A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Sich, Sigh, v. Also: siche, sych(e, seych, sicht, sycht P.t. sichit, -et, sichtit, sicht, sighit, sight; sikit. [ME and e.m.E. sike (c1175), siche (Layamon), syke (c1250), syche (c1275), syh, sigh (both Cursor M.), sight (c1450).] intr. To sigh. Freq. to sich sare.pres. 1375 Barb. iii 350.
Men mycht haiff sene … knychtis for thar luffis sak Bath sich and wep 1375 Barb. v 147.
Sychand full sair a1400 Leg. S. xii 19.
Sichtand a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 100.
Scho said siching full soir [etc.] a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1335.
O sueit lady, Ceis for to sich c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 197/4 (M), etc. a1570-86 Kennedy in Maitl. F. 365/6.
Oft sys he sychtis and cryis ‘Allace’ a1568 Scott xviii 19.
I weip and sichis rycht sair a1570-86 Clapperton Maitl. F. 243/4.
I hard ane sweit ane sicht and say [etc.] 1573 Davidson in Sat. P. xlii 525.
Nor ȝit the hart, syching for sin, Can thair fynd comfort mair or min c1614 Melvill lvii.
We that are in this tabernacel siche and are burdenit, becaus we wald not be vncled c1614 Melvill lxviii.
Few sichis for sin, bot gled the burding beiris 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 129/148.(b) c1475 Wall. v 304.
Seychand he said, ‘No passage is for me’(c) c1420 Wynt. vii 2035 (W).
This Richard past on, sighand saire a1500 Seven S. 1813.
Thai maid gret mayne sighand full saire Our wache is done for evir maire c1590 Fowler I 6/2.
And that this land, shuld seik and sigh for theep.t. a1400 Leg. S. xii 69.
Thane sychit scho & with hart sare Sad [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 1138.
In his hart he mad mayne & sichit sare 1460 Hay Alex. 3595.
He sobbit and he sighit sare a1500 Henr. Fab. 485.
Seand the cace scho sichit and gaif ane schout a1500 Henr. III 92/58.
I sicht, and that full sair a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 638.
For pure sorow of that sight thai sighit vnsound c1475 Wall. i 311.
The persone sicht, and said [etc.] a1568 Bann. MS 264b/21.
Sichet a1570-86 Maitl. F. 360/5.
Scho sychtit sely soir a1578 Pitsc. II 1/9.
At thir tydingis King Harie sighit sair and said ‘Allace’ a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 228 (W). c1590 Fowler I 162/1.
Though now no more I see for which I sight 1603 E. Melville Godlie Dreame 105.
I sicht againe, and said allace for wo(b) a1500 Quare Jel. 52.
Sche sorowit sche sikit sche sore compleynit
