Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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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.

Quhar(e)be, Quhairbe, interrog. and rel. adv. Also: quhairbei, wha(i)rbe. [Quhare C 5, Be prep. Sc. form corresp. to Quhareby. Cf. also Quher(e)be.]

A. interrog. By what means, how? a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 130/30.
Than vill I speir quharbe he knawis that he hes ane immortal saull

B. rel. 1. With specific antecedent: By the agency of or by means of which, by which. = Quhareby B 2. 1580 Hay Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 62/13.
Quhether it becomes ecclesiasticall men … to have ane certain apparell quhairbe thai may be knawin be the laical people 1600-1610 Melvill 192.
Of this hes sprung the absolut powar, wharbe … the haill privileges of the thrie esteates … is weakned 1604 Stewart Mem. 111.
The quhilkis auld and origenall infefement sua grantit … quhairbei the heretabell propertie of the saidis landis wes establischit in thair persoun

2. Where the antecedent is to be inferred from the preceding context: As a result of which; and thereby. = Quhareby B 3. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 123/2.
Quharbe ve ar certifyet that [etc.] Ib. 128/30. a1578 Pitsc. I 22/19.
It sall redound to his avantage and to our gret skaith and schame quhairbe we tua salbe ane facill pray to the Erle of Douglas 15.. Exch. R. XVII 650.
Rentall of the Ilis, in the quhilk the landis ar sett to the auld possessouris quhairbe it is easie to knaw the auld kyndlie tenentis 1627 Dunkeld Presb. II 369.
Ather they repair to them or to none quhairbe gryt ignorance abowndis in the land 1635 Aberd. B. Rec. III 74.
Yff any thingis be added by yow of new whairbe we nor nane of our gude subiectis ar prejudgeit