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.
For(e)bear, Foirbear, n. Also: forbiar, -beyr, -bere, for(e)-, foirbeer, foir-, forbeir. [Fore adv., Be v.1 Cf. Bear befor, and Icel. fyrirverari.] An ancestor.In very common use from c 1460.(a) 1452 Maxwell Mem. 170.
His ald charter gevin of the eldaris and the forebearis of the foresaide Lorde Maxwale 1456 Hay I. 80/18.
That thai and thaire forebearis has of sa lang tyme before governyt … thai landis 1487 Breadalbane Doc. (Reg. H.) No. 23.
Forsamekle as … our seruitoure Malice Doire and his forebearis has had ane relik of Sanct Fulane in keping … sen the tyme of Robert the Bruce a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 402.
My linage and forebearis war ay lele 1562-3 Winȝet II. 19/19.
Our haly forebearis and forefatheris 1615 Highland P. III. 262.
In respect my forebears hes beene dependars and servantes to ȝowr Lo. house(b) c1420 Ratis R. 1171.
Thai … can nocht dem, na have in thocht Thair for-bearis werk na deid 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 345.
Thai and thar forbearis has obeyit to his forbearis and progenitouris 1535 Stewart 39736.
This ilk Banquho, … Forbear wes to Lord Stewart of Bute 1558 Glasgow B. Rec. 125.
Diverse of our forbearis … quhilkis brukit the said office of bailȝerie for thair tyme 1618 Highland P. III. 173.
The Clandonald … did most violentlie detrude my forbearis furth of oure saidis landis(c) c 1500 Justiciary Rec. (Reg. H.) I. 153.
The king hes gewin … grit riches … to ȝour foirbearis and ȝow 1558-66 Knox I. 2.
The faythfulnes, amitie, and societie, that hes bein betuix our foirbearis 1592 Edinb. Test. XXIV. 90.
My bodie to be bureit in the abbay kirk of Bewlye with my foirbearis 1625 Garden Kings 52.
They … [are] forc'd … To rander (reft) all his foirbears bounds(d) 1533 Boece xiv. xi. 561 b.
Ȝowr native habitacioun … brukit be ȝow and ȝowr forberis 1534 Bamff Chart. 65.
Quhilkis … wes schewn to thame be thair foirfathers and forbeirs a1578 Pitsc. I. 28/18.
He sould fullfill the same exactlie lyk as his foirbeiris 1605 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 234.
That he and his foirbeeris hes beine maist kyndlie to this burgh 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xi.
In bowing their knee no where else but on their forbeers bellies
