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.
Dolorous, Dolorus, a. Also: dollorous, -rus. [ME. dolorous (c 1400), OF. doleros, etc., L. dolōrōsus.]
1. Affected by sorrow or grief; sorrowful, sad, melancholy.1456 Hay I. 58/31.
Al the tame bestis … worthyt sa dolorous, that it semyt that thai gret for sorow 1513 Doug. i. v. 9.
Ontill hym spak Venus All dolorus Ib. xii. ii. 149.
Syne comfortis he hys ferys dolorus [Sm. dolorous] 1535 Stewart 59484.
King Henrie … Richt dolorus wes for his brotheris deid c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1474.
Nor Cresseid for trew Troylus Wes not tent part sa dolorous 1562-3 Winȝet I. 25/5.
I being drery and dolorus for the schisme and diuision presentlie in Godis Kirk 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 94.
The haill lordis … with dollorous hartis departit a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxviii. 48.
The dayis licht makis me moir dolorous
2. Characterized by, expressive of, sorrow or sadness.1456 Hay II. 59/36.
The quhilk puttis thame in ire and in passioun dolorous contynualy c1500 Rowll Cursing 104 (B).
All thir about the beir salbe Singand ane dolorus dergie c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxiv. 29.
Behald my deidlie passioun dolorous 1513 Doug. i. iv. 78.
This dolorus dreid expell and do away Ib. ii. v. 57; etc.
I … with sik dolorus wordis thus began 1531 Bell. Boece I. 57.
The wiffis … past out of Berigone with dolorus spraichis Ib. 66.
Cadall come … in dolorus array 1549 Compl. 14/34.
He herd neuyr the dolorus trompet sounde befor the iunyng of ane battel Ib. 71/5.
Sche ansuert vitht ane dolorouse contenens c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4782.
Adew the daylie dolorous derigeis a1578 Pitsc. I. 104/15.
The Earle of Crafurde came … in dollorus and poore arrayment 1591-2 Rob Stene 13.
All our dollorus dayis ar past
3. Causing pain or grief; painful, severe.1456 Hay II. 119/36.
[They] oft tyme has felloun passioun in thair wame … with dolorous having c1420 Ratis R. 678.
Vyninge of thaim [riches] is cowatice, Tynsell of thaim is dolorus a1500 Henr. Orph. 168.
I thé beseike … Direct me fra this deid sa dolorus a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 789.
To the perpetuale fyre … of hell, In dolorus dirknes with devillis thair to duell c1500-c1512 Dunb. viii. 17.
O duilfull death! O dragon dolorous! 1513 Doug. ii. vii. 79.
This dolorus sycht Chorebus mycht nocht se Ib. xi. xv. 130.
This dolorus wond so has me dycht 15.. Clar. v. 2527.
To behold the sight was dollorus c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3224.
Of this fair lady coragious, Behald the ending dolorous 1558-66 Knox II. 414.
The wordis that come to my earis wer dollorous to my hairt 1567 Sat. P. iii. 183.
Quhill [I] … feill deithis dartis dolorus a1578 Pitsc. I. 222/11.
The paine was werie dolorous to him
