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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.

Oftsys(e, -sis, adv. Also: offt-, of- and -syis, -syce, -cyse. [ME. (north.) of sise (once, Cursor M.), reduced form of ME. (Cursor M.) and e.m.E. oftsithes, -sythes (a 1300–c 1491).The precise ulterior history is somewhat unclear, but the second element is syse, pl. of Sythe (time).Written as one or as two words.]Appar. much more common in verse than in prose (cf. Oft-times).

Oftentimes, repeatedly, often; as is often the case, commonly. = Oft adv. 1 and 1 b.(a) 1375 Barb. iii. 427.
[He] rowyt sa oft-sys to & fra … That [etc.] Ib. iv. 389.
Oftsis quhen it wald him lik [etc.] Ib. xi. 487.
Oftsis of ane vord may ris Discomfort Ib. xv. 534.
Ȝeit haf I herd oftsis tell That [etc.] Ib. x. 561; etc. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvii. 209.
& erare gere hyme grane oft cyse Thane [etc.] c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 134.
Oftsyse ?1438 Alex. ii. 9632; etc.
‘Tortoun!’ full oft-syce can he cry c1420 Wynt. vi. 378.
Be this ensawmpill yhe may ken That offt wertu relevys men … Honowre drawys till dygnyteis Be wertu oftsys as men seys Ib. viii. 6872.
Swilk is the cas offt off bataile That pryd may offt-tymys well gere faille … Swa dois offtsyis succudry Ib. v. 1897; etc.
Offtsys 1444 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 399.
Richard of Rutherford oftsys callit til [etc.] c1450-2 Howlat 274.
Thus argewe thai ernistly wounder oftsys [B. oftsis] 1478 Acta Aud. 65/2.
The mater quhilkis has bene oftsis befor the said lordis of consale c1500 Makc. MS. v. 4.
Oft syis c1475 Wall. iv. 374.
Oft-syis a1500 Quare Jel. 136; etc.
How sche so oftsyse cursit jelousy a1500 Lanc. 2592; etc. Oftsys; Bk. Chess 1128. a1500 K. Hart 320.
Ȝhit he was pure, he prewit wel oft sys 1494 Loutfut MS. 32 b.
He is fund oftsyis in the sey of Bretangnie 1513 Doug. xiii. x. 93.
Quhou oftsys that thai away be tayn, Thai sal return haymwart agane Ib. vi. iii. 17, xiii. iii. 40. 1535 Stewart 29237.
This Gadwallane richt oftsyis to thame send Ib. 43229.
Oft syis fair hechtis makis fuillis fane 15.. King Berdok 48. 1513 Doug. iv. vi. 144 (Ruddim.).
Als oft syse [C. als feil sys] 15.. Clar. iv. 1988. c1550-c1580 Art of Music 34 b. Sum seruis weill … Bot sic vnseruit ar oft syis; Bann. MS. 94 b/18. Ib. 44 b/79; etc.
Quhairby oft syis we ar sein with our sang … to ascend [etc.] a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxii. 24. a1570-86 Maitland Ib. xcvii. 29.(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxiv. 44.
Salviour, suppois my sensualitie Subiect to syn hes maid my saull of sys