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

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

Nere, Neir, adv.² (quasi-adj., prep.). Also: ner, neire, neyr(e, neer(e, nire, near(e. compar. Nerar. superl. Nerest. [ME. and e.m.E. ner, nere, neer(e, north. ME. neir (Cursor M.), e.m.E. nyer, near(e, ON. nær orig. compar. adv. (= Nere,compar. adv.¹, prep. and a.²), used absolutely or governing a dative: cf. also Ner.] Near.In predicative use after the verb substantive and in other similar constructions, passing into the adjectival sense: cf. Nere a.¹

I. 1. (To approach) to or within a short distance. 1375 Barb. ix. 136, 8 (E).
The Erlys men ner [C. neir] cummand war Trumpand and makand mekill far, And maid knychtis quhen thai war ner Ib. xvi. 109. a1400 Leg. S. xvii. 134.
Thane scho a prest gert cum ner [: hale and fere] Ib. xix. 534. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2835.
Sche … syne drewe neir ?1438 Alex. ii. 1246.
And gar him rew his neir cuming Ib. i. 815.
Neir a1500 Rauf C. 842.
Neir c1475 Wall. v. 126. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 705.
Neire 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 512. 1596 Dalr. I. 38/23.
That pairt of Albion eistward is flowed neir and run by with the mane sey c 1641–54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 530.
Coming on both syds so neer that they leave onlie a myle of land 1679 J. Barclay Descr. Cath. Ch. 24.
All their fleeces do to me belong And though my sheirs goe neer I do no wrong

b. (To be, be situated, etc.) near by, close by, near at hand. 1375 Barb. x. 241 (E).
Thai that ner [C. neir] enbuschyt war Lap owt a1400 Leg. S. xxxi. 386.
Scho … bad hyr say [that] scho wes nere 1456 Hay I. 178/32.
And thare [are] sa mony [holy places] sa nere in the contree a1500 Henr. III. 91/44.
Perauenture my scheip ma gang besyd Quhill we haif liggit full neir c1475 Wall. iii. 173. Ib. viii. 201.
We ar our ner a1500 Seven S. 540.
Ane pure herd … Come in the forest neir hastely c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 161.
Ther is no spy neir 1567 G. Ball. 116.
Neir

c. (To press, pursue, etc.) at a short distance, closely. ?1438 Alex. I. 2873.
Oft quhan thay him preissit neir [: cheir] Ib. 3042, 3049, ii. 1681. 1456 Hay I. 204/35.
His inymyes … pressit him sa nere that [etc.]

d. Closely, in fig. applications. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1177.
It tuichis myne honour sa neir [: ansueir] 1518 Armstrong Hist. Liddesdale I. 214.
Considering it tuichit thame sa neire 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvii. 19.
Bot men [may] bourd als neir And wemen nocht the wor quhen that is done 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV. ii. 169.
And that he did ymmediatly at the same tyme write the same word by word as neere as he possibly could carry the same awaye

e. Coupled with fer (far), see also these words. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 45.
Frely to pas quhar he will ner or fer 1513 Doug. vii. xiii. 104.
The rowtis for supple baith neir and far a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxviii. 60.

f. On nere, at close quarters. ?1438 Alex. ii. 2377.
To behald on nere In hir visage polist clere

2. Of time or events: Close at hand. a1400 Leg. S. i. 660.
Quhen that awfull our com ner of thar end Ib. 328, v. 549. 1456 Hay II. 149/30.
The destructioun of thé and thy realme approachis nere c1475 Wall. viii. 353.
Neir a1500 Seven S. 1546.
Neire 1582 Waus Corr. I. 256.
Quha lut the dyettis approche sa neir 1594 Warrender P. II. 43.
Quhil the tym of the Quenis being lighter drew neer

3. Near, closely related (in or of kin or blude).See also Kin n. 2 b for further examples. c1420 Ratis R. 1063.
Gyf thyne amouris be to thé To nere of kyne or alye 1456 Hay I. 191/10.
Othir cousynis … quhilk ar nocht sa nere of blude 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 311, II. 246. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 966. a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. xvii. 17.
How neir of bluid that euer thay be 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 179. 1580-92 James VI Lusus Reg. 51.

