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.

Cure, Cuir, n.¹ Also: cur, cuer, ceur, kure; cuire, cuyr(e, cwir. [ME. (c 1300) and OF. cure, L. cūra.]

1. The care, charge, guidance or guardianship, of something. Also in pl. curis.(a) 1375 Barb. xx. 596.
The erll of Murreff, that the cure That tyme of Scotland had haly a1400 Leg. S. xxxvii. 117.
I the cure of Goddis worde Lipnyt thé til haf in hwrde c1420 Wynt. iii. 837.
All the cure of his batayle, … He lippnyd to this Arpallus 1461 Liber Plusc. 398.
Gif the juge makis falt … In his office, of quhilk thou beris the cure, Punis that weil c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxi. 23.
Ane rebald to renoun dois ryis, And cairlis of nobillis hes the cure 1511 Reg. Privy S. I. 355/1.
The king … restoris him agane to the administration, cure and reule of all his landis 1513 Doug. vii. ix. 127.
He … Of all sik thingis gaue our the cure and charge 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1072.
Cheis ȝow … quhilk of ws … Sall haue of all ȝour naturall geir the curis c1550 Id. Meldrum 1531.
Quhairfoir the Lord gaif him the cure Of his houshald 1558 Prot. Bk. J. Robeson 4.
Ane kow … to be pasturit thairin salang as the said Iohne hes the cure and keping thairof 1569 Reg. Privy C. I. 675.
[The Regent] hes fund the saidis personis … unmeit to haif cure of the instructioun of the yowth 1596 Dalr. II. 143/5.
He committis to my Lord Hume … the kure of the Scotis bordouris, to hald aff the Inglis braids 1662 Stirling B. Rec. I. 238.
The said maister Thomas salbe obleist … not to leave the cure of the said grammer schoole(b) 1533 Gau 26/25.
Man … trowis … that he wil do weil to hime and haiff cuir of hime 1535 Stewart 41876.
His chalmer cheild, … That of his chalmer had alhaill the cuir 1551 (1566) Reg. Great S. 417/2.
It is verray necessar … to have ane baillie that will accept the cuir and gyding of the saidis inhabitantis 1584 Acts III. 368/1.
His deputis or vtheris havand cuir and commissioun of the saidis artalliery, jowallis, and movables

b. Without construction. In cure, in charge.(1) c1420 Wynt. v. 3647.
Offycerys that of hym bare Cure or state, thai slw all downe c1460 Thewis Gud Women 213.
Forthi ȝunge lordis ar put to cur, Quhill wysdome cum thaim be natur a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1098.
Lat it worth at my wil … , Syne cary to the castel, quhare I haue maist cure c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 325.
Quhen I the cure had all clene, & him ourcummyn haill, I crew aboue that craudone 1540 Lynd. Sat. 512.
Sa sall it be ay, … And, speciallie, quhair Ȝouthage hes the cures 1570 Sat. P. x. 360.
He wald not thoill the proud oppres the pure, Sa far as he had regiment and cure 1596 Dalr. I. 281/24.
He … admitted to the … keiping of his body xxiiij Scotis … quha sen syn haue seruet sa faithfullie that cure(b) 1539 Reg. Privy S. II. 457/1.
Committand to the said Robert … the cuyre, rewle and admistratioun in spiritualiteis and temporaliteis 1571 Sat. P. xxvii. 22.
Cast weill thy cours, thow hes ane kittle cwir 1584 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 51.
The said cuir requiris the labouris of ane diligent servand haillie addickit thairto 1622-6 Bisset II. 225/26.
The capitanis, maisteris, … pylottis and utheris berand cuir in schipis(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 38.
Quhen Zeno wes emperour & al the empyre had in cure c1450-2 Howlat .
That ȝe wald cry apon Crist, that all has in cur a1500 Henr. Orph. 416.
Boece … To wryte this feynit fable tuke in cure c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 228.
Scho … me delyuerit vnto Hevynesse … and scho in cure me tuke 1513 Doug. iii. vi. 8.
O gentil Troiane, … Quhilk the respons of Phebus hes in cuir 1540 Lynd. Sat. 114.
Sa lang as ye haue vs in cure a1568 Scott viii. 15.
Sen ȝe haif … my faythfull hairt in cure

