Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

Mater(e, n. Also: mateir(e, -ir, -yr, -or, -(o)ur, -ar, -air; matter(e, -eir, -ir; mait(t)er, maeter; met(t)er, metear, meater, meyter, meeter. Plur. materis, etc., also materies, matris. [ME. (Cursor M.) and e.m.E. mater(e, -iere, -yre, -ire (14th c.), matter (1469), ME. (13–14th c.) also materie, -y, OF. matere, -iere, L. māteria (also māteriēs).]

I. In physical applications.

1. The material or substance of which a thing consists or is made. Also fig.a1400 Legends of the Saints v. 277.
That this gold and thir preciuse stanis To thare firste mater ma be brocht! c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 221.
The mater of it is of tree c1420 Wynt. ii. 612.
Off the elementis sere Thai that hafys thaire matere a1500 Bk. Chess 1314.
The erd it was our first mater And quhen we pas it is our herbryere 1531 Vaus 4.
Dictionis that signifyis the caus or mater that ony thyng is maid of a1538 Abell 2 a.
Mateire of the four elimentisfig. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxiii. 30.
My wark … Als haill … In forme, in mater and substance … As ony of thair [artists', craftsmen's] werkis all

b. The substance or material to be used for some process or operation.Also, the material for a fire.(1) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxii. 735.
He … a gret pane [gert] brocht be … & thare-in be done Blak pic & … brynstane … & vndir it a fyre gert ma Til that mater wes moltyne thyne c1420 Wynt. ii. 268.
Mynerva … [crafts] sere Kend weylle be werk and be matere. The wemen … Scho gert … keme and spyn [etc.] c1420 Ib. iii. 960.
Swa caus and matyr bath gave he Tyll his dede, and tyll cruelte 1427 Acts II. 15/2.
That … a wardane … sal … prys the mater ande the werkmanschip of ilk craft 1451 Ib. 39/2.
At thar be strikin of the vnce of brynt siluer … viij grottis and of the sammyn mater & wecht as efferis half grote 1632 Justiciary Cases I. 211.
[She] laid certane inchantit mater under the entrie of the dur(2) a1400 Legends of the Saints xlvi. 238.
Cycinius thane … Of dry matere gert mak a fire a1400 Ib. xxix. 986.
Matir 1558-66 Knox I. 17.
Some tymmer and other matir appointed for the fyre

2. Designating any physical or physiological substance or fluid of unspecified or unknown nature; ‘stuff’. sing., plur. and coll.b. Purulent matter, pus.1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 14.
Vomitting materis of diveris coloris 1568 Ib. 40. 1579 Athole Mun. I. No. 90.
[He] saw the stomak quhairin thair wes a reid mater 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 155/384.
[Fever] quhyles kendlid up euen as the maitter as thay say Quhiche in oure feble boddies is the cause of all this chaunge 1596 Dalr. I. 47/31.
With ws … is mekle of this mater called succine or ambre 1596 Ib. /34. 1646 J. Hope Diary (1958) 178.
A litle yallow ycie mater c 1695 Sharpe Witchcraft 164.
It [the red fluid] had a welsh taste as if it had been some metear; the hens … would not pick it upb. 1601 Melvill 499.
And yit the mater rinnes aboundantlie Out of my hand

3. Physical or corporeal substance in general as distinguished from incorporeal or spiritual; ‘matter’ as opposed to ‘spirit’.c1420 Wynt. viii. Prol. 4 (C).
Clerkys … say that naturally, As woman [of] man has appetyte, Mater wald furme haf withe delyte 1540 Lynd. Sat. 81.
O Lord … Quha be great micht and haifing na mateir Maid heauin and eird

b. The physical manifestation of something. (Not clearly distinguished from 1 b above). —1551 Hamilton Catechism 17.
Of crisyme quhilk is the sensibil signe or mater of confirmatioun