4. Nearly, almost, all but.a. With verbs or participles. b. With adjs. or adj. or adv. phrases. c. In hyperboles.a. a1400 Leg. S. ii. 753.
His wame bolnyt ner and rafe ?1438 Alex. i. 2090.
That neir ane douncome can he maik Ib. 3029.
Thi nekbane was neir bristing Ib. ii. 4208. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1755.
Bolned with watter, nere deand c1420 Wynt. ii. 456. Ib. iii. 853, viii. 5346. c1420 Ratis R. 1672.
Al kind away is worne sa ner [: here] 1490 Irland Mir. I. 6/5.
Neir a1500 Seven S. 1580.
Neire speche and sicht ar fra me reft 1527–8 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 93.
One to the tyme … thatthe mercat be neir doun 1533 Boece vii. vii. 234 b.
At the first rusche Romanis … war nere ouresett be schott of [etc.] c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 751. 1570 Sat. P. xiii. 126.
Ȝe … neir schot him and his wyfe a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xli. 8.
The nicht is neir gone 1611-57 Mure Hist. Rowallane 237.
The reviveing of the neer expyred & almost outworne knowledge of [etc.] a1686 Turner Mem. 120.
A little money … was all well neere spent before we got out of Amsterdameb. 1375 Barb. ix. 253 (E).
Till thai ner [C. neir] at assembling wayr a1400 Leg. S. xxi. 232.
A ȝung man … tellis nere how the same Til his brethyre tyd & his dame Ib. xxx. 674.
Nere c1420 Wynt. iv. 2086.
A low out off that ryfft Strak wp evyn nere to the lyfft Ib. iii. 598. a1500 Henr. Fab. 301 (Asl.).
Ner c1475 Wall. vii. 307.
The myddyll off ane he mankit ner in twa Ib. xi. 1437.
I haiff said her ner as the proces gais a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 349 (H).
Off temporale proffit quhilk is nere prophane 1494 Loutfut MS. 20 a.
Foullis quhilkis has nocht sa gret significacioun to be sa nere of natur humane as the bestis c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 208 (Ch. & M.).
Nere Id. xxxv. 19.
Neir 1513 Doug. iii. vi. 136.
Hir hynd partis ar als gret, weil neir, As beyn a hydduus huddon or a quihaill 1531 Bell. Boece I. 224.
Thay war … al thre nere equal in yeris Id. Ib. (M) II. 243.
Quhen the dennair was neyr reddy 1587 Maxwell Mem. II. 162.
My howis … being sa neir apoint 1644 Laing MSS. I. 214.
Nowe we find our oversight when it is verie neire too latec. 1375 Barb. ii. 199.
Owt off his wyt he went weill ner [: Schir Amer] a1400 Leg. S. vii. 621.
Nere he cane briste but abad Syke yre in his hart he had Ib. xxvii. 193.
Of hyre wit scho ȝed nere wod ?1438 Alex. ii. 1352.
Clarus brint neir for matelent Ib. 4093. a1500 Henr. Orph. 128 (Asl.).
Ner a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 993. 1492 Myll Spect. 273/10.
It weill neir dryvis the lyf out of mye febill body a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1063. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 102.
For lawchtir neir I brist Ib. lvii. 14.
For covatice ane vther neir swownis

5. With terms of number, quantity, extent, etc.: Nearly, almost.Also ellipt., = nearly all. 1375 Barb. vii. 568 (E).
I trow thai war thre hunder ner Ib. xvi. 360. Ib. 453, 6.
Wele ner eschapyt nane … Weile ner [C. neir] all left the lyvys Ib. i. 345. a1400 Leg. S. xii. 373.
Mathi … sa can lere That he the knawlage van vel nere As he harde of all the lawis Ib. xl. 428, etc. Ib. xl. 737.
Be-owt the ton, Nere the quartare of a myl ?1438 Alex. ii. 4400. c1420 Wynt. iv. 992. Ib. 1256. 1456 Hay I. 47/20. c1475 Wall. i. 208.
Ner xx^ty ȝer of age a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 418.
That now is namyt neir of all nobilnes 1531 Bell. Boece I. 46.
The Scottis and Pichtis that abaid in Albion nere twelf yeris 1641 Bk. Carlaverock II. 140.
Neir thir tuo hunderethe ȝeris 1653 Hist. Fragm. III. 53.
And one of dragounes, about neire 400 apiece 1661 Lamont Diary (1810) 174.
They were nire a monthes tyme in buelding of it 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. 77.
And discover him selfe near a bow-shot from the first placeellipt. ?1438 Alex. ii. 2656.
The King of Massidone … That of this warld nere lord is c1420 Wynt. vi. 672.
All Ingland he wan off were And Irland nere

