A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1511-1663
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Assistar, Assister, n. Also: asister, assisstir; assistor, -our. [f. Assist v. So e.m.E. assister (1634), assistor (in legal use).]
1. One who assists, aids, or supports another; a supporter or adherent.(a) 1533 Bell. Livy II. 71/21 (the capitanis of smal pepill and otheris his assistaris). 1535 Stewart 27571 (assistar to that cryme). 1557 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 302 (inimitie betuix the nychtbouris and thair assistaris). 1570 Leslie 13 (the governour convenit all his assistaris). 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 65 (the provest, baillies, and thair assistaris); 317 (murthoreris and assistaris of murthoreris). 1622-6 Bisset II. 182/28 (all the assistaris that persequutis the Christianis).(b) 1566 Misc. Spald. C. II. 35 (James Erl of Boydwall, and otheris his assisteris). 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 12 (the Englis armie with thair assisteris). 1605 Glasgow Protocols Abstracts II. 115 (the dekinis of the craftis, … craftismen of the samin, and thair assisteris). 1646 Lanark Presb. 50 (such as have been asisters or compliers with the rebells).(c) 1649 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs III. 353 (to sit as iudges and assistoris with the conservator). 1663 Ib. 567 (the agent with thair assisstouris).
b. Frequently coupled with synonymous terms.(a) 1511 Reg. Privy S. I. 345/1 (assistaris and anerdaris to him). 1528 Misc. Spald. C. II. 84 (thair assistaris and parte takaris). 1529 Rec. Earld. Orkney 61 (assistaris, adherentis, parttakaris and complices). 1554 Acts II. 601/1 (all his confideratis, assistaris, aydaris, kyn and frendis). 1567 Ib. III. 31/2 (the ressettar, fortifyar, mantenar, assistar, meit geuar & intercommonar with sic personis). 1584 Ib. 295/1 (thair assistaris, fautouris and pairtakeris). 1589 Montgomery Mem. 229 (assistaris and parttakaris in the present feid).(b) 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 147 (thair frendis, favorouris and assisterris). 1552 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 277 (kyn, freindis, seruandis, assisstiris, pairttakeris). 1571 Montgomery Mem. 207 (thair assisteris and menteinaris).
2. An adherent to an opinion.1531 Bell. Boece II. 42 (be necligence of Vortigern, assister to thair opinion). 1535 Acts II. 342/I (all vther liegis assistaris to sik opinionis).
