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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HEAR, v. Sc. forms and usages:

A. Forms: 1. Pr.t.: hear; 2nd pers. sing. hearsto = Eng. hearest thou (Gsw. 1868 J. Young Poems 122).

2. Pa.t. and pa.p.: heard; hard, haurd; Gen.Sc. Also irreg. heerd (Dwn. 1886 W. G. Lyttle Sons of the Sod xxx.), heered (Cai. 1928 John o' Groat Jnl. (17 Feb.)), heared (Sc. 1933 Scots Mag. (Jan.) 298). [Sc. herd, s.Sc. hærd; hɑrd, hɒrd]

B. Usages: †1. Absol. To attend sermon, listen to a preacher. Cf. Hearer, Hearing. Given as colloq. in 18th c. Eng.Sc. 1721 R. Wodrow Sufferings I. 159:
Some could not hear, because they observed the Bulk of them [Episcopalian curates] so immoral and profane, that they were ashamed to haunt their Company.

2. Phrs. and comb.: (1) to hear apon, to listen to (Sh. 1956). Cf. Norw. høre på, id.; (2) to hear neither day nor door, see Day, 3. Phrs.; (3) to hear one's ears, see Ear, n.; (4) to hear tell, to be informed, learn by report (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.). Gen.Sc. Now dial. or colloq. in Eng.; (5) to hear til(l), — tae, to listen to, heed; esp. in the imper. implying disbelief, ridicule or amazement (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Cld. 1880 Jam.; I.Sc., Cai., m.Lth., wm.Sc., Rxb., Uls. 1956). Hence ¶hiertieing [ < hear-tae-], quasi vbl.n., banter, good-humoured raillery.(1) Sh. 1892 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 242:
Eh! It's an auld story noo an' no wirt hearin' apon.(4) Wgt. 1707 Session Bk. Wigtown (1934) 119:
He ansuered that he heard tell she was at Torhousekie.Ayr. 1773 Weekly Mag. (7 Jan.) 237:
I ha'e hard tell (said I) o' something they ca' maskerades.Edb. 1824 Royal Sc. Minstrelsy (Smith)123:
My age, though ye may doubt it, Has loupen back a score o' years Sin' a heard tell about it.Sc. 1889 Stevenson M. of Ballantrae ii.:
Did ever ye hear tell, Mr Mackellar, o' Wully White the wabster?Fif. 1894 J. W. M'Laren Tibbie and Tam 66:
Thae again began croodin' roun' the counter and shoutin' for things Tam never heard tell o' afore.Gsw. 1930 Scots Mag. (Jan.) 257:
Oh, Abram, did ever ye hear tell o' a dochter daein' her duty better nor Kate?(5) Lnk. c.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 233:
It began wi' a hiertieing, and a jamffing me about Sandy.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality vi.:
“Hear till him now!” said the house-keeper. “It's a shame to hear a douce young lad speak in that way.”Sc. 1829 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 317:
And wull ye hear till me, sir, there's a fine enthusiastic bit lassie, ca'd Browne.Lnk. 1838 J. Morrison McIlwham Papers 11:
Hear till him, foul-mouthed creature that he is.Cai. 1871 M. McLennan Peasant Life 152:
Hear till him noo! Ye ken naething o't.Fif. 1894 J. Menzies Our Town xii.:
“Keeps a'! hear till that noo,” said Mrs Nairn.m.Lth. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick v.:
“Hear til him!” says he; “he downa be spoken to, he's that big!”Gall. 1902 A. E. Maxwell Lilts 11:
O gin for ance mair I might daunder alang Up yon glen by the burnside and hear to its sang.m.Sc. 1922 O. Douglas Ann and Her Mother xiii.:
“Hear till her,” Marget said to Mysie, with a broad grin on her face, as Ann's voice was heard greeting her mother.