c. With possessive pronouns (or nouns), esp. in phrases with in, into, under, etc.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1221.
That in hys yhemsale had & cure Wnnowmerable fayr tresoure 1456 Hay I. 200/12.
Be the law civile the fader has his barnis all under his power and cure a1500 Henr. III. 137/24.
Is nane sa stowt, … Mon put thame haill on fors vndir my cure a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1065.
His spreit [he] commendit vnto his faderis cure c1500-c1512 Dunb. lvii. 21.
Swa thai the kirk haue in thair cure Thay fors bot litill how it fure 1528 Acts II. 323/2.
As to the poynt of the haifing of the kingis persoune in our cure 1540 Lynd. Sat. 87.
Sen thow hes giuin mee dominatioun And rewll of pepill subiect to my cure [B. ceur] 1567 G. Ball. 39.
Quhat euir I haif … all is haill into thy cure 1587 Conv. Burghs I. 241.
Thatt Maisteris of Grammer Scoles … be on na wayis sufferit to vse the functioun of ane minister or notar, quhairby they ar drawin fra thair ordinar cure(b) 1532 Douglas Corr. 349.
Ȝour vageouris … , being ondre the cuyr and reul of the said Erle 1535 Stewart 5194.
Mony prince that … Come of fre will and pat tham in ȝour cuir 1567 Sat. P. iv. 183.
I leif … My bab and childe vnder the Counsallis cuire 1596 Dalr. II. 157/10.
The administratioun be thame committed to his cuir, he glaidlie accepted 1620 Ann. Banff II. 167.
To teache … the youthe, sick as sall be committed to his cuire and disciplen

d. Spiritual charge or oversight. 1445 Peebles B. Rec. .
The vicar or his chapellane that beris cur of the parischyn vnder the vicar sal remufe hym 1450 Ib. 15.
That God len hym gras, and al that beris cure of saulis, to govern [etc.] 1456 Hay I. 147/29.
A benefice hafand cure of saulis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2391.
Prelatis, quhilkis hes of thame the cure, Sall mak answeir thareof 1622-6 Bisset I. 94/17.
Sa that … the cuir of the saules be exercised be guid and godlie persones

e. The office of a pastor; a parish or other sphere of spiritual charge. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxii. 71.
Twa curis or thre hes vpolandis Michell Ib. lxxxi. 87.
Ane callit Schir Johne Kirkepakar, Off many cures ane michtie vndertaker c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5361.
That ignorant warldly creaturis Suld in the kirk haif ony curis 1570 Liber Scon 210.
The … guid seruice done to ws … in spirituale cuiris 1586 St. A. Kirk S. 560.
[The] electit minister and pastour … promist … to discharge his office and cuir in all thingis at his power 1611 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 418.
Mr Robert Hamilton … wes willing to accep the cuir thair, gif the presbyterie thocht the provision vas sufficient for him 1642 Melville Chart. 171.
The provision of the minister serving the cuir at the kirk thairof 1653 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 39.
Mr Iohne Spottiswod … requested the Assemblie to give him libertie to returne to his former cure

2. Care, attention, diligence, directed towards some end. Freq. in phrases to do, gif, or set (one's) cure, to tak cure.Freq. accompanied by the adj. besy or bissy.(1) a1400 Leg. S. v. 194.
The thryd is, that al creatur To be commone settis thare cur c1400 Troy-bk. i. 72.
Leamedone, … That but occasioun settis hys cure To exile ws out of hys lande c1420 Wynt. ii. 105.
Scho gert men thraly set thar cure Corn to wyn withe thar culture 1456 Hay II. 151/12.
He wald never lere vertu na never sett his cure na his besynes thareto 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I. 171.
Tha sal do thar diligens and labour and cure to wyn the land fra guld 1492 Myll Spect. 276/22.
That Nature tuk sa gret lawbour and cure in the making of wemen to be fair 1513 Doug. iv. x. 76.
May thou vndir sa gret danger sleip, And, al forvayit, takis nothir cuyr nor keyp? 1533 Boece iii. xxi. 124.
Caratake … gaif his cure that his pepill in … gude maneris suld be instructit a1540 Freiris Berwik 500.
Bot hald ȝow clois, quhill I haif done my cure c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5045.
Sett nocht thy cure, In erth, quhare no thyng may be sure 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 233.
Bot trewlie thay suld do thare cure, But feir of ony creature a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. vii. 10.
To helpe the commoun weill tak cure(2) a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 129.
The vnguyment scho dicht with cure Ib. xxii. 106.
Syne gert he spere with gret cure [etc.] c1400 Troy-bk. i. 486.
Scho … Wald ger eclyps be throw hyre cure Agane the course of nature c1450-2 Howlat 257.
He prayit the Pape To call the clergy with cure 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I. 176.
Thar land at is foule, tha sal mak labur with diligent cwre to clenge it a1500 Seven S. 321.
He chargit his gardinar to kyth All cure … Till gar this pynull grow c1500-c1512 Dunb. xx. 42.
With all thy hart treit bissines and cure 1513 Doug. ix. v. 150.
That desolate wight to succur schaw thi cuyr 1533 Bell. Livy II. 153/7.
The batel was led with sa fervent cure & besines … that [etc.] 1535 Stewart 31954.
Quhilk labourit hes … With diligence and all the cuir he ma [etc.] 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 166.
To the Vicar I leif diligence and cure To tak the vpmest claith 1570 Leslie 3.
He employed his haill cure & studie to reide these buikes 1622-6 Bisset I. 84/9.
To … extend thair cuir to the emendation & publication of the precedand … lawes

