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.
Expire, Expyre, v. Also: exspire, -spyre, -spyir; expere. [ME. expire (a 1400), expyre, etc., OF. expirer, L. ex(s)pīrāre.]
1. a. tr. To make (a charter, gift, etc.) no longer valid; to render void of further effect.Chiefly in the past pple. expirit, which may also represent the intransitive use.1439 Hadington Mem. II. 231.
All sic I, the said Alexander, for me, myn ayris [etc.], … adnullis … and for euermare expiris be thir myn present litteris 1491 Acta Conc. 173/1.
To here the pretendit assedacioune and tak … exspirit and decernit of nane avale 1500 Ib. II. 365.
Geve the sadis landis remanis unredemyt … than the sade reversione to be exspyrit, cassit, adnullit and of na … force nor effect 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 243/2.
Gif his said rebellis beis nocht … deliverit to his grace, … this his said respitte to be expirit in the self and stand of nane avale 1547 Reg. Cupar A. II. 57.
We will at this our letter of tak be … adnullit and expirit in the self
b. intr. To cease to be valid or effective.1561 Irvine Mun. II. 13.
Gif swa be, these present writ to exspyre and be of nane availl 1565 Montgomery Mem. 200.
The said infeftment, assignatioun, and siluer feall, … to expyir for euir thaireftir 1578 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 60.
In that caice this present … letter of tak to exspyir and be of na force
2. tr. To bring to an end, put an end to.1450 Reg. Great S. 84/1.
Al fraude, gile and frevolus excepcioun expirit and put away c1590 J. Stewart 61/168.
No hasard mycht his hardiment exspyre
3. intr. To come to an end.c1500-c1512 Dunb. xvi. 19.
Or the gift deliuerit be, The thank is frustrat and expyrd 1533 Bell. Livy I. 17/14.
His purpois was … that the successioun of hir body suld aluterly expire Ib. 224/15.
Als sone as thare auctorite was experit [v.r. expyrit], thai war baith arreistit be Genucius 1570 Leslie 245.
The Quene … did bring a questione that the same [tutorie] was alreddy experit 1632 St. A. Baxter Bks. 94.
That na breither of craft sall aggrie to quyt or give over his prenteis … quhill the saidis fyve ȝeiris … be expyrit
4. a. intr. To breathe one's last; to die. b. tr. To breathe out (one's spirit) …a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 515.
Ane sweit and trimbling Him tuik, quhill he was reddie to expyre a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 933.
Fra Christ … Inclynit him the spirit till expire
