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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.

Lufit, Luffit, ppl. a. Also: luf-, luffitt, -yt, -id(e, -at, lufd, lwfyt; luif(f)it. [Late ME. lufyd (1435), f. Lufe v.¹ In this form chiefly early: cf. Luvit.] Beloved, dear. (Cf. also belufit Belovit and Weleluvit.)

1. In general use. a. attrib. a1400 Leg. S. xvii. 179.
Criste … sad, ‘Myn luffit hoste, cum to me’ Ib. xxiv. 146.
To hyme I thé betak As my lufyt warldis mak Ib. xxx. 450. Ib. xxxvi. 322.
This is my luffit sone c1420 Wynt. vii. 834 (C).
Mar luffit [R. luwand] a man was nane than he 1490 Irland Mir. I. 111/21.
My hartlie luffit scister Mercy Ib. 116/5. a1500 Seven S. 466.
Ȝour lufit grewhound ȝour son has slane Ib. 1440. 1513 Doug. ii. xii. 46.
Thy wepyng and thi teris do away Quhilk thou makis for thi luffyt [Sm. luifit] Crevsay Ib. vi. vi. 40, ix. iv. 126. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2450.
My lufit wife

b. predic. Also = liked, respected. a1400 Leg. S. ii. 96.
To Nero this Patroclas Sa luffit and sa speciale wes That [etc.] Ib. l. 964. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2276 (Ch.).
Fy on the leid that is not leill and lufit [Harl. luifit] a1500 Bk. Chess 610.
Schamefull to be … Makis a woman lovit and weile luffit 1573 Cal. Sc. P. IV. 601.
[But the good regent here] is ever the langer the better luiffit

2. In formal style.Unlike the later Luvit a. 2. not found inflected before a plural noun: see quots. 1408, 1423, 1460.a (a) 1388 Douglas Chart. 32.
Til wr lufd cosyn Dame Margaret Stewart 1389 Montgomery Mem. II. 17.
Til our lufit cosyng 1395 Menzies Chart. MS. 10 Feb.
To his lufyt moder 1397 Douglas Chart. 37.
Til hir lufide bruthir 1408 Chart. (Reg. H.) No. 221.
Be it kend … me … til hafe made … oure lufit & speciale cosinez … oure … speciale attournais 1416 Douglas Corr. 234.
Der and wel belufit brother, we haue syndry tymys writtyn to yhow til stere our lufit eme of Albany douly to trauele for … our deliuerans 1423 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii. 33.
My lufyt frendis 1432 Highland P. II. 173. 1433 Stirlings of Keir 211. 1460 Peebles B. Rec. I. 135.
Tyl our lwfyt burges Jhon Smayll, Thom Yong, [etc.] 1461 Melville Chart. 43. 1467 Reg. Panmure II. 242.
To my hertly lufit eme(b) 1416 Red Bk. Grandtully I. lxxii.
[An obligation to] my luffit frende Alisandyr Stewart … because of maryage of Margarete my sistyr with him 1437 Stirlings of Keir 213. 1445 14th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. iii. 12. 1460 Fam. Rose 135. 1461 Peebles B. Rec. I. 140. 1466 Chart. (Reg. H.) No. 391.
We … settis till oure luffit seruande & man … thre pennylande [etc.] 1478 Ib. No. 471.
Till our luffyt son Thomas Home for carnale affectyone quhilk we haf tyll hym 1525 Liber Aberbr. 450.(c) 1603 Reg. Morton I. 191.
[Letter:] My Lord and luifing father, … to my verie guid lord and luiffit fatherb. 1400 Chart. (Reg. H.) Honess Doc. No. .
Til al men … me … for to haf gyfyn … to my lufit and my speciale Alexander of the Wemys my son … my landys of Kilmany 1478 Chart. (Reg. H.) No. 471.
The quhilk gifft … we haff ordanyt … our luffit Schir James Flemyng … to delyuer 1480–1 Newbattle Coll. (Somerville) (Reg. H.).
John Lord Somerwile … til our luffitt Johne the Graham 1482 Chart. (Reg. H.) No. 501.
Makis … my luffat Johne Baty burges of Edinburgh an his … assignais … my … baillies