A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: <1375, 1375-1671
[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0]
Be. v.1 [ME. be, ben, OE. béon.] intr. To be.
A. Illustration of forms.The normal forms are confused and augmented in various ways. The more notable instances are the following: (1) The use of is for am, art, are, when the personal pronoun does not immediately precede, and similarly of wes, was, for the plural were, ware. (2) The extension of the indicative forms beis and war(e to the subjunctive. (3) The adoption by the poets of English forms, as bene for are (and erroneously for is), werren, warryn for were, ware, be or ybe for the p.p. bene, and conversely bene for the infin. be.In early texts, is, wes, and was frequently rhyme with words having long vowels, e.g. is with prys (Barb. i. 240), wys (Ib. 265); wes with lese (Troy-bk. i. 590), pece (Ib. ii. 44), was with cas (= case; Barb. i. 563), grace (Ib. iii. 233), etc. This does not imply actual lengthening in these forms.
I. 1. Inf. be, bee, bie, bei; bene, beene, beyn. [Northern ME. be (bi, by), midl. and southern ben(e, been, beon, OE. béon (ONhb. bían).](a) a 1350 Facs. Nat. MSS. II. xix (be yemit). 1375 Barb. v. 300 (wald bundin till him be). a1400 Legends of the Saints i. 1 (Peter of ‘petra’ may be tane). 1409 Exchequer Rolls IV. p. ccxi (sal suffir to be done). c1420 Wynt. vii. 1167 (Malcolme gert he be traweland). c1420 Ratis Raving 693 (it hapnis oft in mycht to bee). a1500 Bk. Chess 484 (the sapiens that suld be in a quene). c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyting 63 (in brybrie ay to be). 1535 Stewart 12408 (that is, or was, or be sall). a1568 Scott xviii. 14 (sall I nevir mirry be). c1590 J. Stewart 52/147 (invisebill to bie). 1649 Wemyss Chart. 231 (quhaitt sall bei doune with my clothes). 1653 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 226 (to bie baptized by him).(b) c1420 Wynt. ix. 3103 (all wertuouslike to bene in were). c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace xi. 1116 (thow mon bene set in feyr). a1500 Golagros and Gawane 39 (that suld thair bute bene). 1493 Acts Lords Auditors 180/2 (because he maid nocht D. Quhithed bene contentit). a1500 Bk. Chess 529 (chaist in hir persone to bene). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 80 (he went agane to bene bespewit). a1540 Freiris Berw. 389 (quhat may this bene?). a1649 Drummond I. 18/7 (why should I beene a partner of the light?).
2. Pres. Indic. a. be, bee, = am, art, is, are. [ME. be, beo, OE. béo. 1st person sing.]1375 Barb. i. 615 (how that I sympill be!). c1420 Ratis Raving 714 (quhen eild and deses cumyne bee). 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 232 (quhilk mony mylis syndry be); viii. Prol. 120 (quhat bern be thou?). a1540 Freiris Berw. 237 (quha be this?).
b. beis, beys, beies, bes, beas, bis, = is, art, are, shall be. Chiefly in subordinate clauses after gif, quhen, that, etc. [Northern ME. bes, bese, beis, midl. and southern beth, etc., OE. bið 3rd sing., and béoð pl.](1) 1375 Barb. xix. 300 (it beis nocht swa). a1400 Legends of the Saints l. 220 (thu beis a thrill). c1450 Craft of Deyng 257 (he beis sauit). c1420 Ratis Raving 1419 (Iugment beis al forȝet). a1500 Henr. Fab. 2460 (werryit beis all my scheip). c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace i. 433 (this day he beis nocht socht). a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 960 (this sample beis on ȝow sene). a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 560 (of blis thow beis ay baire). 1535 Stewart 17580 (the feild this da beis ouris). 1581 Colville Lett. 3 (the King and the Duke beis gossops). 1633 Maxwell Mem. II. 242 (the kingis maiestie beis al day in Seitowne).(2) 1375 Barb. x. 576 (gif it beis neid). 1399 Melville Chart. 15 (gif the landis beis distroyit). 1405 Lennox Mun. 57 (to be payd gyff it beis askyt). 1420 Red Bk. Menteith I. 261 (if it sa beies). c1420 Wynt. viii. 901 (gyff he beis swa). c1460 Consail Wys Man 15 (with ill men gif that thou beis). 