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

About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Na mar(e, mair, n., a. and adv. Also: ne and mayr, meyr, maer, meer. [North. and early ME. namar(e (midl. and south. na more, no more, etc.), OE. námára, máre. Cf. Na More, No Mar(e, Mor(e.] No more.

1. n. Nothing more or further; nothing else.(1) c1420 Wynt. viii. 2060.
Fra that carle mycht do na mare 14.. Burgh Laws c. 36 (A).
He sall lene hym na mar a1500 Henr. Fab. 288 (Asl.). c1475 Wall. i. 227.
Of him thar was na mar 1525 Carnwath Baron Ct. (S.H.S.) 35.
My l. deniit at he leit him na mare lous bot als mekill as com to [etc.] 1528 Lynd. Dreme 728. 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 297. 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii. 250.
To cure thair office and na mair(b) c1475 Wall. (1570) viii. 1412. a1500 Seven S. 1433. c1500-c1512 Dunb. vi. 34.
Of varldis gud I bad na mair [Maitl. F. na mare] 1513 Doug. ii. vi. 104.
Thar is na mair — lat ws togidder de 1570 Sempill Sat. P. xii. 200.
I say na mair a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 597 (W).
Is thair na mair adoe? Id. Misc. P. xlviii. 256. 1602 Davidson in Three Reformers 142.
For when the braines … of it are dashed out, there is na mair of it(c) 1536 St. P. Henry VIII IV. 667.
Payand … syklyk as he payes to his landis lord of his malys and na meyr for all his hayll tendes(2) a1500 Henr. III. 92/62.
My huny, Robene, talk ane quhill Gif thow will do na mair a1538 Abell 27 a.
Quhen thai wer in bed he tuik hir in his armes and did na maire to hir

b. Na mair bot, = only, merely. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4015.
I wait thay did na mair Bot [etc.] 1588 St. A. Kirk S. 623.
Sche said, I haif na mair bot ane balbe a1578 Pitsc. I. 37/6.
And as my awin part I desyre na mair bot ilk ane of ws loue ane anuther a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 822.
Thou wilt get na mair of the cat but the skin a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1235.
Na mair a doe bot [etc.] 1634 Dumbarton B. Rec. 44.
Nae mair bot ae ventnar to ryn quhyt wyn, and to cast the dyse amang themselffis quha sall begin and follow

2. adj. a. No larger in size, no bigger. c1420 Wynt. i. 343.
An ake wes na mare in hys hand Than now in owrys ane hesylle wand

b. No further, no other. 1375 Barb. xi. 329 (E).
That him sall nede ne mar yemseill 1456 Hay I. 249/6.
He is … free of his band na has na mare obligacioun till him bot on free will 1494 Acta Conc. I. 329/1.
That the schirref of Ranfrew mak na mar calling of this lord therfore in tymetocum to the said are 1535 Glasgow Prot. IV. 73.
Thai sall pwt na maer anwell on the sayd place nor is now presentlye pwt apone it 1560 Rolland Seven S. 322. 1562 Carte Northberwic 86.
The said Jhone … tuik vpone his consciens that he had na mair ayrschip geir

3. adv. a. No longer, not any longer. b. Not again, not a second time. c. Never again, nevermore.(a) 1390 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 19.
That yhour richt be na mare putte in questioun c1420 Wynt. v. 3255.
That thai wald cum na mare agayne Ib. vi. 2213 (W). 1513 Doug. vi. xiv. 99.
Fabyus, cum neir Thole me na mar be irkyt ȝou to behald c1520-c1535 Nisbet III. 262/4.
Folk … sal namare be hanntit to battaile(b) 1535 Stewart 42133.
He micht leve na mair 1536 St. P. Henry VIII IV. 667.
The crospresandes … that thai sowld be na mayr tane a1540 Freiris Berw. 580. a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxxx. 22. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6642.
I na mair sall cast him in the se 1567 G. Ball. 36.
Nocht worthie that men me hauld Na mair Thy sone Ib. 28, 196. c1590 Fowler II. 80/22.
The miedicine is … na mair in seasoun 1596 James VI in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lxxiii.
Sen argumentis maye na maire praeuaill(c) 1375 Barb. iii. 78.
[He] wald ne mar abid to fycht 1540 Lynd. Sat. Proclam. 92.
Ding me ne mair this day till I cum hame 1565 Q. Mary in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lvii.
Y meruel mikle ȝe vreit ne meer to auld frinds

d. As predicate: No longer in existence, dead and gone. 1596 Dalr. II. 77/14.
That theife and traytour … ar na mair

e. In no greater degree; to no greater extent; at no higher rate.(Followed by than etc.)(1) c1420 Wynt. ii. 62.
Scho … wandyt na mare for to sla Hym that scho gert ly hyr by Than hym that wes hyr inymy 1513 Doug. ix. Prol. 47.
He comptis na mair the gled than the fewlume 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 98/35.
The dissaitfull … wourdis of Cesare may persuaid thame na mair than his maist grevous boist to tyne thair liberte 1549 Compl. 162/28.
The Kyng of Ingland vil be na mair gracius … to thé … nor he hes bene(2) 1563 Davidson Answer 214.
The leame pote that contenis the medicine dois na thing to the healing of the patient na mair dois [etc.]

f. Na mare … na, just as little … as. — c1450 Cr. Deyng (S.T.S.) 118.
For He [sc. Christ] opnyt na mare His mouth na the lam dois quhen his throt is wndyr the knyf