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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-times, Oftymis, adv. Also: oft-, offt-tym(e)s, -eis, -is, -ys; oftimes, -is, oftyme(i)s, -ys, -ez, oftyms. [ME. and e.m.E. oft-tymys (Wyclif), oft(e)tymes, -times, late ME. also oftymes (1413), replacing the older oftsithes (see Oftsys(e). Cf. also aft tymes, Aft adv. (2).] Frequently, repeatedly, many times.Before the mid 16th c. much less common in verse, in any of the senses, than Oftsys(e, but, unlike Oftsys(e, common in prose from the outset, at first only in senses 1 and 2.

1. With verbs of ‘hearing’ (by report), perceiving, etc. (some general truth which is repeatedly confirmed by the event), and with verbs of happening, as (as, it) oftymes befallis.(a) 1375 Barb. iv. 230 (E).
Oft tymys [C. oftymis] will betid That [etc.] c 1390 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 19.
For yt as bene oft tymes herde that [etc.] 1456 Hay I. 77/3.
Men seis oft tymes that [etc.] Ib. 172/32.
Gif a knycht … takis ane othir prysonare as oft tymes befallis and [etc.] Ib. 277/30.
For it befallis ofttymes that [etc] c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 79 b.(b) 1375 Barb. vii. 17 (E).
Ik haiff hard oftymys [C. oftsis] say That [etc.] a1500 Henr. Fab. 75 (H).
As oftymes hes bene sene 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 263.
For oftymes it is cleirly kend Wrang conquest maks myscheuous end a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1214.
Oftymes sa fairs, cats eats that hussie spairs

2. With general or gnomic statements: As is often the case, in many instances, commonly.(a) c1420 Wynt. viii. 6870.
Pryd may offt-tymys [L. oft tyme] well gere faille 1456 Hay II. 33/2.
For oft tymes of pryde … cummys injure and discensioun c1460 Thewis Gud Women 195.
Suppos it war agane thar wyll It kepis thaim oft-tymis fra ill c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 8/17. Ib. 22/2.
Ofttymes a1500 Seven S. 2449.
Women oft tymes has bene sene … And tane for vther in mony place a1500 Bk. Chess 472.
In thair electioun oft sys is a let With gret discord & ofttymis ar set To cheis a man for thair awne appetite 1531 Vaus 3.
And quhowbeit grammariaris oft tymis begynnis at the verbe impersonale 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5490. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 131/25.
Our senses ar verray oft tymes begilit a1578 Pitsc. I. 151/3. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 495 (Wr.). c1590 J. Stewart II. 10/1.
Oft tyms a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 387.
Evil newes ar oft tyms trewest Ib. No. 916.
Ofttyms(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxi. 1010.
Thare [sc. in Rome] dewot folk … Of-tymys getis dowbyl hele a1500 Henr. Fab. 290 (H). 1490 Irland Mir. I. 55/16.
Oftymes aduersite and tribulacioune is proffitabile c1490 Porteous Noblenes 179/1. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xvii. 17.
Thir merchantis takis vnlesum win, Quhilk makis thair pakkis oftymes full thin 1531 Bell. Boece I. xxiv.
Throw thair … glutone thay ar strikin oftimes with sa dangerus … infirmiteis Ib. liii. 1535 Stewart 1108.
Oftymes fair hechtis makis fuillis fane 1562-3 Winȝet I. 61/5. 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl. 241. 1578 Acts III. 104/2.
The hervest oftymes continewis … quhill halomes [etc.] a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 650 (Wr.). 1596 Dalr. I. 20/20.
Ennimies or traytouris vses mair to feir frome this kynde of dog oftymes, than frome [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset I. 96/3. Ib. 235/31. 16.. R. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 392.
Secluding oftymes the true heyr, whereupon division and much blood oftyms fell out

3. In particular statements.Until c 1530 much less common in this than in the prec. uses, except in the legal formula oftymes callit (and nocht comperit, comperand).(1) 1456 Hay I. 301/29.
[They] drank bot clere water oft tymes a1500 Rauf C. 170.
I haue oft tymes bene quhair gude hes bene ryfe 1533 Bell. Livy I. 49/29. a1538 Abell 43 a.
Sche come oft tymes in the nycht to me 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 156. 1559–60 Soc. Ant. XI. 520.
And that we haif ofttymes desirit pament 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9010.
Thay … sufferit weill Lodwik to ga in peis, Howbeit oft times into greit ieopardie Ib. 963. 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 168/32.
For als oft tymes as we offer onto Him the sacrifice … sua oft do we [etc.] 1570 Sat. P. xx. 175.
The cup Quhairwith oft tymes … Mennis lyves he interup a1578 Pitsc. I. 35/10. Ib. 231/25.
Ofttymeis I hard them say that [etc.] c1610 Melville Mem. 3.
Sen na man can schaw the richt way better than he that has oft tymes chancit vpon by roddis 1631 Thanes of Cawdor 273. a1700 Mare of Colinton 40.
Oft have I turst your hether crame And born your self right oft-times hame(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 879.
He wald oftymys ger men ven That [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. I. 14/9.
Thou suld do oftymeȝ the office that Jhesus has commyttit to thé a1500 Rois Garlandis 9.
And vse oftymes this goldin psalter 1531 Bell. Boece I. 216.
And howbeit he wes oftimes assailyeit be thaim with scharp battallis, yit [etc.] Ib. II. 207; etc. 1535 Stewart 49262.
Oftymes c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5942. 1557 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 34/2.
We … understanding that oure lovitt Maister David Rollok … is oftymes vexit with the gravell [etc.] c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv. 26. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 64.
Oftymes he cryed for Godis saike to dispatche him a1578 Pitsc. I. 197/24.
Gif ony thing war in missing it wald be found of tymes throw his handis a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 220.
A taile oftimes tald tynes the taist c 1630 Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 147.
The Earle of Argyll uses oftymes to come to this logh(2) 1482 Acta Aud. 101/1.
The sade gleyit Andro being oft tymes callit & nocht comperit 1482–3 Acta Conc. II. cv. 1574 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 434. 1654 Rothesay B. Rec. i.
Oftyms(3) 1561 Dumfries B. Ct. 6 b.
And the saids grond … oftymes vesyit and the fundacione of the samin sychtit be thaim