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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Alwayis, Allwayis, adv. Also: always, alwais, alvais(e; alwayes, alwaies, alwais; alweyes, alueyes; allwayes, allvayis, allwaiis, -wais, -was; awayis. [ME. alweyes, alweys (Chaucer), earlier alles weis, the genitive sing. of all wey: see Alway.]

1. At all times; always.(a) 1375 Barb. vii. 60.
He ran on fut alwayis him by a1400 Leg. S. vi. 342.
Fele palace Has bene & are in hewine alwais Ib. xxxvii. 386.
Sanct Vincent ourcom alvais c1420 Wynt. iii. 894.
Cyteis syndry … Payid noucht thare for alwayis 1456 Hay I. 283/11.
Alwayis comparisoun is odious 1472 Edinb. Chart. 135.
That … thare ayeris be deseryset for alwais 15.. Dunb. App. ii. 51.
Do almous dedis to peure always 1562-3 Winȝet I. 43/5.
Quhay sulde testifie alvvayis of his haly lyfe a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxvii. 75.
Scotland … hes bene alwayis brukit be a bloud 1616 Crim. Trials III. 390.
So have I no more to say, bot alwayis … I rest [etc.] 1676 Forbes Baron Ct. 303.
The termes of peyment … being alweyes … come and bygone(b) 1375 Barb. ii. 92.
James off Douglas, that ay-quhar Allwayis befor the byschop schar c1420 Wynt. vii. 822.
In justice lawchfull he wes allwayis 1564 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 692/2.
Sen it hes allwayis bene a refuge to offendouris a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxx. 166.
Sa to his awin his ayd is all wayis ane 1666 Melrose R. Rec. II. 154.
The pursuer had allwayes the possessione(c) 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 194.
I abhorrit awayis lesingis c1600 Montg. Suppl. 204/71.
Crowall at all ȝe wilbe callit awayis 1600 Conv. Burghs II. 85.
Reservand awayis … licence of querrell, faill [etc.]

b. In the phrase providing (also providand, providit) alwayis, or variations of this. (See also Provide v.) 1482 Edinb. Chart. 147.
Providit allwais that the said Edward … sall gif knaulege of his plesur 1511 Lennox Mun. 194.
Say that allwais the airis … sal be lauchfule and habile to succeid 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. .
Excepand alwayis the fair of nolt and scheip 1530 Wemyss Corr. III. 2.
Providand allwaiis at the said Dauids houshald … be redy till ansuere us 1531 Bell. Boece I. 25.
Providing allwayis, that we remove seditioun 1564 Peebles B. Rec. 294.
Prowydin allwais … that thay maie lefule set the said summis to quhome thai ples a1578 Pitsc. I. 179/27.
Provydand alwayis that the king of Scottland wald deliuer to thame certane pledges

2. At all events, at any rate; nevertheless. 1513 Doug. ii. ix. 67.
Sen always thou saist swa 1533 Bell. Livy I. 19/27.
Alwayis sic necessite occurrit that he … opynyt this mater to Romulus 1570 Leslie 20.
Alwaies the said twa young ladies war convoyit to the King of France 1600-1610 Melvill 319.
Alwayes, in end, these Papist … Erls war compellit to pas aff the countrey 1624 Blair Autobiog. 74.
Always we thanked God for what was done 1642 Kinghorn Kirk S. 41.
Finding it allwayes inexpedient that anie buriell should be there 1674 Misc. Hist. Soc. I. 271.
Alwayes I did show that letter … to the King