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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.

Forlorn(e, p.p. and a. Also: foirlorne, forloirn. [ME. forlorn(e, OE, forloren, p.p. of forléosan to lose.] Utterly lost or destroyed.

1. a. As p.p. active. b. As p.p. passive.a. a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 392.
Bannand the tyme scho wes born That sagat had hyr-self forlorne ?1438 Alex. ii. 9267.
Mony ane knicht … That thair lyues had forlorne c1475 Wall. x. 33.
Ȝong Wodstok has bathe land and lyf forlorn 1535 Stewart 23616.
Ȝone ar the men that lawtie hes forlorne 1567 G. Ball. 24.
We wratcheit sinnaris pure, Our sin hes vs forlorneb. 1375 Barb. x. 246.
Quhen thai the castell saw forlorn Thai fled c1420 Wynt. i. 494.
Ihesu Cryst [wes] of Mary borne, Tyll sawffe oure lyff that wes forlorne 1456 Hay II. 53/16.
But the quhilk esperaunce … we war all forlorne a1500 Seven S. 584.
This child was iugit to be forlorne c1500 Crying of Play 83.
For litilnes scho was forlorne Sic a kempe to beire c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxx. 24.
But thy help this kynrik is forlorne c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 956.
Help me, ȝour man that is forlorne a1568 Scott xxxiv. 66 (M).
Sic luiffarris seindle meittis Bot leill luif ay forloirn is 1581 Sat. P. xli. 156.
Sindrie vthers, … Diuers in maners, vnhappy, fals, forlorne

2. As adj., esp. forlorn son, the prodigal son. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 62/1.
For plesuir of his forlorne brether 1564 Reg. Privy C. I. 308.
Fyve paintit claythis of the forlorne son 1574 St. A. Kirk S. 396.
The supplicatioun … for procuring licence to play the comede … of the forlorn sone