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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sar(e, Sor(e, adj. Also: sair(e, sayr(e, saier; ser, seir, sear; soir(e; soor(e; soar. [Early and north. ME sar (Layamon), sare (Cursor M.), midl. and south. ME and e.m.E. sor(e (1297), OE sár, ON sárr.] Sore.

1. Of (a part of) the body: Suffering or in pain from wounds, sores or other injury; injured or painful; hurt. Also proverb.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxii 677.
He fand his harme sa sare & wa
1495 Treas. Acc. I 257.
Half ane elne of quhite carsay to be the king a mittane till his sare hand
1528–9 Reg. Morton I 3. a1660 Sanny Briggs in Watson's Coll. i 38/62.
Sare be his shins, and's kail ay cauld
a1700 Mare of Colinton 159.
With a sare skin, baith black and blae
(b) a1500 Sir Eger 370.
And all was sound before was sair
1489 Treas. Acc. I 149.
For vii elne of quhyte to be logouris to the king, the tyme his leg wes sayre
a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 375.
Castand him doun quhill his body wes sair
1507–8 Treas. Acc. IV 102.
To the draucht trumpet that hed ane sair lip
1533 Gau 66/16.
For in this deidlie liff al our bodis … ma be maid sair and wondit and slane
c1550 Balcarres P. 316.
Quhilk causit ane bluid fal in my leg that was sair befoir
a1578 Pitsc. I 222/10. 1608 Dundonald Par. Rec. 171.
Hir avin pape beand sair … scho send for the said Issobell
1613 Fraserburgh Kirk S. fol. 20b (5 Aug.).
[He] had stowin sa meikill … as maid the said Johnne ane sair craig to beir it hame in ane basket vpon his head
1631 Sel. Biog. I 360.
Therfor it fell out weill for your hors' sair bak
(c) 1615 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 364.
To ane of the borrowmen for helping of ane sore leg gottin in the wark
1628 Maxwell Mem. I 481.
Ane sore bak and … schudder blaid
1632 Glasg. Univ. Mun. III 483.
To J. Quantanes man that had a sor finger hurt in our work xx s.
1650 Maxwell Mem. I 356.
Charme … for a sore leg
a1665 W. Guthrie in Sel. Biog. II 75.
The disciples … had neither sore limb nor lith
(d) 1567 G. Ball. 157.
Remember my soir bodie, Sa woundit and bludie
1622-6 Bisset II 178/25.
His maiestie tuik sa soir ane fuit that he sowned with it
(e) 1600-1610 Melvill 6.
Never a soar finger during the haill labour
proverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 851.
Touch me not on the sair heel

b. specif. Of the throat or the teeth: Inflamed or the like and in pain. c1500 Rowll Cursing 51 (M).
Emerides or the sair als
1507 Treas. Acc. IV 77.
For ane irn to byrn sair teith, ij s.

c. specif. Of the head: Aching.(a) 1549 Compl. 67/12.
The decoctione of it is remeid for ane sair hede
(b) 1643 Orkney Witch Trial in Misc. Abbotsf. C. I 177.
Bessie Spence hes ay ane sore head, it is ay pained
1661 Elgin Rec. II 298.
That he haid ane sor head with the megrum

d. A sore skin, ? a beating. ?1665 M. Bruce Six Dreadfull Alarms 18.
In every … country that he geed to, he was ay for to get a sore skin
Id. Sermon in Edinb. Tolbooth 10.
Till he made him to ken it by a sore skin

e. To lauch (one's) hert sair (also, quhill (one's) hart grew soir), to laugh one's heart sore, to laugh very heartily. (Cf. 7 b.) a1508 Kynd Kittock 20 (Ch. & M.).
God lukit & saw hir lattin in & lewch his hert sair
1571 Sat. P. xxix 24.
Quha wald not lauche quhill his hart grew soir

