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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.

Drery, a. Also: drerie, dreyrie, dreirie, driereie, dririe, -ry. [ME. drery, dreri, early dreori, OE. dréoriᵹ.] Dismal, doleful, melancholy, sad. (Of persons, feelings, looks, etc., or conditions.)(1) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 254.
Thane schow lent it, at drery wase
c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxi. 18.
The drerie damiesall Distres
1513 Doug. ii. ii. 17.
That drery onarmyt wyght
1531 Bell. Boece I. 274.
Now is Britain drery, and naket of all support
1562-3 Winȝet I. 25/5.
I being drery and dolorus for the schisme … in Godis Kirk
c1590 J. Stewart 34/141.
All dririe … doutsum in deuyis … Scho stairing stands
1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 58.
Scho lyand in hir yard driereie and soriefull for that caus
(2) 1375 Barb. xx. 203.
Than went thai furth with drery mwde
a1500 Henr. Orph. 176.
On thé I call To mend my murnyng and my drery mone
c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 411.
With him deit all my dule, and my drery thoghtis
1540 Lynd. Sat. 103 (B).
Quhat garris ȝow mak sa dreiry [Ch. dreirie] cheir
a1540 Freiris Berw. 521.
With ewill cheir and dreyrie countynance
1567 G. Ball. 41.
He said with drerie spreit … haif mercy on my wo
1597 Melvill 432.
Deir damiselles! leave of your dreirie mean
1604 Craig i. 23.
No more with dririe cryes my dolful hearse decore
(3) a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 470.
Thus chydand with her drerie destanye
c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxv. 47.
My drery dayis ar done
Ib. lxxi. 14.
Quhilk to heir is ane drery cace
1513 Doug. ii. Prol. 8.
The drery fait … of Troys sege
Ib. vi. ii. 114.
Cochytus, with his drery bosum onrude, Flowis enveroun
a1585 Maitl. Q. lxv. 81.
My drerie destanie and lukles lot
Ib. 181.
O lat that licht destroy that drerie nicht

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