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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.

Belovit, Belufit, ppl. a. and n. Also: beluffit(e, -yt, -et (balufit, beluiffit), belofit, belufed; beluwyt, belouit, belowit; belwit, belude. [ME. beloved, belovyd (14th c.), f. lufe Love v.]

1. Beloved. Frequently with best, dere(ly), or wele.a. 1456 Reg. Panmure II. 239 (to my beluffit frende). 1513 Doug. iii. ii. 11 (ane island beluffit of Neptune). 1558 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 107 (gudenes towart his beluiffit creaturis); Ib. 109 (his deirlie beluffit kirk). 1563 Ib. 249 (our belovit Barnabas). 1598 Edinb. Test. XXXI. 362 b (my belowit spous).b. 1429 Wemyss Chart. 61 (my derreste and beste beluffit bruthir in lauch). 1474 Frasers of Philorth II. 235 (my best beluffite sone). 1490 Irland Mir. I. 169/4 (best belouit amangis thame). a1500 Bk. Chess 581 (husband best beluffit). 1513 Doug. x. xi. 4 (my best beluffyt spows). 1535 Stewart 36053 (quhilk with the king wes best belude). 1558 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 97 (my derrest and best beluiffit nepuo).c. 1412 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii. 10 (oure traist and wele belofit cosyng). 1423 Reg. Great S. 30/2 (our welebeluffet der squyar). 1468 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 24 (wele beluwyt nichtburis). 1509 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 265 (our weile belwit broder). 1533 Gau 38/22 (his weil belowit sone). 1553 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii. 23 (our weilbeluffit James Douglas).

2. As n. or with plural ending. (Cf. Lovit.) 1450 Edinb. Chart. 70.
Oure well belovettis the Provest and Communite of Edynburgh 1572 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 258.
Reverend fathers, trustie and well belovits, We greet you heartily well 1622-6 Bisset I. 40/14.
We gif command … to oure belovittis that haldis oure courtis of parliament