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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

VIEVE, adj. Also viev, veev(e), veve, vive, misprinted veen (Sh. 1953 New Shetlander No. 35. 5); weeve; veef. [vi:v]

1. Of persons: brisk, lively (Rxb. 1825 Jam.). Also deriv. veefy, id. (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., obs.).

2. Of pictures, images: life-like, closely resembling the original (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh., ne.Sc., Edb. 1973). Adv. vievlie (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl).Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 148:
Yet, here so vive, Ye'd think they live.Bnff. 1865 Banffshire Jnl. (27 June):
Her image noo is in my view, As veev as if in life.Ags. 1887 Arbroath Guide (30 April) 3:
Jist as vive an' life-like as gin it really were himsel'.Abd. 1946:
An old lady seeing a snapshot of herself said: — “My, it's right veeve!”

3. Of sights, sounds, colours, impressions, memories, etc.: bright, clear, vivid, distinctly seen or heard, not blurred or faint (Sh. 1973). Also adv. Adv. vively, veevily, veevly, vievlie (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., Sh. 1973).Abd. 1778 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 73:
But gin ye like to ware the time, then ye How a' the matter stood, shall vively see.n.Sc. 1825 Jam.:
“Vive prent”, letter-press which may be read easily.Abd. 1836 J. Grant Tales of Glens 58:
It's a' like a vieve dream o' yesterday.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Tales 88:
He heard da plash just as veevilly as he heard himsell speakin.Per. 1878 R. Ford Hamespun Lays 24:
Some vow'd they had seen them as veve as daylicht.Ags. 1896 Barrie Sentimental Tommy x.:
This sight brought back old times so vive to him.Sc. 1926 H. McDiarmid Drunk Man 34:
Your acid tongue, vieve lauchter, and hawk's een.Sc. 1936 J. G. Horne Flooer o' Ling 46:
A wally goon O' vievest green is comin.Abd. (Buchan Coast) 1956:
The soun was weeve — i.e. clear and distinct.Sh. 1972 New Shetlander No. 99. 12:
Da blude an da taers o Ulster Still stark an veeve in her sicht.Sh. 1991 Rhoda Bulter in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 70:
Veeve can I mind dat lang traik trowe da hill,
Whin me feet felt laek lead, bit left hardly a mett
Idda boannie green moss at lay tick idda gyill.
An I grett. Sh. 1991 William J. Tait in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 45:
An hert an sowl an boady seem
Pickit wi aa da bloed an ime
O history: dan sometimes I mind,
As veevly as I mind da sea,
Sunlycht an shedow o dy een,
An aa da sunlycht meant tae me. Sh. 1994 Laureen Johnson in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 172:
It wis aa at I could tink aboot an draem aboot in five weeks, til July, an dan da tinkin an da draemin feenished, an everything veeve an lively alang wi it.