II. In non-material applications.

4. The basis or source, ground or subject, origin, occasion or cause (of a quality, state of affairs, practice, action etc.). b. Ground, occasion or cause (to do something).(1) c1420 Wynt. iii. 377.
Quhen Dalyda made hyr to frayne Off the mater off his pyth(2) c1420 Wynt. i. 1646 h. of ch.
The fyrst matere off mawmentry That clerkis callis ydolatry c1420 Ib. iv. 2076.
[Rome was saved] Throuch consalle off the consules, That the fyrst matyr off it wes c1420 Ib. v. 5635.
[The dedication of a church to the Virgin and the saints] the fyrst mater wes Off the fest we call Allhalowmes(3) 14.. Acts I. 112/2.
That nane be conspiratour … thruch the quhilkis mater of discord may spryng betuix the Kyng & his pepill a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 604 (Asl.).
To gif men mater of spirituale commonyng c1552 Lynd. Mon. 718.
That man … in hym self no thyng suld se Bot matere of humylite c1590 Fowler II. 20/10.
[It] gaue me not samekil the occasioun of lauchter … then … the mater of meruel 1610 in Calderwood VII. 80.
Definitiouns … furnish als oft mater of contentioun as the light they promiseb. (1) 1375 Barb. iii. 301.
[He] fenȝeit to mak bettir cher Then he had matir to, be fer 1375 Ib. xi. 320 (E).
Hys fayis to plenye sall mater haf 1568 Q. Mary in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lviii.
Thai may not fynd mater to mak thair profit aganis me 1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. 4/25.
Haueand na mater to gloir in ony wisdome that I haue of my self 1573 Davidson Satirical Poems xli. 81.
Ȝit hes thow mater for to murne(2) 1375 Barb. iv. 216 (E).
Thus pleynyeit he off his foly As he had mater sekyrly

5. Subject matter of a literary work or discourse. a. Material, consisting of facts and ideas, awaiting treatment in a literary work.c1420 Wynt. vii. Prol. 21.
Swa my wan-wyt preswmptwus … A matere gud suld blok or spylle c1450-2 Howlat 35.
And I haue mekle matir in metir to glos 1492 Myll Spectakle of Luf 292/14.
The wedow of Rome, apone the quhilk thare is mater to mak a large legent c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 137.
Mater annwche I haif 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 58.
I wyl als spair mater to my nixt writings a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xcv. 52. 1614–15 Misc. Spald. C. v. 95.
A letter … concerning the death of the prouest … and mater of the college

b. Literary substance or content, the facts and ideas assembled and treated in a literary work.Also, in pregnant sense, weighty or important content.(1) c1420 Wynt. i. Prol. 29.
Allsua set I myne intent … Fra that I sene hade storis sere In cronnyklys … Thare matere in tyll fowrme to drawe Off Latyne in tyll Ynglys sawe a1500 Henr. Fab. 1103 (Ch.).
The doctouris of deuyne That to our leuing full weill can apply And paynt thair mater furth be poetry a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow ii. 1.
Off thir mokking meteris and mad matere … humly … I requyre … pardoun 1490 Irland Mir. I. 134/19.
Sche [the Virgin Mary] considerit … the gret dignite of the Lord, the messingere and the mater [of the Annunciation] c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 258. 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 289.
To follow a fixt sentens or mater Is … far strater … Than forto write all ways at liberte 1513 Ib. 402. 1513 Ib. 497.
Bot first, I pray ȝou, grape the mater cleyn, Reproche me nocht quhill the wark be ourseyn 1513 Ib. iv. Prol. 214.
I mon follow the text of our mater c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 159.
Because this mater is nocht fair, Of rethorik it man be bair c1552 Id. Mon. i. a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS xlv. 67.
In ane morning of May this mater culd I mak 1560 Rolland Seven Sages Prol. 38, 41.
To thame (said I) ‘Quhat mater is metest?’ ‘For to begin’ (quod thay) ‘we wald ȝe drew Sum dialog … And that will mak ȝour mater manifest’ 1562-3 Winȝet II. 25/1.
Bot that my mater be nocht prolixt, a certane exemple … wil we tak c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 654. 1567 Satirical Poems iii. 215. 1567 Sempill 1567 Ib. viii. 42.
Maist like, sum myllare of ane myll Had maid the mater of the bill 1574 Reg. Privy C. II. 387.
Gif all personis at thair plesoure sall imprent and divulgat materis unsene … gif thai be … tollerable … or not 1598 Black Bk. Taymouth 2.
The subiect and mateir begun in this buke 1600-1610 Melvill 613.
Ane Englische proclamatioune, in matter and langwedge 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 222.
I have receavit ane letter … the mater yea know becaus yea have subscryvit my letter(2) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 24/3.
Becaus this hevinly orisoune … js sa preignant and full of mater and hevinly sentens