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 241/1 (gif ony catall beis apprehendit … ). 1513 Doug. i. ix. 43 (gif euer reward beis get). 1541 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I. 555 (for the falȝe gyf ony beis). 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 97/23 (gif sa beis that … ). 1556 Inverness B. Rec. I. 2 (gyf the sayd Thom beys fundyn … ). 1577 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I. 50 (gif the haill beis ingottin). 1617 Elgin Rec. II. 152 (gif he beis found absent). 1638 Kirkcaldy Presb. 125 (if need bes). 1643 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 2 (if his commissioun beis alterit).(3) a1400 Legends of the Saints xviii. 833 (quhen al beis done). 1428 Liber Aberbr. 58 (as lang as the abbot beis at his innys). ?1438 Alex. ii. 2066 (quha beis heir, lufe him behouis). 1454–5 Edinb. Chart. 79 (als oft as the said ryllik beis borne). 1482 Fam. Rose 147 (till ressave the castell quhen it beys takyn). 1483 Acts Lords Auditors *123/1 (samekle as beis nocht deliuerit). 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 241/2 (all catall that beyis apprehendit thairin). 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 27 (als sone as the samyn beis knawin). c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1413 (quhen I heir that thow beis deid). 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 13 (quha beis nocht fund hable salbe deposit).1574 Protocol Book of G. Fyiff 7 b (quhow often it beis redemit). 1588 Glenartney Doc. (ane or ma as neid beis). 1614 Criminal Trials III. 296 (quhat conditioun beis promeist ȝow). 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 52 (quhosoever beis absent). 1656 Marischal Coll. Rec. I. 215 (howsoone I and my forsaidis beis desyrit).
c. bene, bein(e, beyn(e, byne. = are, is, am. [Midland ME. bene, beene, ben, OE. béon, 3rd pl. subj.](1) pl. c1450-2 Howlat 426 (that bene cot armouris of eild). c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace xi. 83 (parteis beyn met). a1500 Bk. Chess 625 (hir barnis quhat so euir thai bene). c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxi. 20 (cursouris that in silk beine trappit). 1513 Doug. i. iv. 70 (not ignorant bene we); viii. 80 (quhou beyn sic thewis sufferit?). 1531 Bell. Boece I. 271 (quhare mony kingis bene beryit). c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1756 (to quhom al thingis bene present). 1570 Satirical Poems xii. 186 (sum thair bene waittis on the Quene). a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxxv. 1 (quhy bene ȝe so long on sleep?).(2) sing. a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 624 (sic is the douchter as the moder beyne); 847 (he bene a gudlye knycht). c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 77 (Cleo, that help of makaris bene); lxxxix. 3 (the lustyest one alyve that byne). 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 44 (quhar thar beyn na parage). 15.. Clariodus i. 1347 (quhair Clariodus beine ȝit). 1536 Lynd. Answ. Flyting 6 (I quhilk bene so detractit). c1552 Id. Mon. 5266 (to God allone the day bene knawin). a1585 Arbuthnot Maitland Quarto MS xxx. 18 (the brichtest thing that euer creat bein). 1604 Craig i. 11 (thy folde bene broke).
3. Pres. subj. be, bee, bie. [ME. be, bie, beo, OE. béo sing., béon pl.] Also beis, etc. (see 2 b).1375 Barb. x. 576 E (and it be ned). c1420 Ratis Raving 739 (a clerk gif that thow be). c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace x. 514 (or that ilk tyme be went). a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 56 (and it be nocht swa); 626 (gif thair be sic ane). 1483 Acts Lords Auditors *115/1 (that summondis be gevin apon him). c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxix. 25 (quhill that hir glas be run). 1526 Stirling B. Rec. I. 27 (that na muttoun … be blawin). c1550 Lynd. Meldrum (be thow ane knicht, cum furth to me). a1568 Scott iv. 97 (gif this bie).
