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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.

Quhareby, Quhairby, interrog. and rel. adv. Also: quhar-, whar-, whair- and -bye, -bie. [North. and midl. ME quar-bi (Cursor M.), wharbi, whare by (Mirk), ȝware bi (1297), early ME quorbi (Gen. & Exodus), warbi (c1200), Quhare C 5, By prep.: cf. Quharebe and Quhereby.]

A. interrog. By what means, how? a1500 Henr. Fab. 2935.
Rycht more I sall thé tell Quhair by [Bann. Quhat by] thir beistis may be figurate 1522 Vaus in Grant Burgh Schools 53.
Quhair by knaw ye the first declinatione of ane nowne?

B. As a simple relative. 1. With reference to physical position: By, along or over which (route). a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 340 (W).
I saw na way quhairby to cum, Be ony craft, to gett it clum Id. Devot. P. iii 29.
To lyf that leddir sall thé leid … Quhairby the angels come … From hevin to earth 1596 Dalr. I 293/7.
He occupies and standes in a way quhairby the men of weir fled

2. With specific antecedent, in restrictive, descriptive and resumptive use: By way or means of which.Also, through which person, through whom, by whose agency. a1400 Leg. S. ix 46.
The taknys … Thu tell ws quhare-by we ma Knaw hyme by vthire men 1513 Doug. iv xi 57.
Withdraw fra hyme ȝour gret mychtis, quharby Schrewis aucht be punyst for thar cryme, and not I 1560 Rolland Seven S. 844.
Ane proper sterne … Quhairby richt weill considderit he the cace 1576 Reg. Privy C. II 516.
Bringand with him his commissioun quhairby he clamit to have power of justiciarie ower [etc.] 1581 Burne Disput. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 124/20.
Nou thou may noth deny bot thir vordis quhairbie Christ spake of his blude Ib. 111/1. 1585 Conv. Burghs I 203.
Quhairby c1590 Fowler II 107/12.
The meanes wharby privat men and of base qualyte commeth and climmeth to such prenclye degreis Ib. 162/3.
Some one person quhairby we might presumed that he was destinat of God for the delyverye and redemption of Italye Ib. 116/22.
Quharby 1617 Acts IV 559/1.
The act … quhairby the saidis lordis … hes liquidat [etc.] 1633 Aberd. Council Lett. I 379.
We have receaved your letter … whairby we perceave yor ladyship's discontentment at [etc.] 1634 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 101.
Money is become the mids quhairby all things … is measured 1637 Justiciary Cases I 282.
In that fatall fyre quhairby … his house his evidentis his gold and silver perrischet 1638 Dundonald Par. Rec. 521.
Quhairby

3. Where the antecedent is a fact, action or circumstance to be inferred from the preceding context: As a result of which, arising out of which; and thereby, so that.(a) 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 130.
Or ȝit luffis ony to that fyne quharby Thi self or thame thou frawartis God remufis Ib. vii Prol. 126.
The soir gled quhislis lowd with mony a pew Quhar by the day was dawyn weil I knew 1533 Boece 51b.
I think that sevin men … sall mak cavillis quhareby euery man sall resaue his parte(b) 1533 Boece 589b.
Condampnyng vthiris to want thair heidis, quhairby to all thar gudis he mycht haue entres c1520-c1535 Nisbet III 335/7.
Quhairby 1562-3 Winȝet II 58/20.
Quhairby 1570 Leslie 302.
To be pondered and weyit, quhairby The treuth may be dicerned from falseit 1576 Misc. Spald. C. II 333.
To instigat … my barnis fra thair naturall obedience towardis me quhairbie to haif the bettir occasioun to clok thair impietie be thair wrangus narratiounis to your maiestie 1577 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 58.
That euery man sall haif … ane nyntein yeir tak … contenand the samyn prouisionis quhairby the saids scairis salbe specialie estemeit to thame as kyndele a1578 Pitsc. I 4/20. 1578 Acts III 103/2. 1581 Burne Disput. 65b.
Quhairbie he declairis that thay astrict thame seluis to perpetual continencie 1583 Reg. Privy C. III 602. a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 244.
He hade great respect to his friends and kinsfolk, quhairby he purchest thair fauor in the hiechest forme 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 23. c1590 Fowler II 14/32.
Quhairby Ib. 48/37.
Whairby Ib. 110/5.
Whairbye 1613 Conv. Burghs II 387.
[The piermaster to keep the shore clear] quhairby the schips … may … lose and laidin without any impaschment 1616 Crim. Trials III 408.
Quhairby 1630 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 607.
The great curser lying abone him, whairby thair wer sevin ribs of the compleaners sides brokin 1633 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 161.
Therafter keist the said dog mad, quhairby these in the bark wer saifed c1650 Spalding I 375.
He … wrestit his cute or leg, quhairby he micht not stand to preiche