A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1438, 1499-1513
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Ȝar(e, Yare, adj. Also: yhar, ȝor(e. [ME and e.m.E. ȝærewe, ȝarewe, ȝaru(e, ȝar, ȝær, ȝere (all Layamon), ȝare (c1290), yare (Gower), yore (14th c.), OE ᵹearu.]
1. a. Of persons: Ready, prepared.(a) 1375 Barb. ii 349.
On athir syd thus war thai yhar And till assemble all redy war(b) 1513 Doug. v iv 97.
Now quha was blith both Mynestheus ful ȝor [Sm., Ruddim. ȝore]
b. Of things or animals: Ready for use, consumption, etc. Also til do (something).(1) a1400 Legends of the Saints ii 1148.
Quhen he the rape mad all ȝare [sc. to hang himself] a1400 Legends of the Saints v 425.
A horse than gat he til hym ȝare, And he lape one forowtyn mare ?1438 Alex. 10725.
The lordis was set, the meit was ȝare, And all thingis at thair lyking ware(2) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxix 365.
& fand a schipe til saile al ȝare
2. To mak (oneself) ȝare, to prepare, make ready (for, to do (something)).(1) 1375 Barb. ii 319.
Till armys swyth and makys ȝow ȝar, Her at our hand our fayis ar 1375 Barb. viii 409.
The king buskyt & maid him ȝar Northwartis with his folk to far 1375 Barb. xv 6.
Than armyt thaim … And for the bataill maid thaim ȝar 1375 Barb. xix 497 (H).
Thai bet thair fyres and maid thame yare [E. mar, C. mair] a1500 Sir Eger 1438.
The ostler saw him bown to fare, Sadled his horse and made him yare(2) a1400 Legends of the Saints xl 1197.
& he rycht rathly mad ȝare & furth on sown can he fare
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"ȝar adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/3are_adj>
