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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.

Luve, Love, v.¹ Also: luwe, lw-; lov, low(e. Pres. t. luvis etc., lwis, and Luis. P.t. and p.p. luvid, luvit etc. and Lude, Lute. [ME. luvie(n, luven, lovie, love(n, p.t. luv(e)d(e, loved(e, (14th c.) louved, p.p. i)loved, -luved, e.m.E. chiefly love, p.t. and p.p. loved, OE. lufian, p.t. lufode, p.p. ᵹe-lufod: cf. Lufe v.¹ and Low v.⁵] To love, in various usual senses: see Lufe v.¹.The (b) forms coincide in spelling with Love v., with which there is sometimes ambiguity: see also Love v. 1.

1. tr. To love or cherish or to like (a person etc.).For some additional examples, see Lif(e n. 3 c (2).(a) c1420 Wynt. v. 3954.
Till byschope all tyme bowsum be And prestys luwe in cheryte a1568 Bann. MS. 255 a/33.
Luve God, thy prince, and freind, all thre 1596 Dalr. I. 261/14.
[That] his nobilis mycht … constantlie luue ilk vthir a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 702.
He luves me for little that haits me for right not(b) c1420 Ratis R. 1436.
And luf and dout his [God's] mekile mycht And loue his nycht hour bot as he Wald with his nycht hour louit he c1450-2 Howlat 456.
I love ȝou mair for that lois … Than [etc.] c1460 Thewis Wysmen 91.
He lovis thaim weill in al degree That correkis hyme in priwatee 1549 Compl. 131/36.
For euere person hes sum frend that he louis as veil as hym self a1568 Scott xxxiii. 19.
Thow lovis thame that lowdest leis 1689 Melville Corr. 238.
Adiew, my master, … lowe your frinds, as they low yow(b) 1375 Barb. xiii. 584 (E).
Nane rescours wald till him ma All thoucht he luwyt him neuir sua c1420 Wynt. vii. 3581.
He luwyd all men that war wertuows; He lathyd and chastyd al vytyows Ib. viii. 2246.
The Cwmynys in tha dayis Welle luwyd noucht Willame the Waylays Ib. 4706.
It semyd thai luwyd hym noucht grettumly 1596 Dalr. II. 7/16.
The cause quhy the Bruse luuet him sa weil was for his manheid [etc.](b) c1420 Ratis R. 1490.
Fellony … louit neuir his lord a last Bot he ware tyrand at the maist ?1438 Alex. ii. 1609.
On haith the halfis remouit The oistis that nocht ane vthir louit c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 250.
He louit neuir … trumpour nor iucuris Ib. 877.
Mony lovit him weill becaus thai fallois ware … at lare c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 283.
Ay levand thay gudis til ane othir quhilk louit hyme neuir in his lyf c1475 Wall. ii. 270.
His fostyr modyr lowed him our the laiff c1500-c1512 Dunb. viii. 25.
Pray now for him all that him loveit heir 15.. Clar. iii. 462.
All hir lovit that upon hir blent 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 129.
Ewerie persoun that lowit the Quenis grace assemblit to hir, and thaj quha assistit to my lord regent assemblit to him a1578 Pitsc. I. 169/5.
He was covatous wpoun money and lowed him better that gaif him nor they that tuik fre him 1581 Sat. P. xliii. 216.
Bot wald to God that na man louit ȝow war(c) c1420 Wynt. ii. 185.
Esaw … luwyt wes wytht the fadyre hest Ib. v. 1284.
At hys state he hade inwy That wes luwyde sa specyaly a1568 Bann. MS. 135 b/64.
A man weill luvit he is nocht pure(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii. 562.
[He] with the emperoure Is mykil lowit & in honoure c1420 Ratis R. 320.
That is he That will nocht luf nor louit bee c1460 Consail Vys Man 70. c1460 Thewis Gud Women 159.
Pres to be lowyt with hir menȝe a1500 K. Hart 815. a1538 Abell 109 b.
Ane faithfull man is gretumlie lowit 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 218.
The Lorde Gray is rycht ill lowit off Ingland 1549 Compl. 166/8.
Ȝe vald be louit vitht al men and ȝe hef na cherite to na man a1578 Pitsc. I. 203/2.
They knew the king to be well lowit witht all the commons and burrowis 1609 Elphinstone Mem. II. 160.
That reputatioun, which hes hithertillis made your maiestie hoth loued and respected a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1265.
Quhair he is best kend, he is worst loved 1618-60 Lithgow Poet. Remains 93.
When … servands liu'd … well arm'd, well lou'd, well clothd

