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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Nanis. Also: nane(i)s, -ys(e, nance. [North. ME. (for) the nanes (c 1400), midl. and south. (for, vor) þe nones, early (forr) þe naness (Orm), ME. (midl. and south.) also with the nones, early to þan anes, ane (Layamon): cf. also Nones.Orig. ME. phrase to or for þan ane, anes, lit. = for or with a view to the one (thing, occasion etc.), with usual change of word-division.]

In Sc. appar. only in the phr. for the nanis:

1. For that very purpose; for that purpose only; on purpose, expressly. 1513 Doug. i. v. 81 comm.
And eftyr … thai becam for the nanys briggantis … and by a maner pollycy … convenyt that the tayn of thaim suid tak his brother [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece II. 86.
Quhill the armyis war fechtand … ane of the Pichtis, instruckit forthenanis, cryit, … ‘Fie, fle! Arthure is slane … ’ Id. Livy I. 37/29.
Quhare he be suddane effray devisit for the nanys was slane 1535 Stewart 45580.
And that thair surename sould na farder spred The barnis all … That sonis war, he causit for the nanis, That samin tyme to cut fra thame thair stanis c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 529.
Divers cummis to kirk oft for the nanis 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 87.
Impediment was mayd to him bayth wyth wordis and wapins, vidz. Jedwod staiffis, provydit in the kyrk … for the nanis a1568 Bann. MS. 127a/77.
Syne with the sleik stanis that servis for the nanis Thay rais the pyle I mak ȝow plane 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 29.
Bothwell suld be arraynit of the murther and acquytit be judges thairto chosin for the nanis and constranit Ib. 65. 1585–6 J. Carmichael in Misc. Wodrow Soc. I. 440.
Quhilk was keipit back for the nance to incurage and incense the bischops … against the gude brethren

2. In verse in weakened senses: As befitting the matter in hand; suitably for the purpose; suitably, fittingly, accordingly. b. As a mere affirmative tag: Certainly, assuredly, indeed.Occurring only in rhyme. 1375 Barb. x. 58.
[They] tumlit on hym stanys Richt gret and hevy for the nanys a1400 Leg. S. ix. 112.
& with preciuse stanis That costlyk ware for the nanyse & to the apostil send thame thocht Ib. xxiv. 549.
A towme that fare was for the nanys [: stanys] Ib. x. 256, xxvii. 1569. c1420 Wynt. iii. 871.
Yhone folk ar felowne for the nanys [: at anys] a1500 Rauf C. 688.
‘Heir is ryaltie,’ said Rauf, ‘aneuch for the nanis [: wanis]’ Ib. 469. ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 78.
And till ane takin the hingane stanis Ambrosius set vp for the naneis c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 21. 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 259.
Thus schortly for the nanys Ib. ii. viii. 47.
We holk and mynd the corneris for the nanys Quhil down belive we tumbil it al atanys Ib. v. iii. 63.
Apon thar seyttis … Thar placis hynt, arrayit for the nanys, With armys reddy Ib. i. xi. 24, 65, v. iv. 138, vi. iv. 6, viii. i. 27, ix. viii. 128, x. iv. 122, xi. x. 62, xii. 22; etc. 1535 Stewart 7185. Ib. 10275, 45952, 46035, 46889. a1568 Balnavis Bann. MS. 139 a/66.
I reid thé for the nanis Keip stuff in pois