c. One of the subjects, themes, topics, questions, treated in a written composition or discourse; also, the main subject as opposed to digressions.Also, a question considered in soliloquy or meditation.Representing both the particularised application of the above and the literary application of sense 6.a1400 Legends of the Saints xxv. 39.
Bot this mater I lefe hale & here begyne wil I my tale c1420 Wynt. i. Prol. 98.
The tytill of this tretis … sall mak clere Be playne proces owre matere c1420 Ib. ii. Prol. 25.
Off hys storys … that me thynk mast lykly Tyll oure matere accordande c1420 Ib. ii. 772.
As yhe may in this proces here Quhen we ar cummyn to that matere c1420 Ib. v. 4297.
As in oure matere we procede ?1438 Alex. ii. 6737. c1450-2 Howlat 632.
I will to my first matere as I eire maid And begyn quhar I left 1456 Hay I. 235/15. 1456 Ib. 71/8, 164/13.
Be caus this mater is sum part difficile I will ansuere schortly c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ii. 360. —1492 Myll Spectakle of Luf 272/5 (see Maternal a. 1 a). —a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 112/13.
Ve vil ressone the mater sumpart 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1823.
That erand now to my mater not lyisplur. c1450-2 Howlat 146.
Quhat suld I tell ony mair of thir materis c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 3/16.
Becaus that … I haue prechit in this lentryne of other materis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 40.
And syne thai spak more spedelie and sparit no materis c1500-c1512 Ib. 211.
Apone sic materis I muse at mydnyght full oft 1513 Doug. Æn. Concl. 15.
Nevir from thens syk materis to discryve 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 7014.

