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: 1567-1603
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Combure, v. Also: conbure, combuir(e. [L. combūrere, OF. comburir. Also e.m.E. (1599). In Sc. only in verse.]
1. intr. To be on fire; to undergo burning. a1568 Steel Bannatyne MS 237a/17*.
My thocht forwrocht within my breist conburis a1568 Scott xvi. 5.
The grit mallure … Quhilk garris my bailfull breist combure c1590 J. Stewart 32/89.
Hir luiflie luiks … constraind his aidgit brest combuir In feruent force of … fyre
2. tr. To consume by fire; to burn up. c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii. 82.
For to behauld this miserie, My breist in baill it dois combure 1570 Satirical Poems xviii. 50.
Thay bouchers [that] thy father did combure a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xlviii. 118.
Hir birning beawtie dois embrayis my breist … & body haill combuire c1590 J. Stewart 20/202.
Ȝitt sall I biet the low, … quhilk combuirs my ardent douce desyre 1603 Philotus lv.
The raging low, … That dois my breist and body al combure
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"Combure v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/combure>