4. Imperative sing. be; pl. beis. [ME. sing. be, beo, OE. béo; northern pl. bes(e, beys, midl. and southern beth(e, beoth, OE. béoð. Douglas has beis as a singular.](1) sing. a1400 Legends of the Saints iii. 957 (be sikyr and dred nocht). 1395 Menzies Chart. MS. (be it knawyn tyl al). 1426 Reg. Great S. 11/1 (be it kend tel al men). c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 465 (hutit be the halok lase). c1500 Rowll Cursing (blak be thair hour). 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 489 (be wer and mend).(2) pl. a1400 Legends of the Saints vi. 326 (beis baptiste but delay); xxvii. 1521 (beis nocht irk). c1420 Wynt. viii. 6569 (beis off gud confurd). 1513 Doug. i. vi. 44 (beis to ws happy and kynd); xiii. ii. 78 (beys glaid).
b. infin. phr. = be'd ‘be it’, with usual change of unstressed it to d. See 'D. (Cf. Albeid, dude s.v. Do v. A 1 (d), ford s.v. For prep. 12, etc.)a1500 Henr. Fab. 1799.
‘Weill.’ quod the suallow, ‘ … hardlye beid’ a1500 Id. III. 150/21.
On ȝour saule beid 1535 Stewart 30440.
I pray to God so beid 1535 Ib. 54678.
On his awin perrell beid a1540 Freiris Berw. 541.
Gif thow dois nocht, on thy awin perrell beid a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 598.
Gang with them, hardlie beid
5. Pres. pple. beand(e, beaund; being(e, beyng(e, beying, been. [Northern ME. beand, midl. and southern beende, beonde (and being), OE. béonde.](a) 1385 Red Bk. Grandtully I. 138* (nane beand present bot we thre). a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxvi. 192 (he beand god). c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1081 (scho in-to lyf beand). 1405 Lennox Mun. 58 (the indenturis beande of na valow). 1456 Hay I. 202/30 (he beand redy to geve the sacrament). 1478 Misc. Spald. C. V. 26 (beand gadderit in the tolbuthe). 1491 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 326 (twa tercis beand defalkyt). 1500 Fraser P. (beaund personaly present). 1513 Doug. iv. xii. 76 (thou beand thus heir schent). 1540 Edinb. Chart. 212 (the pley beand dependand). 1554 Reg. Cupar A. II. 113 (beand reddy thairto at all tymmes). 1570 Leslie 45 (the thre estatis beand gadderit). 1615 Black Bk. Taymouth 52 (the laird of Laweris beand bot taxsman). 1622-6 Bisset I. 7/6 (the peopill beand trubled be the Germanis).(b) 1493 Acts Lords of Council 292/2 (Lord Hay being apon the seruing of a breif). c1515 Asloan MS I. 253/17 (the gret Charllis beyng king of Fraunce). 1551 Reg. Cupar A. II. 71 (it beyng sufficientlie previn). 1561–2 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 359 (beying in number xxxij stoks). 1570 Leslie 171 (the Lord Seytoun beynge appointit hes keipar).(c)1640 Lithgow Poet. Rem. 248 (the folk been fled).1640 Ib. 249 (twelve alone that kept at home, been sicklie).
6. Past pple. bene (ben), bein(e, beyn(e, bean, beene; be, poet. y-be, = been. [ME. ben, bene, and be (y-be), late OE. ᵹebéon.](a) 1375 Barb. iv. 741 E (he had bene fals); xiii. 49 (it had bene hard). a1400 Legends of the Saints i. 393 (al wend Goddis son that he had ben). c1420 Wynt. ii. 456 (all the folk had nere bene drownyt). 1490 Irland Mir. I. 9/10 (auld storiis that has bene verifiit). a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1048 (togidder fane thai wald haf bene). c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxviii. 20 (so is this warld and ay hes bene). 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 36 (I haif bene to bauld). a1578 Pitsc. I. 56/1 (as they had ben settand tinchellis). 1587-99 Hume v. 134 (I haue beene seik). 1650 Inverurie 313 (if they have bene absent).(b) c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace i. 6 (it has beyne seyne); ix. 1630 (thow mycht haiff beyn away). 1487 Brus iv. 741 (C) (he had beyn fals); xiii. 49 (it had beyne hard).1513 Doug. i. iv. 23 (as it ane hows had beyn). 1515 Douglas Corr. 69 (and ocht hes beyne doyne). 1533 Gau 69/32 (thair haid na creaturs beine sa miserabil). 1559 St. A. Kirk S. 13 (we confess that we haif beyne sweir). a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS xxi. 1 (the blythnes that hes bein). 1596 Dalr. I. 114/32 (to haue beine brocht).c1611–c1617 Mure Early Misc. P. i. 74 (he [that] hes bein dumbe). 1643 Strathbogie Presb. 43 (tuo commissiones that he had bein vpon).(c) 1513 Doug. ii. i. 7 (as it had be for prosper returnyng); ix. vi. 67 (ful happy had he be gif … ); xi. i. 73 (quhilk had tofor ybe squyer … ). 1533 Bell. Livy I. 23/5 (as beistis had be cumin).
b. Ellipt. = have been.?1438 Alex. i. 93.