6. Any undertaking, action, course of events, state of affairs, etc., which is or may be a subject for practical concern; a concern, affair, business, question under consideration, issue.sing. (a) 1400 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 44.
Fore tretee of the quhilk matere will yhe dedeyn to charge the lord the Fournivalle 1405 Ib. No. 59.c1420 Wynt. ix. 1411.
The byschape … Made the collatyown rycht plesand And to the matere accordand c1420 Ib. viii. 709. 1424 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 162.
That he suspende his proces quhill the King may consale the Pape in this mater 1471 Acts Lords Auditors 16/1.
On to the tyme that the matter cum to the King be lettres lachfully 1473 Ib. 26/2. 1477 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 200. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii. 31.
To Lord Persye off this mattir thai laid c1475 Ib. xi. 973. 1483 Acts II. 146/1.
Anent the mater that Lioune King of armis is past in Ingland for a1500 King Hart 147. c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 44/7.
The mater and end that the persone prayis for 1497–8 Acts Lords of Council II. 96.
That he suld hald … stable the mater betuex him and Wilȝeam Thomsone c1500-c1512 Dunb. xliii. 9.
With littill noy thay can convoy Ane mater fynaly c1500-c1512 Id. xviii. 41, lx. 68. 1513 Doug. xii. iv. 107.
Quhat way that evir happynys the mater go 1513 Ib. xii. 173.
For sa the mater lyis 1513 Ib. i. x. 31. 1515 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 41. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 22.
Yit he supersedit this mater for two yeris 1533 Id. Livy II. 8/26.
The mater is sa vile and inhonest 1535 Stewart 52894. a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS clxxviii. 132.
Sum tanttyng wordis thai hais perqueir That service thame in all mateir 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 171, 6723, 6810, 7530. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 3/21.
Sen the mater standis in dainger of our bodeis and saulis 1562-3 Ib. 65/8 n.
Expending the matur sua 1562-3 Ib. 117/13. 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 252. 1558-66 Knox II. 311. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 154.
Gif the mater or ground do lyke yow 1563-1570 Id. Wr. 46. 1566-70 Id. Comm. on Virgil Æn. i. 672. a1578 Pitsc. I. 234/31. a1578 Ib. 188/16, 214/9.
He … bad this Dutchman lyght frome his horse and end out the matter 1586 Warrender P. MS. 176.
He may … kythe him displeased with the mater, and now we have to helpe this concept 1596 Dalr. II. 132/16. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 500 (W). 1600 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXXVI. 21.
Chalmerlane, Jesus! quhat menis the mater? 1601 Douglas Corr. 244. 1600-1610 Melvill 325.
Bot he insurging with graitter bauldnes and force of langage buir out the mater a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1068.
Like man, like matter, like purpose, like pruif 1614 Melrose P. 182.
War not I vsed the mater so cannelie 1616 Irvine Mun. II. 49.
The bigging of inns … is ane mater that will requyre ane lairge tyme 1633 Kirkcaldy Presb. 47.
He can say nothing aganest the mater(b) 1568–9 Anderson Collect. Mary IV. ii. 190.
Sothat ye and my lord of Huntlie will onlie behald the maiter and not be offendit thairat 1587 Cal. Sc. P. IX. 248.
The most hie … mott give you grace so to resolve in this maitter as [etc.] 1588 Ib. 648.
[I] shalbe verie laithe … to lippin ether my denner or soupper to that maiter in cace I should die for hungar 1590 Douglas Corr. 34. 1603 Moysie 99.
His hienes … promisit to had hand and sie that maiter repaired 1602 Lett. Jas. VI to Eliz. 151.
As I haue … putte the maitter it self in heade, so wolde he be glaidde to haue … my aduice(c) 1519 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 193.
Thai have takyn of thair fre will till beir uther neidfull chairgis in this meter a1570-86 Dunb. Maitland Folio MS xii. 68.
Thair foir, o Prince, … Be in this meter merciabillplur. 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
Qwhat yhe wochesaff … to do twychand thir forsayde materis c1420 Wynt. viii. 623.
As thai rypyd materys sere, The cas off Scotland thai made clere 1440 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 192.
Twicheyng the said materies 1456 Hay I. 302/6.
Or that he write to the Pape ony materis 1466 Acts II. 85/1. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace i. 295.
Furth tawkand thus of materis that was wrocht c1475 Ib. xi. 958. 1488–9 Misc. Spald. C. II. 258.
In all matris he has ado 1490 Irland Mir. I. 13/25.
Be ware … that thi hienes faill nocht in thir materis 1513 Doug. iii. iii. 70. 1528 Douglas Corr. 16.
Quhen ony materis occurris quharinto ȝour supple is commodius 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 230.
I knaw ȝour grace is … advertist quhow all materis standdis hyr a1568 Bannatyne MS 44a/48.
In alkyn materis mesur thé 1562-3 Winȝet II. 31/32.
Cast away ȝour auld fayth [etc.] … and resaue — quhat materis I pray ȝow? I wg to tell 1562 Aboyne Rec. 496.
Throw matoris happnit in our lait trubles a1578 Pitsc. I. 195/16.
I haue no lasour at this tyme to be occupyeit in sic matteris 1587 Reg. Privy C. IV. 166.
Sindrie mataris prejudiciall to the trew religioun 1601 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs II. 101.
John Dovglas, … put to the horne … , vpoun materis concerning his office 1697 14th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. iii. 133.
Sheriff Calderwood may be ordered to goe … and take notice of these meeters

