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.
Comfort, v. Also: comford, -fourt, -fwrt. [ME. comfort(e, comford (14th c.), variants of conforte Confort v.] tr. To comfort, encourage. (Also as p.t. and p.p.)1375 Barb. xi. 494 (E).
Thar comford, and thar hardy cher, Comford thaim sa gretumly c1420 Wynt. v. 1968.
Quhile he hyr … comfortyd [C. comfort] wyth solas Ib. viii. 2559.
Thair ost for to comfwrt thare Ib. 4966.
All that war thare Off his cummyng welle comfourt ware 1456 Hay I. 250/28.
The wyne blithis the mannis hert and comfortis him Ib. II. 92/28.
It efferis till a prince till … comfourt his men c1475 Wall. iv. 591.
Wallace … Syne comfort thaim with manly contenance Ib. 763. a1500 Seven S. 355.
This tre is ȝow … That comfortis mony seir cuntre With frute of ȝour nobilite c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 22 (A).
Mahovne him comfort & maid him knycht 1513 Doug. iii. v. 64.
To comfort that maist lamentabill wight 1531 Bell. Boece II. 298.
The pepill … returnit to him … to comfort him efter his trubill 1580 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 297.
Quhairfoir, comfort ȝourselfis … with thir wordis