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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.

Blith, Blyth, a. Also: blithe, blythe, blyith, blaithe; blitht, blytht, blicht, blycht, blyctht. [ME. blith(e, blyth(e, early bliþe, bliðe, OE. Blíðe, ON. Blíðr. The forms in -tht, -cht, are partly due to editorial expansions of the superior t common in MSS.] Happy, glad, in good spirits, cheerful, pleasant.

1. Of persons (in general or for some particular cause).(a) 1375 Barb. viii. 383, 386.
Thai had A lord … so blith … that [thai] had gret caus blith to be Ib. xvi. 486.
Than Dowglas blithar wes than ere a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 181.
I wald blith haf bene At thi brydale 1456 Hay I. 249/22.
Efter mete quhen men are full and blithe 1513 Doug. i. vi. 182.
Hyr self vplift to Paphum passyt … joly and blith [L. laeta] Ib. iv. iv. 57.
Joyus and blith 1600-1610 Melvill 126.
With whom I wald be blaithe to helpe 1604-31 Craig i. 19/31.
Whose biding made vs blith(b) 1375 Barb. i. 389.
Quhen he wes blyth, he wes lufly a1400 Leg. S. ii. 1024.
Quhen Petir this herd, he wes blyth Ib. xxvi. 178.
[He was] blyth in til admonestyng c1420 Wynt. i. 124.
Angelis blyth and brycht Ib. v. 2224.
He … sulde the blythare be alway That he [etc.] 1456 Hay I. 36/27.
That na man suld … be our blythe c1475 Wall. viii. 1001.
All the ost off comforde was the blythar a1500 Seven S. 209.
God wait gif scho was blyth to cum c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxiii. 6.
Be blyth in hairt for ony aventure 1513 Doug. ii. xi. 15.
Anchises. … blyth and glaid Lyft eyn … to hevyn c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 83.
Blyith in countenance Ib. 1223.
Blyith and mirrie a1568 Scott iii. 13.
Be blyth quhen thay ar licht 1567 G. Ball. 39.
To reioyis and blyith to be a1578 Pitsc. I. 240/3.
The king and his counsall … war verie blyth and reioysed a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxxv. 1 .
In baill be blyth, for that is best a1585 Polwart Flyt. 435.
Ay blyth to begin all barret and baill(c) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 445.
Thu aucht blitht to be Ib. xxxiii. 620.
In this warld … wes nane Sa blicht a man c1420 Ratis R. 568.
Hop[e] … can weill mak blycht a1500 Bernardus 309.
Lycht of wyne and blycht a1578 Pitsc. I. 143/9.
Quhilk made the king so blytht that [etc.]

b. Const. of (the cause of gladness). Also with for. 1375 Barb. ii. 454.
He wes blyth off that tithing c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 719.
The Troyiens … thar-of war rycht wonder blyth c1420 Wynt. vi. 1016; etc.
This Pape than blyth off this word wes c1450-2 Howlat 87.
Of that bourde I was blythe c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 70/21.
Beand … blytht of thare aduersite Ib. 239/25.
All gud Scottismen ware rycht blyth of that accordance 1513 Doug. iii. ii. 130.
Our folkis … blyth and glaid Of this kowth surname 1535 Stewart 10510.
So blyth thai wer than of that victorie 1562-3 Winȝet I. 124/16.
That the angelis ar blythe for the weilfair of man a1605 Montg. Misc. P. ix. 21.
Hir … that of my baill is blyth

c. Absol. with that = that … one. a1568 Bann. MS. 224 a/35.
Quhat may I do bot … byd ay quhill that blycht list to me bute a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxxx. 150.
In to my armes swythe Embrasit I that blythe

2. Of the countenance, bearing, spirit, etc. a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii. 351.
Adryane with blitht faire Sa[i]d [etc.] c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 611.
The Gregeois … Graunted it, with visage blyth c1420 Wynt. viii. 6579.
The Scottis passyd hame with blyth sembland 1456 Hay II. 127/6.
That makis … blyth hert c1420 Ratis R. 1265.
This eild … ȝarnis play, and al blycht chere a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1273.
The renk … Salust the bauld berne with ane blith wout 1513 Doug. iii. ii. 56.
With blyth bosum the sam Sal ȝou ressaue Ib. viii. xii. 14.
Hys blyth browys brent a1550 Tayis B. 59.
A blicht blenk of hir vesage bair 1596 Dalr. I. 163/8.
The Scottis couragious, of a blyth hope

3. Of inanimate things. Also of birds. c1450-2 Howlat 3.
Bemes blythest of ble Ib. 17.
Birdis blythest of ble a1500 Henr. Fab. 1331.
The blossummis blyith c1475 Wall. ii. 222.
Yhe birdis, blyth as bellis a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 68.
Bricht letteris of gold, blith vnto blent c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 81.
With bemys blith, bricht as Lucifere Id. xxi. 48.
Ene of amiable blyth asure 1513 Doug. i. xi. 28.
At the blith [L. laeta] ȝettis 1535 Stewart 3596.
All the blythar wald the banket be 1570 Sat. P. xxiv. 60.
I hope … to se ane blyither sicht

4. In comb. with bodyit. c1450-2 Howlat 332.
Kene knychtis … Blyth bodyit and beld