b. In various constructions, as with possess. noun (or phrase equivalent), prep. phrase with of, other phrase or clause complements, and classificatory adjectives, specifying the persons, corporate bodies, things, classes or categories that the business in question particularly concerns or pertains to.(1) sing. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace x. 96.
Tresonable folk thair mater wyrkis throu lyst a1500 Golagros and Gawane 1232. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xliii. 15. 1513 Doug. i. viii. 59.
Considir frendly our mater quhou it standis 1513 Ib. viii. vii. 55.
Quharfor … Sa far about thou glosys thy mater [R. mattere] ? Quhy axis thou nocht planely thy desire? 1535 Stewart 20.
I have brocht, my mater for till meis, Ane nobill buke, his princeheid for to pleis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1969. c1550 Id. Meldrum 1492.
Sa wes his matter left vndrest a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS cxii. ii. a1570-86 Ib. clvii. 48.
To him my mater I did mene 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvi. 44.
I am layth … To leis my mater in the myreplur. 1473 Treasurer's Accounts I. 45.
Gevin to Snawdone … passande to Anwic secrete materis of the Kingis … xl s. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 18/13.
In all oure materis and necessiteis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 453.
[We] quyetly with sic craft convoyis our materis c 1522 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I. ci.
The said bischop of Glasgwys materrs 1533 Bell. Livy I. 134/17.
Becaus ilk man belevit thame to be richt desirus and diligent in thare materis 1600 Colville Lett. 299.
Our maitters farder avanset nor ewer thai war 1611 Melvill Dream in Fugitive Poetry II. ii. 17/14.
Doe you not know How all our maters are now lyke to go?(2) 1501 Treasurer's Accounts II. 105.
For the seing of Bernturk mater 1513–42 Sc. Hist. Rev. XL. 112.
[James V had to command the Lords Auditors] nocht to proceid bot apoun na materis bot chekkir materis 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 218.
With bybill materis to begin, Historyis mony we may find(3) c1420 Wynt. viii. 616.
[They] wndyrstwde That in lyk cas the matere yhwde Off the kynrik off Scotland 1429–30 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXIX. 9.
Anent the matar of the kyngis legis that warnyt war [etc.] c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 4/4.
To wryte … of the hie and salutar mater of pennance 1551 Hamilton Catechism 246.
Matir 1562-3 Winȝet II. 12/6.
The mater of the wechty quæstioun foresaid 1597 Lanark B. Rec. 112. 1601–2 Misc. Spald. C. V. 130. 1616 Haddington Corr. 129.
To conferre concerning this maitter off journaye horsis 1616 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs III. 31. 1651 Lamont Diary 29.
In the meater of planting the kirk of Newburne 1661 Rothesay B. Rec. 64.
The haill counsell … to meitt … anent the mater excise and uther the townes affairesplur. c1460 Wisdom of Solomon (S.T.S.) 307.
Til inquere our far in subtyll materis of Godis preuate 1551 Hamilton Catechism 4.
In materis of our faith 1559 St. A. Kirk S. 7. a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 17.
That the lords of session may cognosce upon matters of exemption fra the criminall judge 1666 Laing MSS. I. 353.
In maters of worshipe(4) 15.. Clariodus iv. 413.
[They] stude … comonand On materis langand to Meliades 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 16.
In materis twiching studentis 1580 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 167.
To … determyne in all materis concerning the glory of God a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 905.
It is but a tale of a turff or mater for a mattok c1600 Pont Cunningham 7.
In such metters as concerns the church government(5) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6299.
And als, I mak thé supplycatioun, In erthlye materis tak thé no more cummer 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 76/6.
Gif ȝour purpose be of tragicall materis 1596 Id. in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lxxiii.
As to the ministeriall maitteris concerning that licence c1650 Spalding I. 215.
All materis ecclesiasticall 1681 Stair Inst. i. xii. § 19.
Maritime maters

