A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Herar, Heirar, n. Also: herer, heirer, hearar. [e.m.E. hearer, ME. herer (a 1340).] One who hears; a hearer, anditor, listener.Freq., one who listens to the reading or recitation of a literary work.(a) c1420 Wynt. i. Prol. 14.
Gest or story for to wryte … To rays hartis in plesance, And the heraris tyll excite 1456 Hay I. 149/32.
I … levis thame to the heraris of this buke to dispute c1460 Thewis Gud Women 312.
I pray, ye redaris all, And als ye heraris, [etc.]1494 Loutfut MS. 2 b.
And four keparis that ar callit heraris to be within the listis with the fechtarisIb. 3 b.
The iiii keparis that ar ordanit to be heraris in the listes suld suer in this manerc1520-c1535 Nisbet I. Prol. 5.
[He] vndirstandis quhat is red, and is na vayne herar a1500 Colk. Sow 498.
All ȝe hereris, pardoun … My noyous noyis 1634 Baillie I. App. 426.
All herars of mass(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xv. 9 (B).
He that dronis ay as ane bee Sowld haif ane heirar dull as stane 1589 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 750.
All sayaris or heiraris of mes … callit to … ansuer thairupoun 1600-1610 Melvill 50.
The scolmaister of the town … was his ordinar heirar and contubernall 1639 Baillie I. 238.
Thes of the parishioners desirs to heer the young man preach … , promising to be his heirers c1650 Spalding I. 63.
Ane monster like beist … teribill to the heiraris and beholderis1666 Jurid. Rev. XXIV. 17.
The Commissioner asked me if I was a heirer? I said not. Then he askit if I would hear in time to come? I said I was not cleir(c) 1558-66 Knox II. 274.
The lawis of the realme had appoynted punishment for sayaris and heararis of Masse a1578 Pitsc. II. 70/10.
For the waiknes … of the heararis he said … plainlie that sanctis sould nocht be honourit
