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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.

At, rel. pron. and conj. [Northern ME. at (a 1300), ON. at.]

A. rel. pron. 1. That, which, who.1375 Barb. i. 248 (to do that at hys hart hym drawis to); xv. 5 (thai armyt thame, all at thar war). 1389 Reg. Cambuskenneth 260 (vpon oure Lady day at nixt cummis). 1400 Maxwell Mem. I. 140 (the fourty schylyne worth of land at remaynys). 14.. Acts I. 338/2 (a party of thaim at duellis upolande). c1475 Wall. ii. 55 (a suerd at helpit him at neide). a1500 Rauf C. 268 (to serue him all at thay mocht). 1503 Lanark B. Rec. 13 (to the colyair at socht the collhewcht). 1513 Doug. xi. Prol. 106 (thynk on the haly martyris at ar went). 1547 Reg. Cupar A. II. 45 (the gait at passis to the Cawsayend). 1559 St. A. Kirk S. 17 (ony sanctis at are departet). 1579 Black Bk. Taymouth 142 (ne warks at is begun in ony of thir dais).

b. After quhat time, the same time, etc.c 1390 Charter Reg. H. (qvat tyme at he will aske me). c 1423 Reg. Great S. 45/1 (quhat tyme at thar be tutoris ordanyt). 1454 Mun. Univ. Glasg. I. 14 (quhat tyme at it lykis hym). c1475 Wall. i. 127 (befor the tyme at king Eduuard it fand). 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 99 (the saim tyme at the King wes in Fyfe). a1578 Pitsc. I. 61/8 (allis fresche as the first houre at it was burieit).

c. After quhat or quhare.1375 Barb. v. 63 (the king askit quhat at thame thoucht wes best to do). 1439 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 190 (wytht qwhat four at hym likis). c1475 Wall. ii. 299 (his mastyr speryt, quhat tithingis at he saw). a1500 Doug. K. Hart 585 (Ressoun ran on quhair at Discretioun lay).

2. That which; what.a1400 Leg. S. xxxi. 352 (fra he wist at hyr wil was). c1420 Wynt. v. 509 (he suld pay at he awcht). 1488 Lanark B. Rec. 4 (to do at he hycht to do). 1490 Irland Mir. I. 31/22 (I am at I am). 1513 Doug. viii. vii. 157 (and at I say imprentis in ȝour thocht). 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 36 (doand at was in him till haif infekkit all the toune).

3. Used for that or as.1534 Thanes of Cawdor 161 (honorable men, at ar to saye, Schir Jhone Campbell and Jhone Allanson). 1537 Liber Dryburgh 281 (twa termes in the yeire, at is to say, Vitsonday and Mertimes). 1569 Lanark B. Rec. 46 (at is notourlie knawin).

B. conj. That. (Sometimes with the form that in a preceding clause.)1375 Barb. ii. 116 (at I nocht reprowyt war). a1400 Leg. S. i. 78 (he sew sa Goddis sede at he to Criste mony wane). 1386 Rotuli Sc. II. 85/2 (sua that thai may … and at thai may). 1405 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 173 (at all this be yemit and kepit). 1423 Reg. Great S. 31/1 (we oblys us at we sal be … ). 1456 Acts II. 45/2 (and at na pure man be chargyt to cum). c1475 Wall. ix. 1208 (it is for gud at he is fra us went). 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 214 (at syk thyngis ar possibill I schew). 1533 Gau 90/17 (that ve may onderstand at that is thy wil). 1545 Reg. Privy C. I. 18 (it is consonant to all law at every man do sik law … ).

b. After how, quhill, eftir, fra (that), for that, etc.1375 Barb. i. 84 (for that at the king off Ingland held … ); 95 (haid ȝe tane keip how at that king trawayllyt … ); 581 (fra at the Brwce to dede war brocht). a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 141 (in this warld till at he was). c1420 Wynt. i. 1110 C (it strekis in til the northe, qwhil at is it rekis the northe half). 1428 Liber Melros 519 (for thi at it merytable … ). a1500 Lanc. 1019 (sen at thow knawith she is here). 1489 Treas. Acc. I. 129 (eftir at the Kingis schip wes chaysit in Dumbertane).