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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ALANE, Aleen, Alaen, adj., adv. Alone.  Also childish dim. form alaney (Lth. 1871 T. Logan Green Glens 201). Gen.Sc. Used like the St.Eng. form. [ə′len Sc.; ə′lin e.Ags.ę, Abd.ę, L.Bnff.ę, I.Sc.ę + ę + ɛ; ə′lein e.Bch.ę, Avoch,ę Cai.; ə′le¹n sn.Sc. + i; ə′lɪən s.Sc. but ə′len centr. Rxb.]

1. adj.Sc. 1737 A. Ramsay Sc. Proverbs (1819) 175:
Better be alane than in ill company.Sh.(D) 1891 Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 17:
An we'll awa an lave da twa Alaen in aa dir glory.Abd. 1918 C. Murray A Sough o' War 13:
An' mony a widowed cottar wife Is greetin' at her shank aleen.Abd. 1993:
Leave's aleen, ye coorse breet! Edb. 2003:
She wis alane in the hoose when they broke in. wm.Sc. 1835 Laird of Logan I. 91:
Tuts, man, and you're here alane after a'!wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 32:
Alane wi' you at last - I'm quite delightit.
And very gled oor pleasure's mutual and requitit! Rxb. 1901 W. Laidlaw Poetry and Prose 13:
Last o' ma race, I'm left alane.

2. adv. Only, exclusively.Knr. 1891 “H. Haliburton” Ochil Idylls 63:
It's no' alane that futher's dear, Yowes stervin', an' the lambin' near.

3. Phrases: (1) Let alane, as in St.Eng., (a) leave without interference; leave undone; (b) not to mention; (c) trust (to do a thing). (2) It wis neither done nor let alane, of something not entirely satisfactory made totally unsatisfactory. (3) Preceded by pers. pron. in oblique case (see also Lane): him alane, by or of himself. (4) Preceded by a possessive adj: by oneself, etc. See Lane, adj., 2.(1) (a) Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xxx.:
Let me alane — it does me good to weep.Abd.(D) 1915 H. Beaton At the Back o' Benachie 95:
Mistress Cushney is a brow cratur', sae we'll lat her aleen.Gsw. 1898 D. Willox Poems and Sketches 39:
We could a' see that he wad just as soon sing as let it alane.(b) Ork.(D) 1880 Dennison Orcad. Sk. Bk. 54:
Thee naevs wad chok' the craig o' ony whal' that ever swam, let aleen thee muckle heid.Bch.(D) 1926 P. Giles in Abd. Univ. Rev. (March) 113:
Wi' fyou papers an' nae railwys, lat aleen telegraphs an' telephones.(c) Sc. 1816 Scott B. Dwarf viii.:
“Speak him fair, Hobbie. . . .” “Let me alane to guide him,” answered Hobbie.Sh. 1886 “G. Temple” Britta 70:
As for stairvin', whaiver hes to want let alane Jim to get his fill.Mry.² 1932:
Lat the aul carl alane to get roon the wifie.(2)Ags. 1990s:
It wis nayther din nor litten aleen: Made a poor job of it.Edb. 2003:
Ah thocht ye said ye'd cleaned the bathroom! It's neither done nor let alane. (3) Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 38:
But three hail days were fully come an' gane, Ere he that task cud manage him alane. [Cf. Barbour Brus ii. 146: All him alane the way he tais.](4)Wgt. 1706 Session Rec. Kirkinner MS. (25 Aug.):
The parties are to be discharged of their being together their alones. . . . She being a young woman of no good fame was discharged to live in a house her alone.