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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.

Ever, Evir(e, adv. Also: euer, evyr(e, euyr, evare; ewer(e, eiwer, ewir, ewyre, eir. [ME. ever, evir, evre, etc., OE. ǽfre.]

1. Always; at all times …(a) 1375 Barb. i. 219.
That folk, that euir wes fre a1400 Leg. S. xlvi. 142.
I thame wary, & euir sal c1420 Wynt. i. 127.
That ros That spanysys, spredys, and evyre spryngys c1475 Wall. xi. 627.
Euyr a man he gert de at a dynt c1515 Asl. MS. I. 199/2.
The quhilk fals Saxonis blud war evire ȝit aganis the cristin faith 1531 Bell. Boece I. 148.
We … hes kepit us evir unthirllit to Romane dominion 1622-6 Bisset II. 254/26.
The awner hes evir action aganist the first hyrare 1614 Highland P. III. 171.
I professed euir ignorance in all Irische Cabale(b) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 57/1.
He vsit euer mercy and euer will 1549 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 434.
As vse euer hes beyne in tyme bygane 1568 Buch. Indict. 38.
Sche … euer frome that day furth … devisit how to cut hym away(c) a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. clxxvii. 74.
Scotland … ewir hes bene frie 1608 Fam. Seton 908.
I am eiwer certane to preiwe my actiounes 1611-57 Mure Son. ii. 5.
Heir I avou thyne ewer to remaine 1638 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 142.
This burgh was ewir in vse abefoir to resawe his Maiesties missive 1681 Red Bk. Menteith II. 193.
Your Lordship's ewer affectionat cousune

2. At any time.(a) 1375 Barb. xviii. 283.
This is the derrest beiff that I Saw euir ȝeit a1400 Leg. S. iii. 1041.
Al men that euir has bene c1420 Wynt. v. 366.
Thare he sang the fyrst mes That in the warld evyre sungyn wes 1513 Doug. iii. vii. 57.
Gif evir in Tybir to entyr me betydis a1540 Freiris Berw. 390.
Quha evir afoir hes sic a fairly sene? 1596 Dalr. I. 89/15.
We nevir reid that euir thay entired into thay westir Iles(b) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 255.
Yone is the seymliast sicht that euer couth I se 1546 Soc. Ant. XVI. 196.
All landis and rychtis that ever I aryt or had tytill to 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 142.
The foullest turne that ever was done(c) 1375 Barb. iii. 160.
The starkest pundelan That ewyr ȝour lyff-tyme ȝe saw tane c1420 Wynt. viii. 902.
Yhe sall sare rew That ewyre off his begouth the glewe 1538 St. A. Baxter Bks. 535.
If ewir the said Dauid or ony vther seruand dois the lik offence 1607 Aboyne Rec. 187.
The said John hes augmentit my rentell in the sowm off four pundis scottis munie be yeir mair than ewir wes payit abefor

3. a. Added to all that, as, how that, quha, quhat (sa), quhatkyn, quhether, quhare, etc. 1375 Barb. ii. 41.
But quhat sa euyr maid the debate, Thar throuch he deyt Ib. xiv. 247.
Thai wald fle, all that euir thai wer 1405 James of Douglas Letter to Henry IV in Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
Qwhaeuer enfourmyt yhour Excellence that I hade brokyn myn athe c1420 Wynt. ii. 190.
Thai sulde hyr hous bryn And all that ewyre thai fand thare in Ib. 1318.
Quhatkyn craft sua evyre he pruwyde Ib. v. 1332.
Quhether ewyr he ware sone or brodyre 14.. Acts I. 312/2.
The alsamyn brede sal wey a quachet and ane half, hw that euer thai sel qwhete c1500-c1512 Dunb. i. 31.
Quhar euer he vent … Euermor he wan the gre a1568 Bann. MS. 132 a/5.
Welcum be werd, as evir God will 1567 G. Ball. .
Baith ȝung & ald, quhat stait that euer thay be

b. Added to or (= before). ?1438 Alex. i. 1202.
He had fellit thre Or euer his renȝe arrest wald he c 1515 Douglas Corr. 67.
My mynd was set to the fulfilling of the samen or euyr I knew ȝour mynd 1611-57 Mure Sonn. vi. 5.
Or eir thy sight my ravischt eyes did blesse

4. For ever, always. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1522.
I am bannyst for euire From ȝow, & mone fro ȝow disseuire ?1438 Alex. ii. 3324.
I grant ȝow heir for euer and ay My lufe 1489 Wemyss Chart. 113.
Be the wertw of thir indenturis, affermes now and for ewere [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. vi. 37.
Corpus meum … I leif on to the toune of Air, In a draf mydding for euer and ay 1510 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii. 14.
[He and his heirs would remain] affald tennandis to the said Wilȝeam and his ayris for euyr 1539 Glasgow Prot. IV. 124.
I … dischargis the said William … of the forsaidis sowmes for now and evir