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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.

Forgeve, Forgif, v. Also: forgew, -gef(f, -geif; forgyf(f, -giff, -gyve, -give. P.t. forgave, -gawe, -gaf(f, -gaif. P.p. forgevin(e, -gevyn, -gewyne, -geving; forgyffine, -yne, -givin, -giwen. [Northern ME. forgeve, -give, -gif (a 1300), var. of forȝeve, -ȝefe, OE. forᵹiefan. See Geve v.] tr. To forgive (a person, act, or thing). Also absol.(a) 1456 Hay I. 30/33.
Fader, forgeve thir symple folk c1450 Cr. Deyng 8/253.
As he forgewys, he sall be forgewyne c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 57/3.
Men of gret curagis forgevis redely faltis 1527 Reg. Privy S. I. 568/1.
Our soverane Lord remittis and forgevis to George Home … the castell wardis [etc.] c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 579.
Hartlie I ȝow forgeue 1583 Reg. Privy C. III. 599.
He forgevis thame … of quhat degre sa evir thay be of(b) c1420 Wynt. vii. 37.
Off my mysdedys … Forgyve me 1567 G. Ball. (1578) 11.
Forgiue our sinnis a1578 Pitsc. I. 36/29.
I forgiue all wrangis done to me 1596 Dalr. I. 194/18.
Except he forgyue al iniure 1618-60 Lithgow Poet. Rem. 172.
Thou wilt … my faults forgive [: beleeve](c) a1400 Leg. S. iii. 142.
Pray thi god to forgyff me this c1475 Wall. vii. 1061.
I forgiff yow all 1495 Acta Conc. 418/2.
[They] sall remitt and forgif the rancour of thair hartis to the said Johne Ramsay 1533 Gau 94/4.
We suld first forgiff thayme quhilk hes failȝet aganis vs 1569 Reg. Privy C. II. 10.
That ather … sall forgif … and forgett all maner of slauchteris [etc.](d) c1460 Thewis Wysmen 257.
Wysmen … forgeif glaidly matalent 1491 Lennox Mun. 143.
To remyt and forgeff rankour 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 472.
Forgeif me. … gif I thé offend 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4293.
Thocht auld men anis forgeif 1567 G. Ball. 66.
Quhill I leif, I thame forgeif(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 964.
He than gladly thame for gawe c1420 Wynt. viii. 6053.
The kyng his malancoly Forgawe(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 376.
He for-gef his matalent Til hyme 1490 Acta Conc. 127/2.
Our said souerane lordis faider … forgeff to him the tothir thre hundreth merkis a ȝere a1500 Seven S. 1413.
Hartly he forgaf hir thare c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix. 149.
Forgif me, as Thow hir forgaif 1533 Gau 60/18.
Forgiff hime his dettis as i forgaff thé thyne 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 339.
The said laird … foirgaif all men(c) a1400 Leg. S. iii. 152.
God forgevine had that ald 1456 Hay I. 120/36.
He suld forgeve him as he wald be forgevin c1460 Vert. Mess 3959.
All weneall synnis sal be forgewyne thaim a1500 Seven S. 1420.
Scho tald … How scho forgevin was sa lichtly 1535 Stewart 25106.
All injure forgevin and forȝet 1561 Carte Northberwic 80.
That it suld be all reddy forgeving by hym 1588 King Cat. 224.
To na man … his sinnes be forgiwen(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxv. 175.
Giff God had forgyffine … hyr fellone syne 1491 Dunferm B. Rec. 33.
The comunite has forgiffyn the brosteris the falt of Yul c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4351.
One Prince … be quhame synnis ar forgyffin