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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.

Efter, Eftir, prep. Also: eftire, eftyr(e, efftyr(e, eftre. [ME. efter (var. of after), OE. æfter, ON. eþtir.]

1. After (in time); subsequent to, following upon.(a) a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 163.
Efter Cristis ascensione Ib. ii. 501.
Grete blythnese … efter sorowfulnese 1398 Acts I. 211/2.
On the morne efter al halow day 1456 Hay I. 40/7.
Eneas … was sa king efter him Ib. 192/30.
Incontynent efter the injure a1500 Rauf C. 135.
Efter ane euill day to haue ane mirrie nicht 1523 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 209.
The quheit that beis ground efter the said malt 1531 Bell. Boece I. 14.
Na Scottis to be found … efter ane prefixit day 1558-66 Knox II. 355.
That was efter two at efter none a1570-86 Maitl. F. xxxi. 17.
Efter mid age the luifar lyis full lang 1585 James VI Ess. 29.
How oft thou lykes reid ouer booke efter booke 1623–4 Misc. Spald. C. V. 99.
To that same boye, efter his bakcoming from Keith 1660 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 188.
Efter ther comeing from the church to the croce(b) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 219.
Eftire this lyfe transitore 1405 Lennox Mun. 58.
Efftir the dissese of the forsaide erle c1475 Wall. i. 88.
Eftir mydnycht at rest wes all the toun 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 88.
For carying of claythis fra Scone eftir the coronacione c1515 Asl. MS. I. 246/4.
Lang eftire this tyme Symon Breke was send … to Irland c1500-c1512 Dunb. xvii. 1.
Eftir geving I speik of taking 1579 Bk. Carlaverock I. 242.
Eftir dew tryell the failȝear salbe puneist 1596 Dalr. I. 177/19.
Seuerus did nathing digne … eftir this victorie 1622-6 Bisset II. 88/18.
Eftir the deceise of him to quhome they ar executouris(c) a1400 Leg. S. xvii. 138.
Eftyre a ȝere Ib. xxiv. 466.
Eftyre lang seknes 1405 James of Douglas Letter to Henry IV in Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
Eftyr the qwhilk crye yhour men … has rydyne in Scotlande 1413 Frasers of Philorth 201.
Fowrety dayis eftyr the resignacioun of the sayde landis c1420 Wynt. ii. 831.
Quha … yhere wyll rekyn eftyr yhere Ib. v. 253; etc.
The fyftend yhere efftyre that byrth c1460 Thewis Gud Women 52.
Eftyr prid oft folowis schame 1551 Prot. Bk. Sir W. Corbet 19.
To geiff to hyr halff all the gwiddis about hyr motheris hous efftyr hyr deces 1562 Rec. Earld. Orkney 114.
Quhilk land was gyffine to hyre … in arff eftyre hyre wmquhile fathyre(d) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 177.
That thai eftre my day suld bruk my kinryk 1446 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 244.
Eftre debate & question made [etc.]

b. In the phr. efter that or this. a1400 Leg. S. i. 388.
Eftir thus [sic] … Quhare-euir Nero fundyn wes Ib. iii. 191.
Than hapnyt eftir that, To do law the juge set c1420 Wynt. v. 1112.
Be the but a wiff hym gat, And sourly carpit eftyr that Ib. 5573.
It hapnyt that efftyre this [etc.] 1535 Stewart 46772.
Syne efter that this ladie he did wed 1585 James VI Ess. 33.
Efter that were pend Longtyme no verse, but for that only end c1650 Spalding II. 317.
Follouit efter this ane band … commounlie callit the blind band

c. Ellipt. with drink, wine. ?1438 Alex. ii. 1358.
Thow said … Into thy solace eftir wyne, That thow all Effezone suld tak 1641 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 273.
Robert Gordon … convict … for drawing of a quhinger to Wiliiam Walker, … thay being both efter drink

2. Efter that (also at), after the time that (something took place or was done). c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 61.
Efter that the pece tretyt ware c1420 Wynt. v. 4756.
Efftyre that this all thus wes done Ib. vi. 1154.
Efftyre that he wes broucht on bere 1426 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 202.
Effter that I haf infefft the said Dauy … of the said … land 1490 Irland Mir. I. 6/7.
Eftir at he was cled with oure nature and tuk humanite 1531 Bell. Boece I. 14.
Efter that this day wes ouir past c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 191.
Efter that the peice be maid, To marie ȝow I will be glaid 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 797.
Eftir that he had long time blockit … he tuik thame

b. With omission of that. 1424 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 96.
At the ueste of Qwyssinday eftyr he or thai bruk … nocht the saide lande c1515 Asl. MS. I. 318/22.
iiij^m ȝeris. … efter God creat the warld 1533 Boece vi. xv. 217.
Eftir the day to the proscripcioun appoyntit was birvn 1585 James VI Ess. 56.
Efter Pan had found the quhissill

3. In accordance with, according to. 1375 Barb. i. 213.
For thai dempt thaim eftir thar will 1385 Red Bk. Grandtully I. 139*.
Eftyr the tenur of certan endentarys … , the qwylk I ordaynyt thaim to seie c1420 Wynt. iv. 2585.
Efftyr thare awysment Sybyll Tyburtyne in hy He cald 1456 Hay II. 141/3.
Se that thou tak sobyrly of it efter thyne age, and efter the tyme of ȝere c1450 Cr. Deyng 254.
He suld mak satisfactione … efter his poware a1500 Henr. Fab. 2824.
Thow suld not juge ane man efter his face c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxix. 15.
Ane laird hes with him bot a loun, That leidis him eftir his devyce 1515 Reg. Privy S. I. 402/1.
With power to poind and to distrenȝe thairfoir efter the forme of law c1552 Lynd. Mon. 863.
Efter my rude ingyne, I sall rehers thé that rewyne 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 9.
Thyr classis salbe … promovit hyear efter thair meritis

b. Efter as, according as. a1500 Rauf C. 537.
For me think thow will be thair efter as thow tellis 1533 Gau 12/12.
Thay that … traistis efter as the astronomurs … spekis thair of 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3686.
Gif ȝe will do efter as I ȝow say, Ȝe sall allow my taill ane vther day

c. Eftir ane, of one kind, uniform. 1513 Doug. xiii. Prol. 21.
Sen eftir ane my tung is and my pen

4. About, concerning. 1375 Barb. ii. 55.
Thai askit his men eftir him 1660 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 185.
For macking furth ane inquirie for and efter the said Vicount

b. In search of. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 9.
I drew in derne to the dyk to dirkin eftir mirthis

5. In order to bring or get; for. 1375 Barb. ix. 113.
He sent eftir his men in hy ?1438 Alex. i. 3279.
Alexander … Efter his maister leich hes sent Ib. ii. 2813.
Send efter thy brether thre c1450 Cr. Deyng 259.
Fyrst he prayd, … syne criyd efter help 1560 Rolland Seven S. 224.
Sa on the morne he cryit efter his clais

6. By derivation from (a name). c1420 Wynt. iii. 544.
He … callyd that land eftyr his name 1490 Irland Mir. I. 51/8.
We that are … cristin pepill eftir the name of our lord … Ihesu Crist c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2746.
Nynus gart call it [Ninive] efter his name

7. Behind, following. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 35.
Bostaris, braggaris, and barganeris, Eftir him passit in to pairis a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxxx. 57.
In hy eftir that heynd I ȝeid