c. With epithet or phrase describing the nature, relative importance or the like of the business referred to. As hie, small, debatabil, secrete etc. mater, mater(is of wecht, defeculté, tresoun, learning, etc.(1) c1420 Wynt. ix. 1976.
Lo! here led a schort proces Off ane hey matere be liklynes! 1481 Fam. Rose 145.
In all actionis lesome and honest materis I haif … addo a1500 Bk. Chess 99.
For to speik of his famosite I suffys nocht the matere is so hie 1490 Irland Mir. I. 127/13.
And the caus of this message was the gretest matere jn the waurld c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 352 (M).
[He] laid doun all manlie materis and mens in this erde 1524 Dumbarton B. Rec. App. ii. 4.
To … determine & to end all querelis, debatible materris 1531 Bell. Boece I. 69.
He counsalit him … to dres all gret materis be himself, and the small materis to commit to his nobillis1531 Bell. Boece (M) II. 192. 1551 Hamilton Catechism 7.
The principal materis and common placis ordourly intraittit and declarit in … this present catechis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 683.
Matair 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 8878. c1568 Lauder Minor P. iii. 34.
The godlie man … will no wayis with sic vaine maters mell 1569 Reg. Privy C. II. 69.
Reporting the state of the said debettabill materis 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 45.
That he allone wes hard in all secreit materis 1563-1570 Ib. 46. a1578 Pitsc. I. 91/19. a1578 Ib. 34/3.
Crakand of mirrie matteris 1581 Cal. Sc. P. VI. 123.
[Undertaken] to cum avay with Maneuill, embassadier for the Kyng of France for previe meyter onle 1662 Criminal Trials III. 610.
[We] doe no great mater without owr maiden(2) 1499 Douglas Chart. 173.
The said lord answered … that in any mater of defeculte he wold be aggreable [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece II. 308.
Ane mater of hiear besines than semit to his estait 1599 Criminal Trials II. i. 81.
He can nocht be put to ane assyse, in respect that he is nocht deprehendit in a mater of tressoun 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1862) I. 226.
And do we not sit far in our own light, to make it a matter of bairn's play 1641 Analecta Scotica I. 134.
Our correspondence was anent maitter of learning 1638-54 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 618.
That the people might not have any dealing with him in the meater of physickeplur. 1491 James IV in Treasurer's Accounts I. 166.
For our grete materis of parliament c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 2/28.
Materis of theologye tuichand & concernand the saifte of mennis saulis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 122.
Euer ymagynyng in mynd materis of evill 1562-3 Winȝet I. 5/35.
Materis of les pryce as of … the inuocationis of sanctis 1562-3 Ib. 65/2.
The materis of controuersie now being in religioun 1591 Aberd. B. Rec. I. viii.
Na mater of importance or weycht 1596 Dalr. I. 318/15.
In maiteris of maist antiquitie

d. As a more or less vague noun to which to attach an epithet, freq. in the predicate of impersonal constructions referring to a clause or phrase within the same sentence.1533 Bell. Livy II. 54/26.
It war ane mater of grete effect, quhidder [etc.] a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 135/16.
Quhat grete mater is it to beleif … that [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet II. 87/27.
An wthir matir than to trow only 1568 Lyndesay Pref.
‘Schir, that makis na mater’ c 1573 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. ix. 25.
We … sall had it in owr mindis as ane doun mater a1578 Pitsc. I. 25/23.
It is said he thocht bot ane small matter to mak knichtis 1585 Calderwood IV. 291.
It is a hard matter to lippin thereto 1591 Cal. Sc. P. X. 509.
Lett it be presentlie mendit, sen it is butt sa pigraill a maitter 1599 Rollock Wks. I. 408. 1603 Reg. Privy C. VI. 552.
[To] consaive doubtis of uther matour nor … thair is caus yow sould 1617 Mar & Kellie MSS. Suppl. 81.
Bot that is no great meater 1695 Douglas Corr. 286.
It will be a soor metter if [etc.]

e. With verbs of knowing, informing, learning, etc.: The circumstances as they were, the nature of the case, how things stand or stood, the whole story. = Maner n.¹ 2 b.c1420 Wynt. viii. 927.
Nocht agaynstandande the gret ath That thai swor in till lawte The matere suld all decleryd be c1450-2 Howlat 265.
And thai weraly awysit … The maner, the mater and how it remanyt a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1198.
The clerke fra he the mater knew He said [etc.] 15.. Dum Wyf 22.
Than he declairis cleir The mater all and sum, How he [etc.] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2240.
The king, quhen he the mater knew, Those preistis … he slew 1559 Q. Kennedy in Misc. Wodrow Soc. 265.
Fra hand, eftir that the mater wes schawin to me, I persavit the craft of the knaif 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1164.
Prouoke me not na farther hidderto, For I will schaw the mater gif ȝe do

f. In plur. without article or qualifying term: Events, affairs, circumstances, more generally.1570 Misc. Bann. C. I. 48.*
And we had the auld crage in our handis I wald lyk materis the better 1585–6 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 438.
I found matters so far by my expectation 1587 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 150.
I send you theis lynes … quhairby your lordship shall understand hou maiters gois heir 1587 Gray Lett. & P. 145.
Always at my bakcwmine maeters was alterat 1611 Melvill Dream in Fugitive Poetry II. ii. 3/9.
Yow ar so rash in maters for to mell yow 1657 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 387.
To intreat them to conteinow whill maters be broght to ane cloise

g. To mak no mater for, not to make one's concern, not to concern oneself about, to consider, heed or care about (a person). —a1605 Montg. Misc. P. iii. 19.
For men of merit sho [Fortune] no mater maks

