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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1375-1605

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Dere, Deir, adv. Also: der, deire, deyr. Comp. derer, derar(e, deirare, derrer; darer, -ar, darrer, -are. [ME. dere, OE. déore.]

1. At a high cost in personal suffering, trouble, or pains. (Only in poetry.)a1400 Legends of the Saints xxii. 686.
He … passit to God, that bocht hyme dere
a1500 Henr. III. 99/102.
Chryst, that deit on tre, And coft our synnis deir
a1500 Ib. 164/71.
Lat nocht be tint that thow sa deir has bocht
c1500-c1512 Dunb. viii. 27.
Unto the Lord that hes him bocht so deir
c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4678.
With curious countryng in the queir, God wait gyf thay by heuin full deir
1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 47.
His lufe to me he did conuert, … Quhilk coste him deir
a1568 Scott xv. 29.
I coft hir deir, but scho fer derrer me
a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS cxxx. 21.
Trew lufe, so deir I haue thé bocht

b. To by dere, to pay for with suffering; to suffer on account of. (Cf. By v. 3.)Also with aby (see Aby v. 1, 3) and coft (p.t.).1375 Barb. xviii. 184 (E).
Bot gret owtrageous surquedry Gert thaim all der thair worschip by
a1400 Legends of the Saints xvi. 278.
Bot gyfe [= unless] thame thu cleth & fed, Thu sal dere by
?1438 Alex. i. 976.
He gart him deir the bargane by
?1438 Ib. ii. 2290.
Ȝour lufe … weill deir sall by Ane houndreth and ma
c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace viii. 1380.
Ingland sen syn has boucht it der eneuch
a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 105.
Dame, I haue deir coft all this dayis hyre
c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 135.
All throu a luke, quhilk I haue boucht full dere
a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 408.
Thow sall by it dere, wyth me … and thou dele
1513 Doug. xiii. Prol. 145.
Thou salt deir by that evir thou Virgill knew
1535 Stewart 38044.
To thame that banquet had bene ouir deir coft
c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 138.
That spuilȝie salbe full deir bocht
1570 Satirical Poems xxiv. 43.
Deir sall ȝe by ȝone foule vnduchtie deid
a1585 Polwart Flyt. 655.
Baldlie I forbad thee To mell with mee, or else thow shuld deare buy it
1603 Philotus cxxxv.
That victorie thow neuer wan, That sall be bocht sa deir

c. To sell dere, to exact a heavy return for.1375 Barb. xvii. 115.
Had thai beyn warnyt, … Thai suld haf sald thair dedis der
?1438 Alex. i. 220.
Our deidis sall be sauld full dere
c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1069.
He … swoir it suld be full deir sald, Gif he micht find him in that hald

2. At a high (monetary) price or rate.a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 252.
Thair may thow sell, be ressoun, als deir as thow will prys
a1500 Golagros and Gawane 142.
That he might cum … , To by vittale at will, Alse deir as segis will sell
c1490 Irland Asl. MS I. 70/12.
I haue synnit … byand gud chape and selland our dere
c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 53 (A).
Of all his dynere that cost him deire, His brest held neuer a bit
1561 Reg. Privy C. I. 191.
The butis, schone, and uther apparalingis ar sauld sa deir
a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS xxxiv. 38.
Thair goldsmyth wark it gois so deir, To compterfit grit prencis
1596 Dalr. I. 21/19.
Quha amang thame do excell ar deir boght and gyue a gret price

b. In the comparative (derrer, darrer, etc.).(a) 1436 Ayr Burgh Ct. Bk. 26 Dec.
That nane ale be sald derrer than viij d.
1444 Aberd. B. Rec. I. ii.
That na man … sell mutoune derrar than the bouke for ij s. viij d.
1492 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 62.
That na maner of brouster … sell or tap ony aill derare than for viij d … the galloun
1541 Ib. II. 109.
That all maltmen … sell thair malt commonelie … for xxxvj s. … and na derrare
1561 Treasurer's Accounts XI. 82.
That nane … tak upoun hand to by ony wynis of Burdeus bynd derrar nor xx li. the tun
(b) 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 27.
The meit and drink [are] rasit darer throw the bying of the samyn at the secund or thrid hand
1544 Ib. 115.
That … thair be na clarett nor quhyte wyne … sawld darrer than xvj d. the pynt
1589 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 137.
That thair be na aill within this toun that be darrer sauld nor aucht penneis the pynt
1605 Ib. 237.
That he suffir na hering to be sauld in smallis to the towne darer nor to the cadgeris in greit

3. Dearly, highly; with distinction.c1460 Consail Wys Man 3248.
To lak the met he lufis dere
a1500 Golagros and Gawane 190.
Thair is na ridand roy … Sa deir welcum this day
a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS lxxxv. 17.
Deir on deis and thow be dicht And syn sittis drowpand lyk ane daa

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