II. quasi-adj. 6. (To approach or to be) near or close to (till, unto, towart) a person, place or thing, a point in time, or a state or condition.Also const. infin., to be nearor close to doing (to do) something.(1) 1375 Barb. v. 615 (C).
Quha suld cum neir to ȝow bot I? a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 215.
& quhen he come til hyre wele nere, He lichtyt c1420 Wynt. iv. 458.
Quhen it nere drewe to the nycht a1540 Freiris Berw. 45.
As thay wer cumand towart the tovne full neir 1549 Compl. 6/11.
The hagbutaris past neir to the camp of ther enemeis(2) 1375 Barb. xix. 501 (E).
Wp on the watre and als ner [C. neir] Till it as thai beforouth wer c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1491.
Ȝhour nyghboures … That bene to ȝow rytht nere marcheand ?1438 Alex. ii. 344.
To Effesoun full nere we are c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 3298.
And to the toun thai sett thare watchis nere 1596 Misc. Maitl. C. IV. 44.
His gallies then being aflott nere unto the shore c 1600 Crim. Trials II. 294.
Now Sir Alexander waited all this tyme so neir to the King 1633 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 387.
Other commodious plaices neir unto salmond fishing 1650 Lamont Diary 20.
He [Charles II] lodged att wmq^ll Hewgh Scrimgeours house nire to the abey(3) 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II. 114.
Quhilkis … hes brocht ȝoure commoun wele neir to vtter exterminioun(4) ?1438 Alex. ii. 9107.
Gaudefere That to fulfill his vow was nere

7. Closely related in blood, or closely attached in attendance or in friendship, to another. 1375 Barb. v. 613 (C).
‘A! schir, vmbethinkis ȝow,’ said he, ‘How neir to ȝou that I suld be’ c1420 Wynt. vi. 1782 (C).
And al that he couythe … Was to the crowne nere be lenage He gert be slayne 1443 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 44.
Sin he and yhoure frendis ar bath sa nere to vs c1490 Irland Asl. MS. 47/1.
For the luf of tham that thow prayis for that … ar sa neir to thé outhir in blud or amitee 1592 Acts III. 559/2.
Calling to remembrance how neir and attingent his hienes darrest cousing … is in blude … to his maiestie 1596 Dalr. I. 108/1.
Euerie nobil man neir to the Bischope … turnet in to the Bischopes lugeng cheiflie Ib. II. 118/20.
Ner

