Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Apert, a. and n. Also: appert(e, aperth(e; apart, apairt. [ME. apert, aperte (c 1300), OF. apert, L. apertus.]

1. Of actions: Performed openly and boldly. 1375 Barb. x. 73 (E).
For thai of form, full manlely, Gret and apert [C. pert] defens gan ma Ib. xx. 14.
Apert eschewys oft [C. apart assaltis] maid thar war c1420 Wynt. viii. 4969.
He … wyth the wachis sturdily Made ane apert and stowt mellé Ib. 5214.
The iustynge lestyt dayis thre, Qwhar men apert courssis mycht se

b. Violent, grievous. c1420 Wynt. ii. 596.
Thare felle than wrakis ma than tene, … Bot … thai war noucht all so felle, Swa apert, na swa cruelle

2. Of persons: Bold, hardy. 1375 Barb. x. 531 (E).
Than wes thar ane Wilyame Francus, Wycht and apert, wys and curyus c1420 Wynt. viii. 6716.
Bewmanere … chesyt xxx^ti [men] Wicht and apert, stark and douchty

3. Open; evident, manifest. 1439 Acts II. 54/2.
In mare appert takin of traiste and hartlines in tyme cummyng a1568 Bann. MS. 227 a/15.
Ȝour fair visage apairt and gudly cheyir

4. In apert (also in till apert), in an open or overt manner; in public. [OF. en apert.] Freq. contrasted with in privé. 1375 Barb. xix. 217.
Men mycht her … mony a knycht … Mak in apert [C. apart] rycht ewill cher c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2417.
Peleus durst nocht in apert Abyd, bot held him in covert 1423 Reg. Great S. 31/2.
We sal not hender hym … na in prevé na in appert c1420 Wynt. v. 2185.
That thare metyng fyrst suld be Sene wytht all the comunate, In tyll a-pert 1477 Stirlings of Keir 251.
I had neuer … possessione … of the landis … in preué or in apert, stilly or loude 1497–8 Acta Conc. II. 128.
That thai … sal never intromet in privé nor in apert with na maner of malis … of the saidis landis