The oist micht weill refreschit benec1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace xi. 1377 (it suld beyn at his will). a1500 Henr. Fab. 961 (for dreddour that he suld bene arreist). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 80 (he went againe to bene bespewit). 15.. Christis K. 138 B (he wend it bene for auld done feid). 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 72/11 (ȝe wald bene seik the morne).
II. 7. Pres. Indic. (1) am, ame, amm; is; (2) art(e; ar; is; (3) is, ys, his; es; -is, -s; (4) pl. are, ar, arr(e, air, er(e, is. [ME. sing. 1 am (ONhb. am, OE. eam, eom), 2 art (OE. eart), 3 is, ys (OE. is, ys). northern es (ON. es); pl. ar(e, aren (ONhb. aron, arun, OMerc. earun), northern er, ere (ON. eru).]Voiceless s in is is indicated by rhymes with such words as blis, mis, i-wis.(1) 1375 Barb. iii. 618 (quhill that I am in aynd). a1400 Legends of the Saints ii. 1001 (I ame verray Iow); xxxii. 297 (I am cummyne here). c1460 Wisdom of Solomon 386 (how I ame maid so hye). 1525 Douglas Corr. 97 (I ame rycht sure). a1578 Pitsc. I. 35/30 (I ame the more offendit). 1587-99 Hume 79 (to nain I am addettit).c1420 Wynt. i. Prol. 79 (I … wylfull is my det to pay). ?1438 Alex. ii. 2073 (I to say is richt ioyous); 3641 (I of ȝouris sesit is). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xix. 23 (I … In my hairt is prowd and hie). 1525 Douglas Corr. 104 (I was and is reddy). 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 300/6 (sa lang as I on lyfe is lestand here).(2) a1400 Legends of the Saints i. 13 (thu art Petir); vii. 691 (vnhappy sone arte thu). c1450-2 Howlat 481 (and thow deid art). a1500 Golagros and Gawane 957 (as thow art God verray). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xc. 70 (quhen thow art ald). a1500 Peblis to Play 116 (thow art our blunt). c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1374 (thow art forlorne). 1601 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 184 (thou art onder wraik). 1610 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 49 (ar thow takin af thai bonnat?).a1400 Legends of the Saints vi. 565 (thu, that kynge & mychtty is). c1420 Wynt. v. 3698 (off swylk serwandys as thow is). 1609 Garden Garden 79 (for all thy wealth, thou's miserable).(3) 1375 Barb. xvi. 534 (quhar lestand loving is).a1400 Legends of the Saints xvi. 369.
This treutht, at his hyd1385 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. 410/1 (thys Tewysday that nw ys). c1450-2 Howlat 70 (is nane bot dame Natur … ).a1500 Henr. III. 171/27.
Youth his [B. is] but raddourc1500-c1512 Dunb. liii. 19 (waes me; he is bedirtin). 1560 Rolland Seven Sages Rdr. 12 (to bring but its ill thats not thair ben). a1568 Bannatyne MS 221 b/12 (bot weilis me); 17 (weillis). 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 70 (lufe his fulfilling of the law). 1572 Satirical Poems xxxiii. 80 (the proverb is).a1578 Pitsc. I. 133/24.
