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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Lof(e, Loif(f, v. Also: loff-, loife, loyf(f; and Luf(e, Louf. [ME. lofenn (Orm); variant of Love v.]

tr. To praise, extol, glorify, honour. = Love v. 1.Also, to commend (a medical specific).See Lak v. 3 for further examples.(1) a1400 Leg. S. iii. 469.
I sall ger men thé crucify One the croice thu lofis sa Ib. xx. 184.
Quhene he schaw he wald nocht Lof his godis Ib. xxxvi. 475, 6.
Na man may Lofinge inuch of Sancte Johnne say, Quham Criste hyme-self lofit had, & to be lofit sa worthy made Ib. l. 167.
Catone … Forbad his sowne … To law hyme-self or lof gretly Ib. ii. 393, v. 352, xiii². 145, etc. ?1438 Alex. ii. 6972.
Thay suld be Menskit and lofit wele the mare c1420 Wynt. vii. 234.
Loffit 1424 Cambuskenneth Let. to Jas. I (Reg. H.).
Of the quhilk we ar richt heli … reiosit lofand God and continuali praiand tharfor 1456 Hay II. 82/13. Ib. 100/20.
Than sall his subjectis ufe him and lofe him, honoure him [etc.] c1460 Consail Vys Man 405.
Gar thi gud deid lof thi persone a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1145.
Ledis lofit thair lord, lufly of lyere 1490 Irland Mir. I. 89/20. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 506.
Lowd thai lewch all the laif and loffit [M. lovit] hir mekle 1551 Hamilton Cat. 65.
I will lofe and call on the Lord c1450-2 Howlat 755 (B).
All thus our ladye thaj lofe(b) (c 1580) Alex. i. 567.
For pure men sa vnwourthy is Vneis that ony will thame pryse Or loif Ib. ii. 2455.
For thy of thame I loif me mare a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 127 (Asl.). 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 180. c1500 Fyve Bestes 268.
Now God I loif this day has send ws this 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 421.
Virgill dyd diligens … Eneas for to loif and magnyfy Ib. xiii. viii. 17.
Extoll and loif thai can The gret apperans of gud in sik a man 1531 Bell. Boece II. 471.
Mony noblis of Ingland wer present … ; nocht ceissing … to loif maist thameself Ib. 481. Ib. (M) 141. Id. Livy I. 141/3.
Valerius … began to loif the grete felicite of Brutus his colleig Ib. II. 34/3. 1533 Boece vi. xii. 210 b. ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 294.
O Lord Jesu, … Grant me in word and deid to loife thé 1551 Hamilton Cat. 13.
That the special faith suld be loiffit and … luffit for mony excellent operations … in christin men and wemen 1570 Sat. P. x. 247.
All burghs and commounis, halelie did thai loif him, Bot sindrie said, that thay wald haif nane of him a1585 Montg. Maitl. Q. lxiv. i. Id. Devot. P. iv. 46.
Luiffaris leif of to loif so hie Ȝour ladyes c1580-90 Rules of Health (Moray Mun.).
Quhairfore I prayse and loifis greitlie the use of cassia(2) ?1438 Alex. ii. 7630.
Ȝit am I lofe God haill and feir c1420 Wynt. v. 3889 (C).
Bot lof God … This is bot hailsum medicyne For the wodnes of my syn(3) absol. a1500 Henr. Fab. 596.
Flatteraris … To loif and le that settis thair haill delite a1500 Bernardus 51.
Gef ane loffys, ane othir discomendys

b. To lofe (gerundial infin. used as adj. phrase), = to praise, honour, etc.; praiseworthy, admirable.See Lak v. 3 d for further examples. ?1438 Alex. i. 1070.
A! gentill duke of pris, Abone all knichtis to loif [F. a proisier] thow is