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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Dere, Deir, a. Also: der, deire, deyr, deare, dair(e. Compar. derer, -ar(e, derrer, -ar(e, darrer. Superl. derest, -ast(e, deir(r)est, derrest(e, -ast, dar(r)est, dair(r)est. [ME. dere, der, OE. déore.]

1. Held in love or affection; beloved.(a) 1375 Barb. iv. 268.
He callyt hyr der, hyr till dissaiff a1400 Leg. S. ii. 1040.
We ar … Of Goddis dere frendis chosine Ib. x. 24.
This sammyne Mathew … God mad his chosine apostil dere 1423 Reg. Great S. 30/2.
Our wele beluffet der squyar, Michel Ramsay c1420 Wynt. iv. 405.
Tyll Phanwa, hys dochtyr dere, He tauld the cas Ib. v. 5102.
The wyff offt hatys … Hym that hyr husband haldis dere 1439 Edinb. Chart. 64.
Our dere and weile beluffit brother of chapiter 1456 Hay I. 188/20.
Till … Crist and his dere moder, the virgyn Mary c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 376.
Luffaris … That I held … derer be full mekill Ne him [etc.] 1533 Bell. Livy II. 196/3.
Camillus … callit all his cousingis and dere freyndis … to his lugeing(b) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 168/31.
Prey thi deire sone my gilt forgeue it me c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 270.
Twa husbandis haif I had, thai held me baith deir 1513 Doug. i. vi. 31.
Saw ȝe walkand heir By aventur ony of my sisteris deyr? Ib. v. xii. 150.
The charge brocht by hys fader deir 1533 Gau 29/16.
This is my deir sone in quhom I delit 15.. Clar. i. 1366.
He trowit thay war his cussings deir 1570 Sat. P. x. 31.
We brocht him vp, as our deir sone and air Ib. xxiii. 12.
To thé quha was his tender seruand deir 1590 Edinb. Test. XXI. 361.
The … passioun of his deir sone Jesus Chryst 1642 Montgomery Mem. 294.
My will is, that my deir hairt shall be … soll execoutriks(c) c 1646 Fam. Innes 237.
For my daire nephoye, Iohne Innes c 1685 Annandale Corr. 315.
My humbel deutie to my dair kind motther

b. Freq. in the superlative (derest, derrest, etc.).(a) 1437 Stirlings of Keir 214.
Forthy that we haue gyffyne certane landis til our deirest nevo 1470 Breadalbane Coll. (Reg. H.).
Oure derest eme Colin Cambell of Glenvrquhay 1475 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 453.
I haf procurit … the sele of my deraste eme 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 269/1.
At the request of our derest cousignes the quene of Franns 15.. Clar. v. 2808.
Now am I glaid … My deirrest nevoy that sie now I may(b) c1400 Troy-bk. i. 381.
Hys doughtre derrest and hys ayre 1429 Wemyss Chart. 61.
My derreste and beste beluffit bruthir in lauch 1470 Liber Aberbr. 163.
I haf procuryt … the sele of my derrast freynd and eme c1475 Wall. ii. 363.
His derrest kyn nocht wist of his remede 1490 Irland Mir. I. 97/17.
Sa that he had no perfit rest … quhil the cummyn of his derrast spous 1515 Reg. Privy S. I. 407/2.
Our derrest fader of gude mynd 1517 Ib. 449/1.
Oure soverane lord and his derrest cousing and tutour 1533 Boece ii. iii. 60 b.
Quhen diuers … war to his opinioun drawin, aganis his derrest eme he conspirit 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 237.
Our souerane ladyis derrest moder Mary 1571 Peebles B. Rec. 329.
Our derrest gudschir Matho erle of Levinax 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 4.
Quene Margaret, … his maist derrest spous(c) 1420 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 181.
The Governour sall gife to his darrest cousin … halfe of the profittis a1500 Bk. Chess 1903.
The kingis chargit his lordis … His darrest brother as thair king to ken 1549 Coll. Aberd. & B. 113.
Our dairrest cowsein and tutour, James Erle of Arren 1562 Aberd. Eccles. Rec. ii.
Our souerane lord, with auise and consent of his darrest regant a1578 Pitsc. I. 109/31.
The feirfull induring [v.r. murneing] of my darrest spous 1587 Waus Corr. II. 395.
To her maist speciall and darrest ayme the laird of Barinbarroch 1596 Crim. Trials I. 364.
The Kingis maiesteis darrest suster the Quene of England 1602 Colville Parænese Cont. 5.
Vhy God hes suffritt his darrest seruands to fall 1626 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 252.
Vmquhill Queine Marie, our said souerane lords darrest guddame