How mekill his wosdome commendit1656 Lanark Presb. 100 (quhen its filled up).(4) pl. 1375 Barb. i. 1 (storys to rede ar delitabill); iv. 705 (thair bemys strekit air); vii. 243 (al that traualand ere). a1400 Legends of the Saints vi. 342 (fele palace are in hewine). 1401 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 382 (thir arr the sortis that arr). 1440 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 192 (als ferre as thai arre of force). c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace i. 308 (our kyne ar slayne). 1488 Stirlings of Keir 263 (that ar to say). 1533 Gau 3/7 (of thir bukis thir ar the gretest). c 1535 Lennox Mun. 347 (I parsayf ȝe air in gud heill). 1567 Satirical Poems v. 64 (ȝe ar to blame). 1611 Mure Misc. P. ii. 21 (ye wonders now ar present).1375 Barb. iii. 317 (we … is ay in sic trawailling). c1420 Wynt. v. 3933 (quhat yhe haue bene and is to be). c1450 Craft of Deyng 3/83 (als mony as thare is dropis in the sey). a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS xxxiv. 7 (sweit is thay birdis). a1598 Ferg. Prov. 24 (bannoks is better nor na kin bread). 1603 Philotus clvi. (auld men is twyse bairnis).
8. Past Indic. a. sing. wes (ves, vesz), wese, wis; was (vas, uas), wase, wace. [ME. wes, was (OE. wæs, wes, ON. *was).]Voiceless s in wes, was, is indicated by rhymes with -nes, dres, or pas, gras.(a) 1375 Barb. xi. 38 (that wes vnwisly done); xvii. 450 (quhen evynsang tym ves neir). a1400 Legends of the Saints i. 142 (he that ded wese). 1398 Acts I. 212/2 (in Auril that last wes). 1471 Acts Lords Auditors 20/2 (quhare he wes in his bed). c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 2 (neir as midnicht wes past). c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1273 (quhat wes the cause). 1562-3 Winȝet I. 43/5 (sa wes Matthias ordenatit). 1569 Satirical Poems x. 21 (I wes agast). 1622-6 Bisset II. 317/14 (Mathew wes beheided). c1650 Spalding II. 34 (the king wes said to be … ).(b) 1375 Barb. i. 630 (as forspokin was). a1400 Legends of the Saints i. 248 (quhen Petir cumyn wase); iii. 234 (that cité that nere set uas by); vi. 362 (quhen that doune vas). c1420 Wynt. ii. 1056 (that slaare off hys fadyre wace). c1450-2 Howlat 30 (heilfull it was). c1450 Craft of Deyng 3/67 (he was na synar). a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1772 (quhen it was day). c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 104 (as was the gyse). 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 200 (is, was, nor salbe none). a1578 Pitsc. I. 15 (he vas estemed the grettest man).
b. pl. were (vere), wer, weir, werren; ware (vare), wair, wayr, war (var), wor, warryn. Also wes, was. [ME. were, weren (OE. wǽron, wéron), and ware, waren (ON. *wáru).](a) 1375 Barb. ii. 321 (quhen that his folk assemblyt wer). a1400 Legends of the Saints xi. 8 (sene thai brethir were); xvi. 188 (Goddis word thai sawand vere). a1500 Golagros and Gawane 368 (fra court cum thay weir); 471 (gramest that wer). 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 402 (thay werren sa expert). a1500 Peblis to Play 49 (quhen thai wer our the wald). c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1291 (sum wer slane). a1578 Pitsc. I. 17/19 (quhair the cofferis wer imbarcatt).(b) 1375 Barb. ii. 346 (on athir syd war thai yhar). a1400 Legends of the Saints i. 191 (he send twa at worthy ware). c1420 Wynt. viii. 6278 (all that slayne war thare … a thowsand ware). 1483 Acts Lords of Council II. Introd. 111 (thai var utherwais retourit). 1513 Doug. xiii. Prol. 48 (clos warryn all). c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 247 (suete war the vapouris). 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 39 (robeen and the vran var hamely in vyntir). 1562-3 Winȝet I. 15/22 (ȝe ware callit Schire Iohne). 1585 James VI Ess. 35 (all thwm that ware their builders). a1605 Montg. Misc. P. iii. 79 (they war not bleat). 1669 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 254 (they ware of intentione).(c) c 1350 Facsimiles Nat. MSS. II. 14 (was wont. = L. solebant). 1375 Barb. iv. 94 (sum ves slane). c1460 Wisdom of Solomon 378 (al thingis that was wnder the sone). a1500 Golagros and Gawane 134 (birdis that bright wes of ble); 464 (grundin ganyeis thair wase). a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 131 (quhair brandis was bricht). a1500 Doug. King Hart 169 (the bernis wes basit of the sicht). 1562-3 Winȝet I. 3/20 (mair effrayit than we and thay wes). a1578 Pitsc. I. 47 (the landis that was wntaillȝied). 1603 Moysie 13 (the erles wes agaitward).
