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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.

Effere, Effeir, n. Also: effer, effeire, effeyr; effear. [Var. of Affere n.]

1. Situation or condition (of a person, etc.) in respect of circumstances. 1375 Barb. x. 305.
Syne he sped him to the were, Till help his eym and his effere [E. in his myster] Ib. xvi. 27.
He wald blithly se … all the effeire [E. affer] Of that cuntre and of that were ?1438 Alex. ii. 6392.
To Lyonell syne went thay all And asked him of his effere c1420 Wynt. ii. 96(W).
Off gouernance scho wes happy, … And couth weill se for hir effeire [R. mystyre]

2. A matter of action or concern; an affair. ?1438 Alex. ii. 3000.
He askit than of Clarus efferes, And of his couen and of his weres Ib. 3372.
Of my men that best armyt is, … And horsit best for that effere c1420 Wynt. v. 3600 (W).
Thare chiftane wes of gret degre, … And in efferis sicker and gud 1548 Inchcolm Chart. 91.
And this on nay wyis you leif wndoun, as you wyll answer till ws upoun the executioun of the effeir 1552–3 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 15.
To Maister James McGill for his procuratioun in the townis effeiris 1581–2 Misc. Spald. C. V. 54.
To ryd to my Lord Huntlie in the touns efferis 1588 Reg. Privy C. IV. 245.
Thay maid ane offer to his Majestie, for the necessar supporte of the effearis of his estate, of … fourty thowsand pundis 1594 Crim. Trials I. iii. 336.
Passing in peceable … maner to Beruik, for doing of certane his lessum effearis and busynes 1627 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 12.
A meiting of the burrowes … concerning certane particular effeares mentioned in the said missive 1643–4 Misc. Spald. C. V. 106.
To ane boy going … anent the college effears

3. Bearing, demeanour, deportment. Freq. with fair or fresch. 1375 Barb. i. 361.
He wes off full fayr effer, Wys, curtais, and deboner Ib. vii. 126.
Thai persauit be his spekyng, And his effer, he wes the kyng c1420 Wynt. iv. 1981 (C).
Thow sal him withe gud releyff … That … awenand is of honesté, Off fayr effeyr [R. affere] and thewis gude ?1438 Alex. ii. 601.
Thow, for all thy freshe effere, Hes done bot lyttill in this were Ib. 1921.
Of fare effere was the Bauderane c1450-2 Howlat 617.
The rouch wodwys wyld … Ourgrowin grysly and growe, grym in effeir c1460 Consail Wys Man 137.
Be of faire chere, and of faire effere a1500 Doug. K. Hart 125.
Quhen hir court leist semble fair and clein, In thair effeir fayr seruice micht be sene 1535 Stewart 9461.
That tha micht knaw thair wisdome in to weir, Thair forwardnes and eik thair fresch effeir 15.. Clar. i. 336.
The wonderfull beawtie and the fresch effeir Of Mandonet Ib. v. 2523.
Mandonat with sorrowfull effeir Hir bright visage bedewit all with teir 1567 Sat. P. xi. 83.
O barronis bauld! ȝe mak ȝow boun To fute the field with fresche effeir

b. pl. Ways of bearing oneself; manners. c1420 Wynt. viii. 6762.
Ane of the Franche sqwyeris Saw be the feycht, and thare efferis, That hard was wictoure for to wyn Ib. ix. 2197.
Dame Annabill … Faire, honorabil, … curtas in hir efferis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 49.
Than spak ane lusty belyf, with lusty effeiris Id. xxvii. 65 (A).
Folk had a feile be thair efferis Thar hartis was baith on flocht 1513 Doug. i. iii. 97.
Gif thai behald … Sum man of gret autorite and efferis Ib. xiii. ix. 33 (Sm).
Latyn kyng Gan fast behald the child … Wondrand on his efferis and vissage

c. Appearance, aspect (of a place or thing). a1500 Doug. K. Hart 98.
Dame Plesance had ane pretty place besyd With fresche effeir c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 128.
Than callit scho all flouris … , Discirnyng all thair fassionis and effeiris

4. Personal display or show. 1375 Barb. xx. 515.
He … couth … his fays richt felonly Stonay, … The quhether of litill effer wes he ?1438 Alex. i. 1678.
Salarine led thame in that were, That ȝoung was and of gret effere

5. Array or display of armed force. 1375 Barb. vii. 30.
Iohn of Lorn, with gret effere, Com vith his rout ?1438 Alex. ii. 7145.
Clarus was wonder wyse of weir, And wele couth ordane his effeir 1456 Hay I. 45/15.
In that tyme the Scabins come aganis Rome in grete effere of were c1475 Wall. i. 56.
Eduuarde Langschanks had new begune hys wer Apon Gaskone, fell awfull in effer 1513 Doug. xiii. i. 67.
Now of all sik furour and effeir The lattir meith and term is present heir

6. Gret effere, pomp or ceremony, display. a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 199.
Sir Eustas, as he ware a king, With gret effere & realte Passit furth ?1438 Alex. ii. 6179.
The mekill realme of Inde, Quhare men sa great effere micht finde Of tentis and of pauilliounis a1500 Lanc. 2357.
The lady … gart bryng … With grete effere this knycht to hir presens

7. Effect, validity. 1563 Digest Justiciary Proc. E. 14.
We … confessis the pretendit seasinges gevin to ws … is of na strenthe … nor effeir