b. A particular instance of care or diligence; an office, function, or task. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 691.
He shold thane oppyn the closoures That stekyt war thrught crafty cures c1420 Wynt. viii. 2436.
On mony curys his hart he sete a1500 Henr. Fab. 2477.
The cure I tak it vpon me, Ȝour scheip to keip at midday c1475 Wall. ix. 71.
In cursyt tym I tuk this cur on hand c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxiii. 2.
Schir, ȝe haue mony servitouris, And officiaris of dyuers curis 1513 Doug. ii. Prol. 14.
Thyne is the cuyr my wofull pen to gy 1533 Bell. Livy I. 215/1.
The batall of Veanis was convertit in ane private cure 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1027.
Luif iustice, ȝe quha hes ane iudges cure In earth c1550 Rolland C. Venus Prol. 246.
This wark and cuir I tuik vpon my sell 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. Prol. 14.
Veneriall pastouris, … Layand thair cuires in warldlie business

3. Care or anxiety; a cause or occasion of this. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 29.
Fy on thy … perellous prosperite, Hedgit with hauthorne. cure, & calymite 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 236.
Quhat sussy, cuyr, an d strange ymagynyng, … Hes this fals lust at his first begynnyng! Ib. xi. xv. 126.
Ane of hir damysellis … With quham hir thochtfull curys wald scho part 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. viii.
Gif it … trubill thy mind with curis dolorus 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4606.
The feind mak cuir quhilk of them win the feild a1568 Bann. MS. 135 b/65.
Grit lawbor and cure makis a man auld 1562-3 Winȝet II. 53/30.
Be sindry tempestuous stormis of thochtis and cuiris ar thai schaiking

4. Care of (= interest in, concern for) something.Freq. in negative phrases, esp. have or tak na cure. 1456 Hay I. 70/6.
The grete tyrane … has na cure of thing in the warld bot to fulfill his coffris c1450 Cr. Deyng 172.
Trowand at God has na cur of thir barnis a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 479.
Of our saull hele we haue sa feble cure a1500 Prestis of Peblis 298.
Ȝour lordis … Of gold in kist na coffer has na cure c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxiii. 30.
Quhill vthiris cum … , quhilk of thy wynning no labour had nor cure 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 124.
To luf thine awin and geif of otheris na cure c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 59.
I tuke cure of na kynd of thing, Bot pleis the Kingis majestie 1551 Hamilton Cat. 33.
Carnal peple quhilk ar given allanerlie to the lufe & cure of the warld 1562-3 Winȝet I. 11/5.
Mair cure [being] had of the keching nor of the queir a1568 Scott xvii. 17.
My lady fair, of me scho takis no cure c1590 J. Stewart 156/2.
Luif ȝoung is paintit lyk ane prettie boy, In signe that ȝouth of him hes greatest cuir

b. Heed or account of something to be avoided. Also with infin. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 21.
Thay tuke na cure of na mannis fauour nor feid 1561 Crim. Trials I. 415.
Mair willing to de nor to leif, and haifand na cuyr of deid a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxii. 40.
Off wrangous geir now na man takis cwir Ib. xxvii. 2.
God to offend we tak na cure a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 466.
Cowartis takis na cuire To sit with schame

5. Cure (of disease, etc.); remedy. c1460 Thewis Gud Women 200.
Men bindis oft folk agane thar will, Quhill sum gret cure be done thaim till a1500 Henr. III. 150/14. Ib. 74.
Becaus I ken ȝour cunning in to cure Is clowtit and clampit 1497 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 71.
All vther personis the quhilkis takis vpoun thame to hale the said contagious infirmitie, and takis the cure thairof c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 41.
He cowth gif cure for laxatyve 1513 Doug. iii. ii. 146.
A dedly ȝeir, … Fell on our membris with sik infectioun, Was na remeid, cure, nor correctioun c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1452.
He lernit the art of medicyne, … And on thame preuit monie ane cure a1570-86 Maitl. F. xxxv. 53.
He … laid in leifis thrie Thinkand his cuir to wirk most suir 1622-6 Bisset II. 354/22.
I have harde of thé, and thy cuiris, quhilk thow hes done without medicines