9. Past subj. wer, weir; war (var), ware, uaire. [ME. were, ware, northern war (OE. wǽre). pl. also weren, etc. (OE. wǽren).](a) 1375 Barb. i. 3 (storys that suthfast wer); 1375 Ib. 44. a1500 Golagros and Gawane 492 (that ilk might wit quhat he weir). 1536 Lynd. Answ. Flyting 15 (wer I ane poeit); 61 (it wer ane pyne). 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 33 (thocht thow to graue wer gone).(b) 1375 Barb. i. 201 (gyff ony thar-at war wrath); xvi. 650 (war him weill or war him wa). 1390 Coldingham Priory 60 (as we wold that he ware). a1400 Legends of the Saints xii. 70 (gyf thu myn awne ware). 1456 Hay I. 214/12 (ellis war it litill of valure). a1500 Golagros and Gawane 154 (it war wrang to be knawin). 1513 Doug. i. iii. 26 (as it war wode). 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 59 (full wo war me). a1578 Pitsc. I. 3 (as hevin and hell var nathing bot ane fabill). 1580-92 James VI Lusus R. 36 (if sho uaire but faire). 1671 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 270 (untill they ware fitt).
B. Special uses.
1. To have as followers. esp. in fighting.1375 Barb. vii. 521.
Thai war sex quhar he wes ane 1375 Ib. xv. 363.
Quhen thai saw he wes so quhoyne 1375 Ib. xvi. 360.
He wes neir ten thousand men1456 Hay I. 54/5.
He ... come on with sic power as he mycht bea1500 Lancelot of the Laik 1109.
Galyot was o pasing multitude a1500 Ib. 2535.
Whar he befor was one, than vas he two 1535 Stewart 25164.
Fiftie thousand … Of Britis bald he wes that samin da 1535 Ib. 25584.
That tyme he wes ouir few c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3140.
Semeramis the Quene, Quhilk for one man wes aye fyftene 1559 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 266.
I culd haif beyn twyse als mony 1581 Bann. Memor. 320.
Gif I had bene ane hundreth, and he his alone
2. The infin. be (without to) before past participles, esp. after here, mak, se.1375 Barb. vi. 494.
I herd neuir mencione be made 1375 Ib. vii. 461.
That saw his fallowis swa … be slayne a1400 Legends of the Saints xxi. 937.
Gyf it hapnyt [her to] se Hyr sonis cors vpe castine be ?1438 Alex. i. 2782.
Quhan that he saw thame chargit be a1500 Henr. Bl. Serk 1.
This hindir ȝeir I hard be tald 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 158.
Sa tratourlike [he] maid him be draw 1513 Id. Æn. xii. xiv. 114.
As I haue hard be tald 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 11.
To minister, and cause ministrat be Justice 1556 Ib. 502.
God … Hes hecht on thé avengit be
3. In the past indic. was, introducing a past date.1483 Acts Lords Auditors *121/1.
Sen Witsonday was a ȝere bigain 1594 Paisley B. Rec. 158.
At Beltane wes ane yeir 1607 Kinghorn Kirk S. 9.
Upon Sunday was auchte nichtis 1644 Baillie II. 213.
Since the beginning of July was a year
4. To serve as material for (a garment, etc.).1473 Treasurer's Accounts I. 15.
For ij elne of sating … to be a doublat to the king 1497 Ib. 366.
For iiij elne of russait to be ane goune to Ranald Roy 1542 Ib. VIII. 88.
Deliverit … vij unicorne wecht … gold of mynd, to be twa dusane buttonis 1562 Ib. XI. 180.
xxij elnis of Franche blak to be thame clokis 1615–6 Mun. Univ. Glasg. III. 566.
Thornis to be the allay hedge
5. To lat or let be (let alone): see Lat v., Let v.
6. In the pres. pple. preceding another pres. pple.1623 Peebles Gleanings 17.
Margaret ... being doing her necessar adois 1623 Ib.
James Bullo being ryding. . to Dallatho 1632 Maxwell Mem. II. 218.
The King of Suedin beine leading on his oune ermie
