marvelled they thought we could keep the] sobour barmking [of Home against your army, when all the nobles of Scotland could not keep the field] 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 113.
Oure sobir and lytle Tractive 1570 Leslie 51.
The duik … fering his lyfe … departit in ane sobir boit be sey a1578 Pitsc. I 35/10.
Sober goodis and geir with peace … growis … to great substance(2) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1 (Asl.).
His brevit buke of sobir quantite 1533 Bell. Livy II 63/6.
Ane richt sobir begynnyng a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 127/7.
God and mane … contenit onder the forme of sik ane sobyr quantite of breade and vine 1561 Q. KennedyCompendious Ressonyng (ed.) 168/5.
He said (as mony sayis now of sobir knawlege) [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 96/7.
Thair constancie … is nocht worthie of sobir and slicht praisproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 941.
It is a sober kyndnes will not gang thro a glufe(3) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1205 (Asl.).
To pleis God … Thai schaw bot sobir sollicitacoun 1513 Doug. viii viii 36.
We haue bot sobir pissance … To help 1533 Boece 123.
The captivis for fere and terroure made bot sobir requeist for grace 1541 Sc. Hist. Rev. VI 156.
The Turk … hes done bot sobire skaith 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 131.
The deliverance [sc. to hand over the ward of Saltoun to Bothwell] maid be youre grace in that behalf wes bot sobir; nochtwithstanding gif he had … socht unto ws for the said ward we wald haif glaidlie staid at your gracis deliverance a1578 Pitsc. II 250/24.
Nochtwithstanding the gret bauldnes … of bayth the syddes thair was bot sober slauchter

b. Expressing modest self-deprecation. 1525 Douglas Corr. 115.
Gif thare be any service … I may do … it sall be ay redy at the uttirmaist of my sobir power ?1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 301.
My lord … ther is nane … I wald sa tit spend my dayeis with as with your lordship swa that I belevit at yhe wald huis constandly part of my sobir counsell to your auin profet 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 505.
I haue maid knawin, Efter my sober wytt and mycht, How that ȝe suld [etc.] 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 97.
I answerit and said that questioun wes ovir curius for ane man of my knawlege. Nochtheles, I schew ȝou my sobir jugement [etc.] 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest Pref.
To put schortlie in wryte (as it hes plesit God to supporte my sober knawlege) quhat [etc.]

11. Of a payment, sum of money, rent, etc: Little, small in value; not substantial; trifling.Chiefly attrib.attrib. 1505 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 102.
We … hes na importance to vphald the samyn bot oure sober oulklie penny c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 196/63.
Alhaill almoist Thay mak the coist With sobir recompens 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 504.
He sall cause me stand content Off quiet lyfe, and sober rent 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 139.
Only takand ane sobir tribute in signe of Roman victory 1531 Bell. Boece II 341.
He restorit him to his honouris, landis and possessionis, be ane sobir compositioun of money 1535 Stewart 23805.
Traistand … gif war hapnit to be, Of him tha sould get richt sober supplie 1547 Perth Guildry p. 251 (5 Aug.).
He hes bot alanerlie his sobir annualis 1548–9 Corr. M. Lorraine 290.
Quhilk had bene to sair to hawe lositt this cuntray in falt off sa sobyr ane sowme 1563 Cal. Sc. P. II 17.
Considder noth the sobyr propine bot the sendars hart 1566–7 Reg. Privy S. V ii 325/1.
The gift of ane sobir yeirlie pensioun of the sowme of xvi lib. 1567 G. Ball. 43.
Be Judas, that fals tratour, That Lamb for sober summe was sauld 1580–1 Reg. Privy C. III 362.
His twa part, being now of sobir yeirlie quantitie 1584 Aberd. B. Rec. II 51. 1584–5 Waus Corr. 325.
Sa sober ane soume 1590 Edinb. Test. XXI 260.
Quhen he had sober rent to leif vpone 1596 Dalr. II 356/25.
[That he] suld pay bot a sober sumpredic. 1510–11 Reg. Privy S. I 335/2.
The rentis … ar to litill and sobir to sustene the honour and expens of the said archidenry 1531–2 Reg. Soltre 196.
The sext part of the custome salt of the pannis that gangis on the Blair is nocht put in this comput it is bot sobir 1641 Sc. Hist. Rev. IX 364.
Although that his purse was sober and meane By begging or stealing he sure could not stand

b. Of a source of income, profit, etc. 1533 Bell. Livy II 225/15.
Thai mycht be brocht to sic poynt for sobir proffitt that [etc.] 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 242.
Your graice kennis … how I haif an sobir leving 1557 Fam. Rose 224.
Ther is sobir profyt to be gottin 1567 Reg. Privy S. V ii 350/1.
Hir hienes understandis that the tua pairt thairof is a leving sobir aneuch for ane honest man 1583 Reg. Privy C. III 605.
Upoun sober advantage 1593 Acts IV 34/2.
The quene … provydit sindre of thame to seuerall personages … albeit the same wes bot veray sober levingis to thame

