Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Beneth, prep. and adv. Also: benethe, beneeth, beneith, -ytht, beneath (benath, benaith). [e.m.E. beneth, ME. benethe, earlier beneðen, beneoðen, OE. beneoðan. The short vowel is usual in Sc., rare in Eng.]

1. prep. Beneath, below, under.(a) 1375 Barb. x. 86.
At ane brig [that] beneth thaim was Ib. xi. 286.
Gif that thai beneth vs ga c1475 Wall. x. 386.
A litill beneth the eyn a1500 Henr. Fab. 2641.
I drank beneth ȝow far 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 16.
As he standis beneth Virgill in gre 1556 Peebles B. Rec. 230.
Ane gray stane beneth ane sauch bus 1591 St. A. Kirk S. 710.
To sitt on ane stuill … beneth the place of repentance 1614 Melrose P. 175.
Beneth the bak(b) 1555 Prot. Bk. W. Corbet 21.
Fra the gait to the water beneytht the kyrk 1576 Orkney Oppress. 60.
The parochinaris beneith Tingwall 1584 Prot. Bk. A. Lawson 112 b.
The north hous … with the stray hous beneeth it 1611-57 Mure II. 226/7.
Benaith oppressione's load

2. adv. Beneath, below. 1375 Barb. x. 637.
Fra-thine vp wes grevousar To clym vp, na be-neth be fer 1490 Irland Mir. I. 154/18.
Sche is the schip closit benethe and opin aboue 1513 Doug. Æn. Comm. iv/1.
Of this Ilioneus … beyn oft benath maid mensioun 1567 G. Ball. 2.
Ony thing that is in heuin above, nor in the eirth beneth c1650 Spalding II. 217.
Haueing thrie crovnes vppermost, and thrie vther kynd of crounes beneth