III. With omission of to etc., as prep.

8. (To approach or to be) close to or within a short distance of (a person, place or thing).For examples with Nech(e v., Nich v., see these words.(1) 1375 Barb. vii. 524 (E).
Quhen Schyr Amery … Wes cummyn sa ner [C. neir] the King that [etc.] c1420 Wynt. v. 4466.
Quhill nere Rome he come Ib. iv. 201. 1596 Dalr. I. 40/3.
Sche … cumis nevir ner thame(b) a1500 Seven S. 2333.
For to cum neir the castall wall c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxi. 20.
Oft thow hes refusit Till cum ws till, or ȝit till merk ws neir 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 6.
So neir approchit he his wyntir stage c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 77.
None may go neir thame at thare eis c1550 Id. Meldrum 1307.
Nane durst cum neir him, hand for hand 15.. Wyf Awcht. 63.
I trow he lowtit our neir the low a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xciv. 78.
Lat never harlat cum ȝou neir(2) 1375 Barb. iv. 378 (E).
Thai war enbuschyt the castell ner Armyt apon thair best maner a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 42.
Thare is … a locht nere that cyte As lyk a se nere to be c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 208.
Ryght bysyde the hye alter Not ferre one lenth but it full nere c1420 Bute MS. 173.
Falows raysys vp yhour ankyr for it lyis oure nere vs 1456 Hay II. 132/29.
Than suld men have gude fyris … and nocht to halde thame our nere the fyris c1475 Wall. v. 914.
Rycht ner the steid quhar [etc.](b) c1420 Wynt. ix. 1543.
The Scottis hieland-men Ware neire [C. nere] the wattyr off Ile then a1500 Rauf C. 91.
Quhill thay war neir hame 1524 Armstrong Hist. Liddesdale I. 220.
The said Erle sall not remain neire the bordouris 1596 Dalr. I. 28/12.
The craigs of Madin Castell neir Edinburghe 1646 Sc. N. & Q. i Ser. XII. 61.
No pretching because Montrose vas so neir us 1668 Lauder Jrnl. 190.
The laird of Carberrie … not desiring the battell should be to neir his house(c) 1631 Justiciary Cases I. 177.
At the signe of the Beare neere the bridge foote

b. ellipt. (To do something) at or to a place or point near (a place). c1420 Wynt. ii. 860.
In the fyrst buk gyffe that yhe Wele nere the last end rede and se c1475 Wall. v. 416.
Als Kerle wyst, gyff Wallace leyffand war, Nere Dwnypace that he suld fynd him thar a1500 Seven S. 420.
He set … Ane gret iornay wele nere his place 1501 Laing MSS. I. 5.
Thai hafe eryt sa verray nere the said myln dam a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 438.
Be his [sc. the hangman's] prentice nere the bank a1540 Freiris Berw. 512.
Neir the dur ȝe hyd ȝow prevely ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III. 128.
One [battery] was layd neer the Grey Freer churche 1663 Rothesay B. Rec. 299.
That the said gavill is buildit sumquhat neir the said Robert Mwir his tenement 1693 Fraser in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 217.
No woman is yet tolleratt to be buried neer the great church

c. Governing quhare (also thairof).(1) a1400 Leg. S. xv. 213.
[They] dalf it … ner quhare Gebeseis hade … dwellinge to tham made c1420 Wynt. i. 201.
A child bad him he suld draw nere Quhar that he said he saw a dere 1456 Misc. Bann. C. III. 96.
Ner quhar hymself thinkis to ly(2) 1627 Justiciary Cases I. 73.
Because of ane brydell that was keipit neir thairof

d. Const. be (= by, within) a stated distance. — a1500 Henr. Fab. 943 (Ch.).
Se neir be twentie mylis quhair I am The kid ga saiflie be the gaittis syde 15.. Christis K. 77 (M).
Be ane myle it come nocht neir him

9. Close to, almost (at) (a point in time). 1375 Barb. xvii. 130 (E).
Quhill it wes ner [C. neir] none of the day c1475 Wall. iii. 69.
For it was nere the nycht Ib. viii. 325.
Ner a1500 Rauf C. 799.
Neir a1508 Kynd Kittok 13. 1519–20 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 55.
Quhill ner Martynmes 1533 Bell. Livy I. 82/10.
Nere thare perfectioun and lauchfull age 15.. Clar. ii. 189.
It was neir awcht houris in the day 1681 Lauder Observes 42.
To neir the end of June

10. Close to the time of (doing something); close to (achieving something). a1400 Leg. S. xxii. 534.
A kyrk … sic ned had of mending That it was nere the donecummyng c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 3015.
Vlixes that deid was neire 1672 Acts VIII. 82/2.
That the Lords of Sessioun every session goe neir the discussing of all causis enrolled that session 1677 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II. 37.
[And also to deliver to the said John Tait the said cow] when I have gottin the proffeit of hir shoe being neir giving over callfes beiring

11. Closely related to or associated with.Also with ellipsis of the noun or pronoun referred to. 1375 Barb. i. 380.
All him luffyt that war him ner c1475 Wall. v. 919.
Off kyn he was, and Wallace modyr ner Arundel MS. 283/157.
I commend … my … fathir and mothir [etc.] … my familiaris and neir me