c. Used in addressing persons, the Deity, or Christ.(a) 1375 Barb. ii. 144.
Der God, that is off hevyn king a1400 Leg. S. i. 250.
Pece be till ȝow, myn brether dere Ib. 723.
Der Lord, thu art all Ib. vi. 117.
Der Ihesu, that of hewine is kynge 1416 Douglas Chart. 234.
Der and wel belufit brother, we haue syndry tymys writtyn to yhow c1475 Wall. ii. 207.
O der Wallace, … Thow most o neide in presoune till endur(b) 1427 Reg. Morton I. p. xlii.
Deyr frende, we chargis yhow … that yhe addres yhow [etc.] c1475 Wall. i. 445.
Deyr cusyng, pray I thé [etc.] Ib. iii. 426.
Deir sone, … this war my haile entent 1490 Irland Mir. I. 110/1.
Therfor, deire scistir, ȝe suld nocht be wraithe a1500 Seven S. 1965.
My deir bird, quhat alis thé c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix. 142.
O deir Ihesu! that for me deit on tre 1513 Doug. i. iv. 70.
O ȝe my feris and deir frendis Ib. x. xi. 4.
O thou my systir … , most leif and deir 1535 Stewart 22845.
Deir freind, I pray apardoun me 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 302.
My deir brether, … Amend ȝour lyfe now(c) a1500 Seven S. 2474.
The knycht … said till hir, My derrast may [etc.] a1568 Scott xiii. 36.
Adew, my deirest hairt 1570 Leslie 88.
Rycht … mychty prince, Oure darrest brother and cousing

2. Standing in relation to a person as one loved or highly valued. Also of things.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxviii. 677.
Sa blissit thu art to God & dere Ib. xxix. 639.
He wes man of gret honoure, & derreste to the emperoure c1420 Wynt. viii. 3238.
For the ordyr that he bare, Than othire he wes till hym derrare 1456 Hay II. 107/13.
Ay halde thame … nerest and derest to thé c1475 Wall. ii. 212.
For thou till hir was fer derer than gold a1500 Seven S. 1428.
His dog that is him dere 1533 Boece iv. xvi. 151 b.
Naturalie oure sonnys and freyndis suld be to ws maist tendir and dere 1551 Hamilton Cat. 84.
Be cause that till our nychbour na … thing is darrar and mair precious thane is his awin … lyfe(b) 1513 Doug. i. i. 40.
The Grekis, to hir [sc. Juno] leif and deir 1535 Stewart 24903.
His lauchfull wyfe, sum tyme to him so deir 1567 G. Ball. 35.
Ane certane man … Had sonnis twa, till him full deir a1578 Pitsc. I. 41/21.
Quhais … kin and freindis ar mar deir to me nor all the rest 1596 Dalr. I. 239/10.
His solitarines was to him deirer … than ony kingdome

3. Highly valued; of great value or worth; precious.In verse freq. employed for alliteration. a1400 Leg. S. iii. 267.
As for myn derrest thinge, I sall hym gyf ȝou Ib. xiii. 96.
Quhene that one the rud He offerit for ws his der blud c1400 Troy-bk. i. 373.
Braid burdis war … coveryt syne with clathis dere 1456 Hay II. 10/35.
The quhilk buke the king lovit mekle, … and helde it rycht dere c1450-2 Howlat 342.
Dicht as a dyademe digne, deire to behold Ib. 421.
It war tyrefull to tell … All thar deir armis a1500 Rauf C. 462.
His basnet was bordourit … With stanis of beriall deir c1475 Wall. vi. 102.
Than pray we all … That he vs grant off his der lestand lowe [= love] c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 511.
Thus draif thai our that deir night, with danceis full noble Ib. xlviii. 101.
This lady … crownit him with dyademe full deir 15.. Clar. iii. 1023.
Mychtie wyns and plesant meitis deir a1540 Freiris Berw. 445.
I mervell … that ȝe … Hes brocht to ws sa mony denteis deir a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 34.
The flouris baith delicate and deir