2. Of a person or animal: Suffering from wounds or sores; injured, hurt; freq. in collocation with seke. b. Absol. as noun. c. transf. Of a period of time during which a person experiences pain, illness or suffering.(1) a1500 Prestis of Peblis 527.
The sair man [supra ane woundit man, ane man … Sa sair woundit] him beheld
Ib. 572. 1513 Doug. xii xii 168.
Thocht he sair was, [he] fersly dyd persew
c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 12.
I am so crukit, auld and sair
1570 Sat. P. xxii 65.
Ane scabbit hors will feill quhair he is sair
(b) 15.. Clar. v 2350.
And to the barras magrie him full sore Him buire
(2) a1400 Leg. S. ix 17.
Quhene he men mad sek & sare
Ib. xxvii 1212.
To sek and sar folk gyfand heile
Ib. x 113, xxxi 319.(b) a1400 Leg. S. vi 367.
Al that euire ware sek & sayre
Arundel MS 253/446.
Hele me, that is baith seke and sair
1551 Hamilton Cat. 103.
All medicinaris … quhilk takis on hand to help seik or sair men
1567 G. Ball. 30.
To day ane man is fresche and fair, To morne he lyis seik and sair
1585 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 420.
To … visite … the puir quha sall happin to be seik or sair, laymet or hurt
1662 Crim. Trials III 609.
He is lyeing seik and sair … Let him lye intill his bed—let him lye intill it seik and sore
b. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 565.
[Miracles] done at his grawe to sare & seke
Ib. xl 765. a1500 Prestis of Peblis 555.
The sair can say, ‘Be him that can vs saue’
a1500 Bk. Chess 1691.
To wesye oft seik folk & the saire
c1515 Asl. MS I 304/15. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 161/19.
For he left nowthir seik nor sair Unslane
1533 Boece 73b.
Oure nacioun … producit the seik or sare to the strete
1567 G. Ball. 67.
He haillit the seik, sair, lamit, and blinde
c. 1662 Soc. Ant. XXII 222.
Isabel asked how the said James did and the said Janet answered that he had ane sore summer

3. Of various forms of physical assault, instruments of physical attack or implements of restraint: Inflicting hurt or pain, esp. of a severe or harsh sort, passing into an intensive use, severe, harsh. Also fig.(a) a1400 Leg. S. ii 9.
In Philippis, with wandis sar, He wes firste doungyne
Ib. iv 113.
The angel … Band vs with chenȝeis fel & sar [: rare]
Ib. xxvi 692.
Gyfand hyme mony dintis sare
Ib. xlvi 201. ?1438 Alex. ii 1855.
Quha-sa sare strakis can strike
c1420 Wynt. i 658.
Off wenyme and stangys sare
Ib. 1616. c1475 Wall. iii 215.
Thai band thaim fast with wedeis sad and sar
Ib. v 383, 845. ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 311. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 7/21.
Thay hurlit him heir and thair And gaif him mony buffat sair
1513 Doug. ix iii 2.
Quhilk of the goddis sa cruel flammys sayr Held from Troianys?
1576 Crim. Trials I ii 61.
[He] straik … hir with his nevis and feit … mony sair bauch straikis
1662 Soc. Ant. XXII 226.
The Devil … gave you ane sair stroke on the right shoulder
(b) 1649 Sc. N. & Q. IV 28.
He said it was the sorest nip he had ever felt
1685 Sinclair Satan's Inv. World 152.
Isabel Murray … got a sore knock upon the back with a stone
fig. 1562-3 Winȝet I 101 marg.
A dum pastour or a wicious, is a sair scurge on the peple

4. Of an action, manner of acting or attitude in regard to another, of a person's treatment of or by another: Severe, harsh; extreme, passing into a more general expression of emphasis, complete, entire.(a) 1546–7 Stirling B. Rec. I 46.
For trubling of thaim in the wrangus and sair taking of thair custum
1561 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 12.
All godlie men feare … Godis sair displeasure
1564 St. A. Kirk S. 224.
To absteyn fra all fylthines … under pan of disciplyn in saier maner
c1590 J. Stewart 28/484.
To him … vill scho navayis fald, Bot rather die, hir haittrend is so sair
1655 Blairs P. 92.
Ther is laike to be ane sare preseqution agens all manaier of Catholiques
(b) 1570 Sat. P. xiii 205.
Nor Gods seir wraith abone ȝour heidis to haif
1600-1610 Melvill 125.
He movit the provest, with sear rubbing of the ga of his conscience, to [etc.]
(c) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 107/30.
God schawis the richt With soir vengence
1558-66 Knox II 317.
Goddis soir displeasur to fall upoun you
c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 136.
Quhen as tha thole soir persecutioun
1624 Aberd. Council Lett. I 227.
And the actioun to be interit in all convenient diligence that we may anes have a decision thairof in sore contradictione [to previous occasions when no decision had been taken]
a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 25.
Men would think the greatest hill … a light burden … to get themselves hid from the peircing view of a slighted … mediator. Oh, but that will be bitter and sore to bide

