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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Oft, adv. and a. Also: ofte, hoft, offt, of. Compar. oftare, etc., also ofterer. Superl. oftast, etc. [North. ME. oft, midl. and south. ofte, OE. oft. Cf. also Aft.] 1. adv. Often, frequently, many times. b. Modifying a general or gnomic statement: As is often the case, commonly. = Oft-times adv. 1 and 2.(a) 1375 Barb. vii. 185 (E).
The King … slepyt nocht full encrely Bot gliffnyt wp oft a1400 Leg. S. xlvi. 110.
That lowit God bath he & scho Ful ofte c1420 Wynt. vii. 1195.
Thare he hade Offt and mekyll his duellyng Ib. viii. 6963.
The Kyng at Melros offt wald ly Ib. v. 5671; etc. 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 61.
Alse offt [v.r. often] as it happynnis to be vacand c1420 Ratis R. Prol. 2.
This buk, Thow … reid it oft 1456 Hay II. 97/20.
Bot do nocht this oft c1475 Wall. i. 189.
Offt 1482 Bamff Chart. 32. a1500 Seven S. 2054.
Thow has maid stryf Our oft c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlix. 37.
War the fox tane a thousand fawd And grace him gevin als oft for frawd 1513 Doug. xii. viii. 97. 1527 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 248.
Als hoft [pr. alshoft] as neid beis 1549 Compl. 58/11.
Ther is ane sterne that aperis nocht oft in our hemispere callit ane comeit a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 112/6.
Oft and diuers tymis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 76/2.
Quhou oft a man sinnis, sa oft [etc.] 1569 Reg. Privy C. II. 29.
He … regairdit nocht how oft he committit deforcementis 1579 Acts III. 176/2.
He said oft anewch … that [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I. 12/18. Ib. 5/14.
The inhabitouris … because in hett weiris thay ȝok ofte with the Inglismen, thay ar ay in radines a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 562.
God help them hes a falt they are oft tauld of it Ib. No. 1406.
Oft the ladle in the pot maks thin kaile Ib. Nos. 1407, 1423.(b) c1590 Fowler I. 387/304.
The corps That of thyne armes hathe wyndecompar. (a) a1400 Leg. S. x. 29.
Oftyre ?1438 Alex. ii. 2375.
Wele better and ofter it helpis me [etc.] c1420 Wynt. v. 5091.
Offtyr Ib. vii. Prol. 12.
Off inwyous brynnand men That offtare will reprove than ken Ib. viii. 1691.
Offtare and offtare 14.. Acts I. 41/2.
And in the yhere nane oftare a1500 Rauf C. 644.
He arguit with the ischar ofter than anis 1490 Irland Mir. I. 50/1.
The ofter … the mare [etc.] 1533 Boece ix. xi. 315.
The ingine of men is oftare gevin to evill na gude 1562-3 Winȝet I. 38/11.
We neid not in this mater ony ofter to sound this trompet 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 289.
Ofter nor neid 1573 Inverness Rec. I. 232.
Anes in the owke or oftar as neid beis or occasioun seruis 1596 Dalr. I. 149/10.
He neuir planelie ascriues vs ony certane victorie, bot ofter vncertane victorie on baith handes 1605 Melvill 601.
Oftir a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1594. 1638 Baillie I. 162.
My loathness to be heard ofter in one day to contradict 1673 Kingarth Par. Rec. 90.
That she sould frequent the kirk ofter(b) 1569 Cal. Sc. P. III. 20.
And so I will the ofterer trouble you to [etc.]superl. 1531 Vaus 3.
Oftast 1535 Stewart 30866.
Tha wer formest and oftest did maist deir On to thair fa Ib. 59628.
The Inglismen wes maid oftast to faill 1560 Bk. Disc. 217.
Thre of them that shalbe oftest nominat [etc.] 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 9.
Leist in vinter & spring, ofter in simmer, oftest of all in autumne 1641 Acts V. (1817) 502/1.
Quhair they vse oftest to resortb. a1400 Leg. S. xxviii. 18.
Thar-for oft men will it ta & set it in bruchis c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1786.
Oft happinnit for gilt of ane A thowsand … To be pvnist c1420 Wynt. iv. 374.
Sa it hapnys that men are Dyssayvid offt Ib. v. 5101.
The wyff offt hatys … Hym that hyr husband haldys dere c1460 Thewis Gud Women 199.
Men bindis oft folk agane thar will a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 151 (Asl.). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxi. 11. 1513 Doug. v. ix. 69. 1535 Stewart 16250.
That it is rycht oft kend [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I. 171/25.
Oft chances that [etc.]superl. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron (1682) 35.
Vertue followeth oftest noble blood

2. adj. (with verbal nouns and nouns of action): Frequent.In Sc. uncommon and late, ? after e.m.E. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Timothy i. v. 23.
Vse a litil wyne … for thi oft falling in infirmiteis 1568 Buch. Indict. 43.
Without respect of thair oft hairschippis of befoir 1570 Leslie 244.
In the oft changes of the governement 1596 Dalr. I. 19/14.
Throuch frequent and oft peregrinatione 1601 St. A. Baxter Bks. 66.
For his said oft dissobedience