b. Of persons: Worthy, distinguished. c1450-2 Howlat 281.
With dukis and with digne lordis, darrest in dale Ib. 320.
Geir falcounis … War deir dukis and digne c1475 Wall. v. 491.
Butler is slayne, with douchty men and deyr a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 9.
Dukis and digne lordis, douchty and deir Ib. 805.
Sen ye ar … Demyt with the derrest, maist Doughty in deid

c. Carefully or strictly observed. c1420 Wynt. v. 1783.
The Pape Calixt in thai dayis Ordanyt, as the story sayis, The Catyrtens in dere fastyng

4. High in price or cost; expensive. c1475 Wall. iii. 13.
Wictaill worth scant … Throu all the land, that fude was hapnyt der 1504 Dunferm. B. Rec. 145.
The land … wes our deir yerlie of maill extending to the sovm of fyve crounis 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 106.
Anent bying of somer quhittingis, thai ar alse deir in this cuntre as in Disert 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 155.
Haldand opynyon deyr of a boryt beyn a1540 Freiris Berw. 365.
Get Simon wit, it wilbe deir doing 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8533.
Meit grew at large, and vittaillis was not deir a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxviii. 56.
Now skantlie in it may be sene Twelff gait glydis deir of a preine a1605 Montg. Son. xlix. 1.
Thoght peirlis give pryce, and diamonds be deir c1650 Spalding I. 262.
So not onlie wes oure peitis deir, bot … the victuall also becam veray deir 1690 Douglas Corr. 285.
Itt was a nightt bvriall, … and I hovp cannott be thovghtt deir, whan it coms only to a thovsand thritie avghtt povnd

b. In the comparative (derar, derrar, darrer, etc.) and superlative.(a) 1456 Hay I. 238/32.
Na suld na man sell thame derror penyworthis na wont was to be in the contree 1500 Dunferm. B. Rec. 101.
That na man na woman sel derar ail na viij d. the gawlowne 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 5.
That na broustar … sell ony derrar aill … na xvi d. the galloun 1541 Elgin Rec. I. 65.
That na derer ayill be sauld … na xii d. the gallone(b) ?1438 Alex. i. 2298.
Thay tint at that preking Sum hors, sum weill darrar thing 1504 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 99.
That na darrare aill be sauld … than for xvj d the galone 1517 Ib. I. 172.
That na maner of taverner … sell na darrer wyne … na for viij d. the pynt of claret 1550 Ib. II. 148.
That na maner of flescheoures … sell ony darrer flesche … nor [etc.] 1600 Ib. V. 274.
That thai sell na darrer malt … nor the nine firlettis … for tuelf pund 1603 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 32.
That na darrer aill be sauld nor xvj d. the poynt(c) 1375 Barb. xviii. 283 (E).
This is the derrest best that I Saw euir yeit 1523 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 217.
Thai sall nocht brew nor tap darrer aill … na for xx d. the gallowne, and ij s the derrest

c. Of prices or charges: High in amount. 1436 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 4.
Gif ony takkis on hand to bye this vitaile of derrere pryce na is bidden for it in the tolbuith a1500 Prestis of Peblis 305.
Thai sell thar sonnis … Vnto ane mukrand carle for darest prys 1552 Reg. Privy C. I. 129.
To by ony wynis … of ony derrer price nor xvij li. the toun of Bourdeoux wyne Aberd. B. Rec. (J).
That na stabill fe be darrer nor ane hard heid the hors in the nycht 1574 Acts III. 92/2.
That nane … ressaue the saidis plakkis and hardheidis … of ony derare avale and pryce nor is abone specifiit 1582 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 138.
[At] the dairest pryceis that the … burdis sall happin to gif in this contrey at the tyme

d. Marked by high prices of food. 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 96.
I haue bene pyling the bledis of the corne; I find it wilbe ane deir yeir; the bled of the corne growis withersones; and quhan it growis sonegates about, it wilbe ane gude chaip yeir 1633–7 Haddington Mem. II. 171.
The … rental of my estatte … wes diminshed a little in the deir yeirs 1674 Melrose Reg. Rec. II. 379.
It being ane deir yeir, shoe was prejudged in the soum of 4 lib. Scotts