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.
Quotation dates: 1492-1638
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Devore, Devoir, v. Also: dewore, devoire. [OF. devorer, L. dēvorāre. Cf. Devour v.]
1. tr. To devour, swallow. (Lit. or in fig. context.)(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1065.
This hound of hell Deuorit hes my lamb 1492 Myll Spectakle of Luf 279/12.
The Grekis … had him to Tebes quhare he was devorit and sonkyn in the erd c1500-c1512 Dunb. xii. 11.
Deth followis lyfe with gaipand mowth, Devoring fruct and flowring grane 1531 Bell. Boece I. 45.
Thay kest cavillis, quha suld be first devorit 1531 Ib. 165.
The bodyis … war left … to be devorit be the houndis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1133.
Beistis wylde, Manesyng thame for tyll deuore c1552 Ib. 4117.
With wyld lyonis … He gart deuore thame 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 175.
Ane cursit fox … , Deuoring scheip, quhill he mycht creip(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 126 (B).
And lat no fowll of ravyne … devoir birdis bot his awin pray 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 2115.
All kind of folk … this bair … did deuoir and sla 1572 Satirical Poems xxxviii. 36.
As the fals fowler … Deuoiris the pure volatill he wylis to the net a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xlix. 39.
Portia … Quha did devoir the fyrie brayis 1588 King Catechism Prayers 36.
The dragon with his mouthe oppin reddy to deuoire ws
b. fig. To swallow, to accept bodily.1638 Baillie I. 30.
While they will have us … to devoire Arminianisme and Popery … shall we not bear them witnes of their oppression
2. To destroy as by devouring; to make a prey of; to bring to destruction or death.(a) c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxv. 59.
Quhill store and hore my ȝouth devore, Thy name I sall ay nevyne 1533 Bell. Livy I. 10/20.
Riches … has … gevin occasioun be voluptuous leving to devore [v.r. dewore] and consume euerything 1551 Hamilton Catechism 32.
And ye will nocht [heir me] … the suerd sall devore yow 1562-3 Winȝet I. 14/8.
The prophetis that ar in it … haue deuorit the saulis 1570 Satirical Poems xiv. 18.
Bothwell … My father cruelly deuorde a1578 Pitsc. II. 96/8.
The haill nobilietie of Scottland … was devorit and defait in thair misgovernance 1587-99 Hume ii. 192.
Thocht that enemie … aye in wait him to deuore maist like a lyon lyis(b) 1567 Satirical Poems vii. 72.
Our prettie prince With duilfull deid thay socht for to deuoir a1578 Pitsc. I. 220/11.
Giueand him consall to have devoirit his sone a1585 Maitland Quarto MS lxv. 91.
Our strenth … or staittis variabill, Quhilk tyme will chainge and als devoir at lenth 1622-6 Bisset I. 63/27.
Makduff … quhais wyffe, barnis, … and houshald this cruell tirran Makbaith had … slane, and devoired for na offens 1626 Garden Worthies 49.
The countrie Gascoigne … By th' English warrs wer wasted & devoir'd
b. Of death (personified) or grief.c1500-c1512 Dunb. viii. 18.
O duilfull death! … Quhy hes thow done so dulfullie devoir The prince of knychtheid 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd, 23.
Thow did deuore this ȝoung Princes c1552 Id. Mon. 2801.
The dolent deith did him deuore, In quhat sorte, I am nocht certane 1585 James VI Ess. 49.
And thow (o reuthles Death) sould thow deuore her?a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. in Misc. Spald. C. II. 62.
Thoicht … dolentt deid do yow dewoir, … A better lyfe I sall restoir 1609 Gardyne Garden 19.
Death will in end devore, And flesh transchange to filth 1609 Ib. 34.
Though … death thy drosse deuoira1627 Craig v. 31.
I, alace, whom duill doeth still devoure [: shoare, more]
c. Of fire: To consume, burn up.a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xxxviii. 28.
That fyire quhilk me devoring ay Hes saull and bodie tint
