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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.

Cler(e, Cleir, adv. Also: cleyr. [ME. clere (c 1300), from Cler(e,a.] Clearly.

1. a. With clear light; brightly. 1375 Barb. xi. 188.
The sonne wes brycht and schynand cler c1420 Wynt. vi. 1405.
[A candle] In evynlyk lycht brynnand clere c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 266.
Your angel mouthis … Our rude langage has clere illumynate 1513 Doug. vii. viii. 114.
The brycht mettale … Quharon the sonnys blenkis beit cleir a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxxix. 15.
Thois [trees] … Quhais bark and branchis schynis … cleir 1613 Conv. Burghs II. 430.
Quhene the moone schynes cleir

b. With clear sound or voice. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxviii. 13.
Foulis in forrest that sang cleir

2. Distinctly, plainly. c1420 Wynt. v. 103.
Haly Kyrk prechys [this] clere In-to the wangyll ilka yhere c1450-2 Howlat 235.
Confes cleir can I nocht nor kyth all the cas c1420 Ratis R. 781.
Lat sik ententis hail ga by, Quhill thocht and will be stablit clere 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. v.
Quhen we may cleir, as in ane mirroure, se The furius end sum time of tirannie 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 389.
Goddis worde suld cleir to thame be knawin a1570-86 Maitl. F. xxxv. 21.
Than he declairis cleir The mater all and sum 1596 Dalr. I. 115/6.
This hes the bordouris of our realme … , testified cleir anuich

3. Fully, completely. c1420 Wynt. ii. Prol. 8.
Contenand hale thre thousand yhere Nyne score and foure oure passyt clere [C. cleyr] Ib. 832; etc.
The sowme sall be thre hundyr clere a1568 Bann. MS. 50 a/78.
I tak on hand fra thow be berd, Thy sectouris spendis thy gudis cleir