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.
Quotation dates: 1397, 1449-1672
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Levar, Lever, n.2 Also: levare, -air, -eer, lewar, -er, leivar, -er, leiwar, liever, leaver. [f. Leve v.4: cf. ME. lever (c 1375). Cf. also Lefar, Liffar and Livar.] One who lives (longer; in a certain manner).
1. The langar or langast levar (of thaim etc.), the survivor. (Cf. Levand ppl. a. 2 d).Chiefly in grants of conjunct rights.(1) 1397 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 34 A.
Erytabilly to the sayde Jorge & his dochtyr and to the langer leuer [v.r. lyuer] of thayme 1531 Glasgow Protocols Abstracts IV. 29.
And the langer lewar of thame twa 1541 Inchcolm Chart. 71.
To our lovittis … and to … thair sonne … and to the langaris levaris of thame 1595–6 Frasers of Philorth 247.
The langar leivar of thame tua(2) 1492 Acts Lords of Council I. 262/2.
& to the langast levare of thaim twa 1552 Reg. Cupar A. II. 107.
And to the langest lewer of thame thre 1556 Protocol Book of Sir Alexander Gaw 37.
Levair 1656 Brechin Testaments VI. 12.
And the longest leiwar of ws 1659 Rothesay B. Rec. 28.
The langest leaver of them tua and thair aires to be infeft thairin heretably 1672 Edinburgh Testaments LXXIV. 233 b.
That the langest lever of ws shall bruick … all … goods and geir —a1578 Pitsc. I. 233/24.
The ane [Siamese twin] depairtit lang befoir the wther, quhilk was dollorous … to the langest levar a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1037.
Let the langest leiver bruke all
2. One who lives in the manner specified by a qualifying adj.: cf. Leve v.4 2.a1450 Fifteen Ois 4.
The heill of synfull lever 1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 48.
Margaret Vndervod, ane prophane godles lever 1604 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 38.
To delait … thair … prenteissis that … ar inordinat leveris 1616–7 Ayr B. Acc. 265.
Ane auld failȝeit burges and honest levar 1622-6 Bisset II. 106/16.
The first institution of these monasticall levaris to have proceded of the Essianis 1628 Justiciary Cases I. 96.
The said George was ane vyle and filthie liever 1637 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 108.
All vagabonds, … leud leivars etc.]