12. In various fig. or non-material uses.Nere one's hart, dear to one. c1420 Ratis R. 775.
Quhill one of thaim thi hart is nere, Baith thocht and wyll is set one stere 1456 Hay I. 284/1.
The quhyte colour … is maist nere the nature of lycht and claritee 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8821.
The verray treuth … ȝe haue gane neir 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 46.
Heir the mater quhilk he had raschel[ie] brocht on, wes neir the poynt 1599 Rollock Wks. I. 434.
Bot to cum neir the wordis [of the text]

b. Neir the messour of, = sense 5. — 1575 Glasgow Chart. I. ii. 165.
Ane ladill full … quhilk is neir the messour of ane ferd pairt peck

IV. 13. a. Comb. or in conjunction with other advs. or preps. or adv. phrases.Viz. about(s) (-bute), at (also on) hand, before, besyde, by, and see also Nere by, Nere hand and Nere thareby.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1240 (C).
All landes that nyghboures wer To Troye or about it ner ?1438 Alex. ii. 98.
Had I thame all haill and feir About me ay to be me neir 1452 Douglas Chart. 78.
The toftis and the park lyand … nere about the said castell 1456 Hay I. 212/19.
And was lorde and syre our all thai contreis nere about him 16.. Symson's Descr. Galloway (1823) 114.
Neirbute it is the riuer Ken c1650 Spalding II. 172.
Certane clovssis of water quhilk overflowit the boundis neir about the toun — a1500 Bk. Chess 1120.
Thar nedis no luftennand ner about a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xviii. 59.
Thair brald a bissat neir about 1646 Earl of Loudoun Severall Speeches (Edinburgh, 1646) 23.
But that his majesty shall … come to … some of his houses neer-abouts 16.. Symson's Descr. Galloway (1823) 114.
Neirbute this Ptolomee placed the city Leucophibia(2) 1375 Barb. iv. 367 (E).
Till that the nycht wes ner on hand Ib. xvii. 583.
Thai chassyt sa ner at hand That ner a thowsand deyt thar c1420 Wynt. ix. 638.
For thai war costayid nere at hand(3) 1456 Hay I. 51/10.
Thai come till a place Canosse that was nere before Puylle c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke i. 19.
I am Gabriel, that standis neire before God(4) 1375 Barb. v. 329 (C).
The castell that besyde wes neir [: here adv.] Ib. xiv. 388.
Besyde thame ner [: gud cher] — a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 54.
In the cunctre nere be-syd ?1438 Alex. i. 1370. Ib. ii. 4044. 1533 Boece viii. v. 258 b.
For he was nere beside awating the fyne thareof 1535 Stewart 28892.
Into that schire With euerie scitie that wes neir besyde — 1551 Reg. Privy S. IV. 221/1.
The uthiris landis … lyand neirbesyde the burgh of Lanark 1622-6 Bisset II. 394.
Ane chapell neir besyde Sanct Gelis Grang(5) 1375 Barb. xiii. 437.
The King Robert … Held ay his gude men neir him by Ib. xvi. 198. a1400 Leg. S. iii. 234.
That cite … That nere set uas by in the way ?1438 Alex. i. 1667; etc. c1420 Wynt. v. 1987.
Had noucht the fadyre nere bene by Ib. 3914.
All powr [folk] that wes nere hyr by [C. nere by] Ib. viii. 3289.
Nere in that land Than wes a yhowman by duelland a1585 Maitl. Q. lxviii. 132.
Thy buttis biggit neir thame by … Maist plesand place of archerie

b. With adjacent, attingent. a1578 Pitsc. I. 89/18.
All vthir pairtis that war neir adiacent vnto him — 1606 Acts IV. 353/2.
Lodovick Duik of Lennox … is … neir attingent in consanguinitie to his hienes 1626 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 289.
The King … to quhome he was attingent neir in blud

c. Ner or close together. 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 217.
The deponar can nocht tell quhidder thai lay ner together or syndry