7. (Contextual use of sense II 6 above.) A subject of formal dispute or litigation, a question or issue to be decided at law, a case or plea.(1) 1416 Liber Melros 539.
We think, God grantand, to make finable accorde betwix thaim in this mater c1420 Wynt. viii. 552.
In till his [the king's] court … This matere suld be … Befor him pledyt as oure-lard c1420 Ib. vii. 1871. c1420 Ib. 1878. 1456 Hay I. 252/15.
To sett a persone to be juge in materis that thai ken thame nocht in a1500 Henr. Fab. 1209 (Bann.).
The beir, the brok, this mater tuk on hand a1500 Id. Test. Cress. 303. 1477 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 200.
Thai beyng ryply awisit the mater at lintht commonit 1478 Acts Lords of Council I. 4/2.
To compere … with the evidentis & richtis that … he wil vse in the mater 1478 Ib. 20/1. 1490 Acts Lords Auditors 144/2.
To … gif thair sentence and consale in all the saidis materis and contrauersiis 1493 Ib. 180/1. 1494 Acts Lords of Council I. 326/1. 1500 Ib. II. 477. c1500-50 Brevis Cronica 335.
Ane commissioun fra the Paip to juge in the matteir [of Bruce and Balliol] c1500-c1512 Dunb. xliii. 26.
Gif ȝe haif pleid Or mater in to pley 1519 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 190. 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 171. 1524 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 220. 1527 Selkirk B. Ct. 126 b.
In the mater movit be tueix Jhone Frere … and the said Villem 1530–1 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI. 122. 1534 Selkirk B. Ct. 182 (14 July).
Sakles … fra this mater lait to his charge be Thomas Hendersone 1536 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 76.
The … flescheouris till gyf thair ansuer in this matar on Fryday nixtocum c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1214.
In Edinburgh … This squyar and the ladie … Was thair, just matteris to persew c1550 Rolland Court of Venus ii. 45. 1532 Instit. Ct. Sess. in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xx. 1562 Reg. Privy C. I. 208. a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS clxxiv. 7.
Or thair metter wes endit 1584 Criminal Trials I. ii. 137. 1586 Jurid. Rev. IV. 295.
The advocat answerit in the contrar seing the mater was divisibl 1592 Burntisland B. Ct. 27 Sept.
Johine … submittis him selff and his mater anent the … outsettinge off the … dykis off his said ȝaird 1592 Douglas Corr. 243.
Metter a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI. 33. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 13.
In that mater or debate vpon the decision quhere they are chosen 1616 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 139.
Heirfor intreit the maiter be nocht put till a poynt betuixt my Lord Medop … and yow a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 47. 1657 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 388.
To agent thair [the town's] all and everie mater and actioune 1675 Argyll Justic. Rec. 68.
Matir 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 267 (3 Jan.).
Maiter 1692 Ib. 14 Apr.
In the meter lybled 1705 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 260.
The matter was let fall 1526 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 227.
For the defens of thair materis or causis dependand before the toun(2) 1496 Acts Lords of Council II. 40.
All summondis … excepping the materis belangin to his hienes and the materis of strangearis 1511 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI. 107. 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 297.
For instruments in the tailȝeours and broudstars' matters 1532 Instit. Ct. Sess. in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xx.
That all aduocatis … sall … remane quhill the parteis haue argouit … thair materis at the bar c1630 Scot Narr. 110.
That they might haue tyme to dresse their matters for the nixt assembly(3) 1496–7 Acts Lords of Council II. 47.
That this accione was prejudiciale to the mater of errore continewit betuex thame of before 1518 Dunferm. B. Rec. 297.
Anens this mater concernyng the clengen of the burne 1530–1 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI. 120.
In decisioun of civile materis ther has bene … gret confusion 1587 Acts III. 446/1.
All materis of … trublance in properties ? c 1604–5 Sc. Hist. Rev. XIX. 270.
In matters that are cryminall the cheife iudicatorie is the Kinges cheife justice 1671 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 11 Oct.
In the matir of commun pasturadge betuixt them