12. Of a group or company of persons: Small in number. Also of a force of artillery.(1) 1531 Bell. Boece II 205.
Indulphe … with ane sobir cumpany … happinnit to cum on ane band of Danis; … quhare he was slane 1533 Boece 193.
With sobir nowmer of complicis had perfurnist the mater 1533 Bell. Livy I 277/9.
He had put ane sobir garnisoun to the defence thareof 1549 Compl. 79/23.
Ane sobir companye of Greikis chaissit the Persans furtht of Grece 1581 Reg. Privy C. III 420.
In the said Robertis absence furth of the saidis landis … thair being sober nowmer of personis thairon(2) 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 209.
The castell mycht haif beyn won be force of the sobir arttalȝerij that was brocht to it

13. Of an action, esp. a crime: Small, slight, trivial. b. Of a penalty. 1529 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 313.
Nychtbouris [who compounded at last justice ayre] for sobur faltis 1533 Boece 162b.
Nobill men that be feneȝete and socht occasiouns war convictit of sobir crymes war put to violent dede 1533 Boece 168b. 1539 Crim. Trials I i 223.
I am laitlie imput in the Castell for sobir causis 1566–7 Reg. Privy S. V ii 274/1.
Nane of hir servitouris that hes travellit in soberar effaris ar unrewardit bot he allane a1568 Mersar in Bann. MS 269a/1.
Allace so sobir is the micht Of wemen for to mak debait [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I 27/9.
Albeit the gouernoure punischeit … thir men according to thair demereittis ȝit he punischit with ane grettar rigour vtheris richt honorabill and ancient men for soborar or bot for ane licht suspitioun that he tuik of thame a1599 Rollock Wks. I 418.
I had rather do the soberest thing in the warld, and it wer to eit my meit, and drink my drink, of purpose to glorifie God … nor to doe the greatest and fairest wark [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset I 15/26.
We see thatt saikles bluid, and homyceid Ar compted for to be ane sobir crymeb. 1596 Dalr. I 293/32.
Thame he heidet quha war authoris of this deid the rest he put bot til a sobir pane for pities cause

c. Of an indictment: Insufficient. a1599 Rollock Wks. II 73.
It is a sober indictment to say, ‘He is an evil man;’ that must be qualified

14. Of material things, also, of someone's horse: Modest, insignificant, poor, paltry, mean.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 197 (Ch.).
Ane sober wane 1513 Doug. v xii 47.
Thir sobir trumpys, and meyn graith of Troianys 1513 Doug. vii xii 95.
Quhais hed ger war of ful sobir [1553 souir] extent Maid of the cork or bark fra treis 1543 Reg. Morton II 289.
To permute ane plesand palice … with hummill and sober lugeingis with diverse incommoditeis and displesouris 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 98.
The pure woman quha offerit her sobir ferding 1596 Dalr. I 315/13.
Thay war content with ane only table in thair hous, and that verie sobre(2) 1538 Hamilton P. I 55.
Laitly wes takyn fra Matho Locht … burges of Edinburgh cumand throucht Berwik his sobyr hors

15. Of persons, their rank or status: Low, base; of little substance, poor; humble; menial; of little consequence. b. Expressing modest deprecation.(1) ?a1500 Rosw. & Lillian 372.
He said … ‘My father’s a man of a low degree … ye may well ken, That I am come of sober men' 1530 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. V 20.
[The yearly fees of the following] sober servitouris of the place conforme to use and wont [cooks … £10 two porters … paniter … ], the common levanderis [etc.] 1533 Bell. Livy II 107/22.
I am bot ane sobir knicht of Romane armye 1542 Mill Mediæv. Plays 155.
Sobirest 1557 D. Murray Legal Practice in Ayr 65.
Ane sober puir man nocht sufficient in guidis to [etc.] c1560 10th Rep. Hist. MSS App. i 74.
That I am bot ane sobir fallow of base degre 1560 Rolland Seven S. 924.
It is oft sene ane sober simpill man To ane greit man ane counsallour may be … perchance asweill he can Giue gude counsall as thay of greiter gre 1565 Aberd. B. Rec. I 361.
Of euery mariage xviij d. of honest or reche folkis and xij d. of sobir folkis a1568 Scott vi 7.
For luve makis nobill ladeis thrall To bassir men … So luve garris sober wemen small Get maistrice our grit men a1578 Pitsc. I 50/8.
The soberest courteour in his graceis companie 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XI 684.
[Yet I would they were not delivered without my counsel for although the men be] sobir [the shame is great to our Scottishmen to lose them](2) 1528 Exch. R. XV 666.
Nane other of soberar or les degre na the saidis schirreffis 1533 Boece 187b.
That men of grete birth suld [etc.] … and quha war procedit of sobir blude suld [etc.] 1570 Leslie 43.
Evill counsell of sum of meane and sober estat(3) 1513 Doug. viii ix 6.
Sobir [L. parvos] Penates, goddis domesticall(4) 1532 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 75.
The said Robert proponit aganys the assis chossin … allegeand … thai ar sempill and sober of reputatione and substans to pas of this or sic caisis the said Master Abrahaam … answerit the foyrsaidis persones … ar honest substancuows men 1533 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 467.
Hovbeit we be sobir in gudis, we are contentit til paye [etc.] … of monieb. 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 243.
I think I man writ oft and hamille as your awn sobir servitour