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

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

Devoir(e, Devor(e, Devour(e, n. Also: devoyr, dewoir(e; dewor, divore; dewour(e. [ME. devoir, -voyr, devour, devor (14th c.), earlier dever, devere, OF. deveir, devoir.]

1. To do (one's) devoir, to do one's duty; also, to do one's utmost or best.(a) 1375 Barb. xi. 430.
I trow thai stalwardly sall stand, And do thair deuour as thai aw a1400 Leg. S. xxv. 723.
Sanct Mercure … did his dewoure worthely, As hyme had bydine that laydy ?1438 Alex. i. 1704.
Thay war all to few to ficht Agane sa fele, bot nocht-for-thy Thay did their deuour douchtelly 1515 Douglas Corr. 71.
I sal do my devour and full best to convoy that mater 1533 Boece iv. ix. 140.
Quhill the oistis faucht in this sorte, the chiftanis stoutlie did thare devoure 1559 St. A. Kirk S. 19.
I did my devour and dewtie to triet and intertiney hir [as my wife](b) a1400 Leg. S. xl. 590.
Thai … did thare devore ilke deile, As seruandis gud & leile c1420 Wynt. v. 1066.
Thai suld wyth thame tak Wytnes, that suld knawlage mak That thai … dyd thare devore ilka dele Ib. 2029.
Quhen … his devor all was done Brus xii. 587 (E).
I trow forsuth that thai suld say That thai suld do thair dewor wele 1531 Bell. Boece I. 239.
This feirs rinning wes impediment to Maximus to do his devore Id. Livy I. 18/2.
Traisting to have done sufficientlie thare devore 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 183.
Monsieur Cumbo … hes done his divore tweching Driburgh 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 196.
Understandand that Andro Mansioun quha wes wrycht to the bigging of the stallis of the queir hes done his vtir devore and deligence thairin 1564 Crim. Trials III. 391.
Becaus the saidis personis, being requirit be the said Lard of Cesfurde to cum with him, and to do thair devore [etc.] 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. Table 66.
Bairman (otherwaies called dyvour, because he does his devore to his creditours)(c) 1456 Hay I. 142/4.
In the quhilk conquest thai do thair devoir as otheris dois Ib. 271/26.
Lat thame ga togeder, and do thare devoire a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1048.
I trete for na favour; Do furth thy devoir 1535 Stewart 16363.
Quhen he saw that he culd cum na speid, To do his devoir be the way of deid 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 230.
I knaw ȝour grace is … advertist quhow all materis standdis hyr, quharin … Robert Carnegy dois hys dewoire 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 252.
Gif you do nocht your extreme devoir thairin to bring the samyn to lycht a1568 Scott xi. 50.
Do ȝour devoir quhen that thay lat ȝow 1578 Conv. Burghs I. 62.
That the magistratis … sall do thair devoir and vtter diligence, to the end that [etc.] 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 442.
To all the bischops thair befoir He doing daylie his devoir

2. Duty, obligation; devotion to, or discharge of, one's duty. c1420 Wynt. ix. 3285.
Be the devore [v.r. dewoir] of that day Off Legis the Elect wes bidand ay Pesabyll in his possessioune ?1438 Alex. ii. 9533.
For his gude deuour and bounte His battell sa recomfort he a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1266.
I trow this deuore be done, I dout for na deir 1533 Boece ix. i. 286 b.
Ambrois … vsing the devoure of ane nobill chiftane … jonit with inemyis c1550 Rolland C. Venus iv. 431.
Esperance … fell doun vpon his kne Befoir Venus, with all deuoir he docht 1562 Reg. Privy C. I. 209.
It is quhisperit … that sum suld forgett thair devoyr so fer as to attempt to contravene the same 1569 Ib. II. 6.
Maister Johnne hes trewlie … dischargeit his charge and devoir in the materis committit to his credit 1584 Acts III. 325/1.
The said Colonell with his saidis capitanis … hes … omittit na devoris to the advancement of the said caus

3. pl. Payments due to one; dues or imposts. 1456 Hay II. 79/33.
Of thair possessiounis and of thair gudis and paying of devoyris, the said subjectis suld be lele to thair lordis Ib. II. 94/24.
It efferis to the king to … defalk and rebate thame sumpart of thair devoiris