b. In the religious sense.(1) c1420 Wynt. v. 5554.
Lord God, that schawys thé Luwand mankynd in all kyn gre c1420 Ratis R. 612.
Thar is na creatur levand Sa weill louit … With hyme that maid ws al to bee As is that madyne Cheritee 1599 Rollock Wks. I. 440.
He lovis not thir hevins, thir starnis, sa weil as He dois men(2) (a) c1420 Wynt. vi. 685.
Pryncys … suld … luwe fyrst God and haly kyrke 1562-3 Winȝet I. 66/23.
All thais quha vnfenȝetlie luuis Christe Jesus, His eternall word, … and immutable will Ib. II. 52/9.
Quhidder we luue oure God or nocht in al oure hart(b) a1400 Leg. S. v. 590.
Sanct Edmwnde … Lovit sancte John a-beouf althinge c1420 Ratis R. (S.T.S.) 174/16. a1500 Lanc. 1619.
That he God dreid and lowe al-so 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1463.
Bot all cumis for the best To thame that lovis the Lord 1562 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 5.
God suld be lowit, feared and wirshipped allanerlie with the haill man, saull, hart [etc.]

c. absol. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 105/28.
Quha luuis nocht, remanis in dethe 1584-9 Maxwall Prov. No. 85.
Those that lowe most speak least

2. To be in love with; to have as a lover. Also absol.(1) c1420 Wynt. i. 312.
Sethys swnnys … Luwyde Kayinys dowchtrys … And gat on thaim bodely Thir geawndis Ib. v. 1470.
The man … at scho sa stratly luwyde To be slayne c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlvi. 51.
Quhy put God so grit bewte In ladeis … Bot gife he wald that thay suld luvit he? Id. xlvii. 69. 15.. King Berdok 17.
Neuirtheles King Berdok luvit hir weill a1568 Scott vii. 8.
Byd with hir thow luvis best(b) 1375 Barb. x. 554 (E).
I … lovyt a wench her in the toun a1400 Leg. S. xxi. 384.
My wyf That I haf lowyt as my lyfe c1460 Thewis Gud Women 156.
The fyrst luf ay be lowyt [v.r. lufit] best c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxii. 24.
He lovit na ȝowis auld, twch and sklender c1590 Fowler I. 206/10.
I have blaikned beutyes lovd and servd 1591 Crim. Trials I. ii. 252.
For allwring … of Joseph Dowglas … to love yow(2) absol. c1420 Wynt. iv. 215.
He paramowrys so stratly luwyd That perelys as playis he pruwyde Ib. vi. 181.
Quha that luwe wald per drwry He suld have chosyn this lady 15.. Dunb. App. iii. 21.
Sum luvis lang and lyis behind, Sum luvis and freindschip can nocht fynd 15.. Christis Kirk 30 (B).
He wald haif luvit [M. luffit hir], scho wald nocht lat him a1568 Scott xix. 1.
That evir I luvit, allace thairfoir! a1568 Montg. Bann. MS. 253 a/1.
Quhy sowld I luve bot gif I war luvit? 1631 Craig iv. 10.
For hee that loues lightliest Bee sure hee shall speede best

3. To hold dear (a principle, one's life etc.).(a) c1420 Wynt. v. 3949.
Off haly kyrk bath lare and lawe To bere and luve 1562-3 Winȝet II. 52/12.
He is a trew … Catholik quha luuis the trewth of God(b) c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 468.
Men suld loue the penny Ib. 491.
All men suld … loue weill paciens and clennes of lyf c1460 Thewis Wysmen 43.
Wysdome luvis al at it lovis And fleis fra thaim that it raprevis a1578 Pitsc. I. 201/16.
As he lowit his honour and his lyfe 1649 Misc. Spald. C. V. 381.
Anie that lowes religione, the Kinge or ther owen good

4. To take pleasure in (a possession, practice, etc.); to like (to do something).(1) c1420 Ratis R. 1666.
[Age] lwis furryt claithis wyde c1450-2 Howlat 371 (B).
With … flour delycis on loft that mony leid lovit [: approvit, movit, hovit] 15.. Wyf Awcht. 4.
Quha … nathir luvit hungir nor cauld a1578 Pitsc. I. 162/5. Ib. 231/34.
[He] lowit nothing so weill as abill men and goode horse Ib. 163/2.
His brother … lowit sollitarnes and … delytit … in musik a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 858.
I lov not tuo handed fish [etc.] Ib. No. 872.
I lov not the meat quhilk crowes in my womb(2) c1420 Wynt. vi. 255.
Ane hare offt he luwyd till ete c1420 Ratis R. 1268.
[Childhood] louis weill to leif be wyll a1568 Scott iv. 58.
Sum luvis … With jeigis to mak thame joly 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 78.
We doe not love to wrong onie man in thair ryght 1658 R. Moray Lett. 12 Apr.
King James loved best of any discourse to talk of dirt 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 67.
Suppose he leuv'd to fib(3) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 324.
Thair is ane hunder heir sittand by, That luvis iaping als weill as I