b. specif. Of a (legal) penalty, punishment or sentence. 14.. Acts I 346/2.
Gif he may nocht find that man inditit he aw to arreste all his gudis … vnder soir borowis
c1475 Wall. vii 436.
Lat ws to borch our men fra your fals law … Deyll nocht thar land, the wnlaw is our sayr
a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 381 (Asl.).
Thai sall for this suffer sair pvnicioun
Ib. 620. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 769.
Than was all maist writtin the sentence sair
Id. Æn. ii x 23.
Sayr
c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1052.
Than to the woman, for hir offence, God did pronunce this sore sentence
a1561 Norvell Meroure 10b.
His death hathe … the soore sentence of the law … broken
1570 Sat. P. xiii 149.
And quha that this seir sentence small esteims [etc.]
a1605 Montg. Sonn. xxxiii 8.
Quhilk double sentence wes baith suith and sair
1681 Cloud of Witnesses 96.
Judgement is at the door and indeed your sentence will be sore to bide

c. Of verbal argumentation, accusation, etc.: Stern, harsh; strongly urged, forceful; intense. ?1438 Alex. i 2076 heading.
Arreste throw sare praying Went to warne Alexander
c1475 Wall. vi 400.
Him selff began a sair cusyng to mak
a1599 Rollock Wks. I 405.
For the letters (sayis he) ar sair and strong bot his bodilie presence is waik, and his speich is of na value
c1600 Montg. Suppl. x 29.
Ȝour word, as suord, is sair; My breist is persit with uyolence
1600-1610 Melvill 19.
Sche enterit sa upon me with sa soar threatnings
Ib. 33.
Soar

d. Of a person: Severe, harsh, extreme (in attitude, action, etc.); bitter, hostile; hard (to understand, argue against or deal with). Also proverb. 1531 Bell. Boece I 88.
The Romane pepill quhilk daily invadis us with insufferabil injuris, ar sare ennimes
1558-66 Knox II 285.
Ye ar oure sair for me, (said the quene)
a1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvii 9.
To Sandelandis ȝe wer our sair to schame hir
c1575 Waus Corr. 114.
My creditoris are verray sair in craving their dettis
c1650 Spalding II 211.
Schir Johne Hotham, younger (a sore enemy to the king)
1685-8 Renwick Serm. 170.
He is a very sore party for the sinner, that stands in opposition to him
proverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 142.
Ane ill payer maks a sore craver
a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 200.
A sair flyter was never a gud fechter

