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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Prefe,) Preff, Preif, Preve, n. Also: preife, preiff(e, preyf, pryf, priefe, preef, prewe. [ME and e.m.E. preove (Ancr. R.), preve, preeve (Chaucer), prieve (Gower), prewe (1422), preeve (1594) and pref (c 1325), prefe (Wyclif), proef, preef (Chaucer), preyf (c 1400), prief, preffe (c 1430), priefe, preife (Spenser), OF prueve (c 1224 in Godef. Compl.), proeve, preve, proeuve (F. preuve), late L. proba f. probāre Preve v.¹ Cf. Pruf(e n.]

1. a. Submission to trial or test; trying something out in action; trial, test. = Pruf(e n. 1. b. Giving proof of (a quality) in action, demonstration. = Pruf(e n. 7 b. ?1438 Alex. ii 3457.
But ilkane seir Ar fundin ay douchty at the preif c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii 45.
His practikis nevir war put to preif [: theif] But suddane deid or grit mischeif c1520-c1535 Nisbet 2 Cor. ii 9.
I wrate this to you, that I knaw your preef [P. preuyng, W. asayinge] quhethir in althingis ye ar obedient c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 95 b/4.
And in my hand sled schillingis tway To put his lergnes to preif, For lerges [etc.]

2. That which makes good a statement etc., also an instance of this; (an) evidence, confirmation, verification. = Pruf(e n. 8. a1400 Leg. S. i 187.
As men may preiff furth bringe Be the ewangelis in witnesinge c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxix 19.
I haue na preiff heir bot my purs, Quhilk wald nocht lie, and it war luikit Id. Maitl. F. x 18.
His fraudfull vyllis Him selff begyllis, As in the Yllis Is now ane preiff [: theiff, mischeiff] a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 123/32.
Truely … it vas nocht sufficient preiffe of his resurreccione to say that he saw hyme be ane spirituall visione Id. Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 170/25.
Be invincible ressouns … we previt the interpretatioun of the auld fatheris towart [etc.] … to be sufficient confirmatioun and preif of the sacrifice of the mes 1567 G. Ball. 34.
And knawis that of ȝour faith it is a preif To wirk in ȝow pacience for ȝour releif a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 761 (Wr.).
As I my selfe can bee a priefe [W., L. preife] And witnes thereuntill

3. The action of establishing something by evidence etc. in court. = Pruf(e n. 10.See also, for examples, Lede v. 19. 1479 Acta Conc. I 38/2.
Falȝeing of that preif that he has made na defors 1485 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 318.
As he may prufe befor the schereff … that thai [certain lands] are of vaile … and ordanis our souerane lordis letteres be derect to the schereff to tak the sade preif befor him and to warne the perty tharto 1494 Acta Aud. I 192/2. 1531 Mill Mediæv. Plays 250. 1540 Aberd. B. Rec. I 167.
That the said Androw Chalmer hed failit in his preyf twyching waytaking of the forsaid money 1545 Treas. Acc. VIII 404.
Gevin to ane induellare of Air quha was witnes to the executioun of the Erll of Levinax summondis, for his expensis maid in his ganging to Edinburght for the preve thairof 1609 Inverurie B. Ct. 25 July.
The said day the actione contenowit betwix Wm. Johnstone … & John Angus the said action is contenowit to the nixt without forder preff 1622-6 Bisset I 150/28.
And gif he produces na probation nor schawes diligence, ane terme salbe assigned to his preif

4. Evidence, or a piece of evidence, brought to establish a fact or prove a case in a court of law. = Pruf(e n. 11. 1459 Peebles B. Rec. I 134.
To get xv dayis and bryng his pryf with hym and pruf his pament 1499 Exch. R. XI 436.
Anent the preve that Sir Patrik Hume offeris to produce that [etc.] 1506 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 52.
Ordanit thame to bring with thame thar richts resonis witnes and previs quhilks thai haue and will wis in the said mater 1515 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 32.
Or ellis to preff with ane sufficiant preff that he never nowder sald na analit the wob 1523 Carnwath Baron Ct. (S.H.S.) 22.
Preiffis 1527 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 90. 1530–1 Ib. 111.
To produce his preiff laufull 1532 Ib. 122.
Ve decreit that James Turnbull sal pay Robert ane boll of ferme beir for this instant yeir, becaus his preff servit nocht hyme 1535 Ib. 159.
That this day vas set vith avys of bath the parteis to oppin the preiffis and enter the hors 1562 Linlithgow Sheriff Ct. 3 Aug.
The iuge … ordanis … Patrik his curatour to say agains the prewis

5. a. The action of giving evidence or taking an oath to the truth of an alleged fact. = Pruf(e n. 12. b. A solemn oath that an alleged fact is true. 1518 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 48.
The quhylk mere Adam Scot persewit … and maid hir his be ane preff of fatht 1531 Ib. 114.
Jenot Loremer tuk ane act that scho vanne the caus betueix hir and hir bruder James … be preiff of my moder … and my broder

c. A person who gives evidence or takes an oath to the truth of an alleged fact or in support of one's case; a witness, swearer. = Pruf(e n. 12 b. 1520–1 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 60.
James of Lebden producit Woll Smyth [etc.], … as prewes and lauchfully suorn deponit … that [etc.] 1530 Ib. 107.
Jok Ruderfurd, Thome Boid, Jok Robesone preffis of Arche Raith incontrerar Jhone of Jonstoun 1535 Ib. 157.
That he mycht leid thre produxtionis of preiffis of unsuspekit men becaus the party is greit and the preiffis for to leid 1536 Ib. 166.
Thir preiffis undervrytting sweiris [etc.] 1545 Treas. Acc. VIII 404.
To Arthure Hammiltoun ane of the previs to the executioun of the said summondis of tressoun upoun [etc.] 1562 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 161.
It suld nocht haif place nor na Inglisman preif be admytit to be preif aganis hym bot Scottis men 1572 Acts III 72/1.
That the disobedient … persounis … sall not be admittit as preuis witnessis or assysouris aganis ony professing the trew religioun a1585 Polwart Flyt. 777 (T).
Led preif, lo theif [H. Fals preife, lean theiff], mischeif on thy lippis