5. Of a. Wounds or hurts, b. Pains or diseases, c. Of the pain itself, also specif., the painis of dede, d. Of other bodily afflictions: Severe, grievous, painful, distressing, hard to bear.Bell. quot. in a may belong in 1 above.a. 1375 Barb. xvii 643.
Bot thai that gan thaim abandoun … to woundis sar
a1400 Leg. S. xxii 357.
Clengeand thi hortis that are sare
a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 727.
Sair
c1475 Wall. x 338.
The Bruce him hurt at the returnyng thair, Wndyr the hals a deip wound and a sayr
c1500 Makc. MS xv 17.
Thir deip wondis & sair stundis I thoill for thé
1513 Doug. x xiv 69.
He rasyt hym vp apon hys wondit thee … thocht the violens of hys sair smart Maid hym onfery
1531 Bell. Boece I xii.
As precius balme revertis thingis sare And makis thaim of rot impacient
1535 Stewart 29501.
Into his syid ane deip wound and ane soir
1662 Crim. Trials III 611.
Quhan ve com to owr awin shapes again ve will find the scrattis and rywes on our skins werie sor
b. a1500 Colk. Sow ii 34.
Thay war weseit with suddane soir seiknes
a1500 Seven S. 748.
God tuke wengeans … With sic ane schot in till his wame That he had seiknes saire [etc.]
1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1018.
Expell dolour, expell diseisis sair
1560 Rolland Seven S. 76.
This emprice tuke ane meruellous malady That scho behuid for to tak bed … With sair seiknes sa troublit was hir corce
1567 G. Ball. 33. 1572 Sempill Sat. P. xxx 135.
The langer spairit, the plaigue is ay the sairest
1596 Dalr. I 5/18.
That sair seiknes, named the sueit of Britannie, cam nevir till ws
Ib. 234/16.
Perceiueng his helth with sair and hauie seiknes to be persewit
1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 157 (5 Nov.).
Margaret McKonnell in Park is … with sore and heavie sickenes
c. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1137.
And suddand deith with ithand panis sore
1551 Hamilton Cat. 151.
He tholit the sairast painis of dede
1650 Lamont Diary 20.
A desease, comonlie called the Irish aygo, which was a terrible sore paine of the head
d. c1420 Wynt. ii 355.
In tyll tyme off hungar sare
Ib. v 581.
Till hir that sufferyd thrystys sare And paynys hard quhen scho hym bare
Ib. 3123. a1500 Henr. Prayer 25.
Vse derth o Lord or seiknes and hungir soir
a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1251 (Harl.).
Gif that ane man … Wald think to sare and passing sufferance On his a syde to ly but libertee In ane soft bed [etc.]
1596 Dalr. I 72/8.
[To] refreshe his people opprest with sair hungre
a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1112.
Manie men speiks of my meikle drink, bot few of my sair thirst

6. a. Of battles, fighting, etc.: Fierce, hard-fought. ?1438 Alex. i 2656.
The folk of Grece … Him reskewit with fechting sare
c1475 Wall. iv 628.
A sar assay forsuth thar mycht be seyn
Ib. xi 18.
Still saxte dayis at sar sailȝe thai baid
Ib. iii 158. 1533 Boece 37.
Sare and bludy in the begynnyng was this were
a1538 Abell 73b.
The batell committit wes sair bot the wictorie maist inclinit to the Scottis
1549 Compl. 92/1.
The sair battellis … that vas cruelly exsecutit on Scottis men
a1578 Pitsc. II 284/24.
Thair vas ane soir carmishe betuix thame of Leith and the men of Edinburgh
1596 Dalr. I 161/10.
Nathir was this his lyfe without mekle blude and sair slauchtir
1600-1610 Melvill 80.
Manie sear battels and greivus tentatiounes did my God uphauld me in
1635 Dickson Wr. 133.
Ye must run, strike, fight, and endure sore bickerings, before the crown be gotten
a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 6.
The Picts assisting the Scots, a sore overthrow was given to the Britains
1667 Highland P. II 24.
M‘Kenzie … overtook them at Inverchoran quher he gave them a saire skirmish
compar. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 198.
The salt was all the sarar [M. sairar] suth to sayn

b. Of weather and the seasons: Severe, bitter. Also fig. a1400 Leg. S. xviii 1003.
Gret cald thare-for of ser snaw I haf tholyt
a1500 Henr. Fab. 1292 (H).
In to ane coif he crap Fra sair wedder and frostis him to hap
1535 Stewart 46970.
Ane sarar wynd into Scotland … Blew neuer na tyme
Ib. 56207. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 565 (see c (a) below). a1605 Montg. Misc. P. li 4.
And soft this seasoun, quhilk hes bene schairp and sair
1665 Sel. Biog. I 460.
For I had sore weather betwixt Aberdeen and this
c1680 W. Row Blair 143.
That day … they had the sorest storm that they had felt
fig. 1635 Dickson Wr. 66.
So shall ye stand solid, as on a rock, albeit the blast be sore

c. Of other afflictions, impositions, etc.: Oppressively severe, heavy, burdensome; bitter, distressing, hard to bear. Also transf. to a person.(a) 1460 Hay Alex. 974.
Fra Pers I com, of presoun seir [: bachelare]
a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1056.
Ane sair stonay and stour at thair hartis standis
c1475 Wall. v 714.
The sayr grewans ramaynyt in his entent; Los off his men and lusty payne off luff
Ib. ix 664.
Be thar chansler the tothir pees was bwn, And that full sair our forfadris has fwn
c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 133/15.
And that me think ane coumpt our sair
1528 Acts II 323/1.
Geif sick thing war tresoune the kingis hienes mycht euir quhen he wald charge ony lord … to do ane thing … and quhen he left it vndone forfalt him … quhilk war oure sare and dangerous exemple for all the kingis liegis
1535 Stewart 36235.
That gratius God abone, Ane sarar plaig sould sone amang thame send
1551 Hamilton Cat. 98 (see d (1) below). 1560 Rolland Seven S. 565.
Vpon the sey thay sufferit greit perrell … be sair storme and trauell
1572 Sat. P. xxxi 78.
Than ȝe knew thay wer ȝour fais, Bot now thay cum in freindis clais, Quhilk is ane sairer sey
Ib. xxxiii 275.
My [sc. Lady Scotland's] torment sair constrynis me this to speik
1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix 342.
With walkryfe labour and expensis sair
1596 Dalr. I 2/23.
Eftir sair trauell quhen mony dangeris he escaped had
(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 75/86.
Gif ȝe taistit had befoir Of Strivilling toun the panis soir
1535 Stewart 20243.
The Scottis prescribit war … out of Albione … With soir travell
15.. Clar. iii 908.
Ay scho thankit God … Of all hir trubillis and hir chansis soire
1635 Dickson Wr. 134.
He will be put to a sore pinch before this victory be gotten
1638 Henderson Serm. 98.
The suddenness of a destruction makes it to be so mickle the sorer
c1685 Annandale Corr. 315.
Wishing that God Almightie may neaver trist yow with such a sore cros
transf. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 185.
King James the First … said that he [sc. King David I] was ane sair [1821 soir] sanct for the croune, as he wald signify that he dotat the Kirk our richelie and [etc.]

d. Of labour, etc.: Involving physical effort, hardship, etc.; heavy, burdensome, severe; also, an instance of this.(1) a1500 Rauf C. 637.
For I haue oft tymes swet in seruice full sair
1547 Treas. Acc. IX 90.
For the other tua hors, quhilkes makes xiij hors, be resoun sho was oure sair ane draucht to the xj hors
1551 Hamilton Cat. 98.
Quhay takis ouer sair mail … or puttis thair cottaris to ouir sair labouris
c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1089.
Sore laubouryng, tyll thy browis sweit
a1568 Bellenden Bann. MS 366b/5.
Vnto his grace declair My walkryf nichtis and my labour sair
(2) 1638 Henderson Serm. 339.
They would work a sore work, if they would aye work as they do at that time when their master is beholding them

e. Of a person: In severe straits, hard-pressed. (Cf. esp. Sar(e adv. 7 c.) 16.. Hist. Kennedy 46.
Sir, I pray ȝow stay, for ȝour freindis is not heir, and ȝe will be soir to heiff ado with menne

7. a. Pertaining to grief, sorrow or regret as felt or expressed; sorrowful, sad. Also proverb.(a) a1400 Leg. S. i 666.
Bot Cristine men … Faste cuth gret with ser sichinge
Ib. xxxix 322.
Scho … Mad sare chere
?1438 Alex. i 835, 2379. c1420 Wynt. v 2914.
He … mad hys confessiown Wyth gret and sare contrityown
a1450 Fifteen Ois 318.
Witht sair regrating for my syn
1456 Hay II 8/19.
He gave a sare sob, with a grete siche
a1500 Henr. Fab. 1285.
This scheip … I … hard … mak sair lamentatioun
Ib. 1555. a1500 Seven S. 918.
Thai grat with mony saire allace
1533 Boece 263b.
To Scottis and Pichtis this day was sare and dedelie
1560 Rolland Seven S. 4472.
The mater is to me sa sad and sair, That I may not sa lang abstene thairfra
Ib. 164. 1567 Sat. P. iv 106, 107.
Sair it was to se ȝoure prince with murther prest; Sairar, I say, him, in his place possest, The deid that did
a1568 Scott x 53.
My sorrow and my sichingis sair
a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 429/1. 1576 Crim. Trials I ii 51.
Makand hevye sair dule with hir self
1596 Dalr. II 467/32.
This mater maid Mr. Ninian verie inviet with the hæretickis, and verie saire
a1605 Montg. Misc. P. lii 2.(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 10/99.
And soir Contritioun … My visage all in watter drownit
a1585 Maitl. Q. 106/77.
My soir torment Dois moir augment
Ib. 206/141. 1622 Aberd. Council Lett. I 196.
Thir [sic] is ane soir mynd to all our hartis
1680 Cloud of Witnesses 51.
The greatest persecutor or malignant will have sore missing of His favour in that day
proverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 492.
Efter drinking commes winking, after winking sair forthinking

b. fig. Of the heart: ‘Sore’, distressed, unhappy. Also comb. 1375 Barb. v 40.
And he with sar hart tauld him sone
a1400 Leg. S. i 654.
Of ned his hart suld have ben sar That fellone jugment to heyre
Ib. xxx 620.
The monkis … Of hyre dissese had hartis sare
?1438 Alex. i 3160.
The motheris … Sall haue lang tyme thare hartis sare
Ib. ii 2344.
Scho had na lufe that for hir vailȝeit, All-thocht sare hartis hir assailȝeit
1460 Hay Alex. 1688. c1475 Wall. i 337. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 446.
I sich without sair hert or seiknes in body
1513 Doug. iv vi h. of ch. Ib. xiii iii 106. a1540 Freiris Berw. 266 (B).
My hairt will ay be sair Gif [etc.]
c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1479.
I leif hir, than, with hart full sore
1565 St. A. Kirk S. 235.
Wyth sorowfull mynd and sayr hart, bursting owt wyth tearis throw [etc.]
a1585 Maitl. Q. 50/8. c1600 Montg. Suppl. ix 14.
Ȝour lust & languore I lament With hairt richt soir
1600-1610 Melvill 85.
Giff I haid a dammist sear hart, God knowes, luiking for na thing bot the burning of the haill place
1681 Cloud of Witnesses 92.
The Lord knows I have a sore heart to mention these things
1685-8 Renwick Serm. 284.
There have been few sore hearts in Scotland for the want … of the gospel
c1691 Melville Corr. 239.
My daughter has a sore eye, and a sore heart too
comb. 1570 Sat. P. x 394.
Quhilk sycht to se … maid me sair hartit

c. Causing or involving distress or regret; unhappy, unfortunate. Also proverb. ?1438 Alex. ii 2272.
Ane sare cunnand me think this is!
a1500 Henr. Fab. 346.
The subcharge off thy seruice is bot sair
Id. Thre Deid Pollis 15.
This sair exampill … Sowld caus all men fra wicket vycis fle
1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 861.
The feird [Muse] endytis … Sair tragedeis
Id. Æn. iii vii 10.
Of Troy the sayr rewyne
1533 Boece 45.
Ane myserabill and sare bargane
a1538 Abell 94a.
Bot in the end thai gat ane sair faw
1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 24.
The Prince James decessit afoir him twa dayes … quhilk was ane sair deid to this realme
a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 163/12.
Sair is the sang Poure folkis amang
1600-1610 Melvill 208.
Whow grait and sear ar the consequents that insewes on your fact
1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xviii.
Bvt to aware that sore sin of profanation
1635 Dickson Wr. 87.
A sore matter for a sinner to be corrected, and yet to go light-farrand under it
1687 Fugitive Poetry II xl 4/108.
Our cloaths are thinn, our purses are right bare, To bide these two, great sir, it is right sare
1695 Douglas Corr. 286.
It will be a soor metter if still acounts and anwelrents shall swell to principell soums
proverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 971.
It is a sair lyfe, to be lang a maidin and syne a preists wyfe

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"Sar adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 21 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/sare_adj>

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