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.
Sinder, Sunder, v. Also: sindir, -re, synder(e, sounder, swndr-, sondr, sender. [ME and e.m.E. sunder (13th c.), sonder (Rolle), sondre (Manning), sundir (1357), scindr- (1592), OE sundrian. Cf. Schunder adv.]
1. tr. To separate, divide, split up (one from another). Variously const.(a) 1525 St. P. Henry VIII IV 297.
[They] wald begin new usis to synder me and the king my son 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7649.
Quhill God sinder my saull and life in tway 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV ii 71.
The Devill syndere us and God mot knit us togidder a1585 Maitl. Q. 103/12.
Quhen that from hir I sinderit wes away 1596 Dalr. I 340/17.
Alexander incloset the reliques of … S. Margaret in a capsell … quhilkes quhen … thay war doune sett besyde the monument of Malcolme Canmoir … the capsell sa fast tostack … that the force of man culde neuir sindir thame 1601 Reg. Privy C. VI 274.
[That they were not] intertaneit nor putt to the werk and that thay wer sinderit 1621 Inverness Rec. II 157.
To sinder the heid fra the sulderis for the said slauchter(b) 1533 Boece 159.
The batell finalie be falling of the nycht was sunderit 1603 Aberd. Council Lett. I 94.
Commanding the persouns separat to keip thame selffis sunderet and a parte 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 173.
If we were clasped in other's arms! We should never twin again, except heaven twinned and sundered us(c) c1590 Fowler I 161/1.
Far from these eyes, and sondred from that face … I move vnmoved
b. specif. To separate forcibly, pull apart (combatants); to eject, remove by force (one of a pair of combatants).(1) 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 16.
Johne Dowglas of Drumlanrick and [the laird] of Hempisfeild … was sinderit without skaith 1612 Reg. Privy C. IX 478.
Being red and sinderit, the said Gilbert Keith, … pullit out ane lang durk and violentlie kaist the same at the said compliner 1635 Dumbarton B. Rec. 47.
Each grippit ilk uthir be the hair and was sinderit oppinlie be James McIntyre 1668 Rothesay B. Rec. 159.(2) a1578 Pitsc. II 48/9.
He had bene stikit be the said Monsr thair inmediatlie bot he was hurlat to the doore and senderit at that tyme
c. To dismiss, disband; to send (a group of persons) their separate ways.c1475 Wall. iv 626.
Schir Jhon Butler … Swndryt the Scottis and did thaim mekill payn 1568 Q. Mary Facs. Nat. MSS III lviii.
Sen ye ar assemblit … I wald that or ye sinderit the n[o]bilitie that ye did sum notabil act aganis the rebelis 1612 Reg. Privy C. IX 438.
The companyis of men of weare quhilkis wer lifted for the wearis of Swaden ar now dissolvit, sinderit and brokin
d. To disperse, put to flight (an opposing army).1533 Boece 154.
Thir Germanis … leiffing mony half vnslane, throw desire to sindir the armye of inemyis [L. hostilis agminis penetrandi cupidine]
2. To (cause to) split, burst, break open or apart.?14.. Ship Laws c. 29 (H1).
A schip … brekis out of his festnyng Ane vthir schip cumis and strikis him … and sindris his wynis 1570 Sat. P. xvii 113.
That shot hes sinderit quhilk was togidder knit
3. intr. a. To separate, split off, part company (from or with others, etc.).1533 Boece 44b.
Thai suld nocht sinder nor departe fra thare mane hoist 1596 Misc. Spald. C. II 133.
Becaus scho vald nocht sinder frome thy scheip, he left hir that nycht 1644 Cranna Fraserburgh (1914) 37-8.
He saw the saidis parties … at the grounde warslinge and eft ther rysinge upe again and sindringe from ther mutuall grippis 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 514.
I believe that ye and Christ once met; I hope ye will not sunder with Him
b. To separate, part (one from another). Also specif., of fighting men: To break ranks.(1) 1533 Boece 549b.
Wallace … with ane few nowmer sinderit and went throw the Inglis armye 1567–8 Crim. Trials I i 494.
Thai … sinderit quhen thai came to the Cowgate 1570 Sat. P. xviii 99.
Sinder not now that ar assemblit togidder. Quhill ane be chosin [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 173/11.
Thay [sc. opposing armies] sindre with æqual victorie 1596 Warrender P. (SHS) II 293.
[They] sinderet in verrye good termis a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 218.
[The people are so gluttonous] that as ane is invetit to another thay never sinder sa lang as the vivers do lest 1615 Highland P. III 239.
The laird and he … sinderit not kyndlie 1615 Crim. Trials III 111.
Vpon the norme, both shoppes louse and come togidder the space of foure myles, … and when they sindered [etc.] 1666-7 Blakhall Narr. 16.
As we sindered, Mr. Pope went home(2) a1586 Lindsay MS 85.
In passing of watteris … the ost man sinder & skaill out of array
c. Of a married couple: To separate; ? to become divorced.1620 Perth Kirk S. MS 10 Oct.
Duncane Drummond … being askit gif he be ane maryit man ansuerit that he and his wyff sinderit of thair awin accord and ar pairtit and that in that respect he is ane vidow man
4. To surrender, part with (a thing).1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 333.
Otherwayes he wald rather byd the will of God nor sinder with the samyne castell 1663 Haigs of Bemersyde 276.
Subscryve no paper … neither sinder with your evidents
5. To break apart, split into pieces.1460 Hay Alex. 1894.
Baith thair speiris sounderit doun in dros c1590 Fowler I 237/2.
O thow myne hairt … Quhat can thé lett to sunder not for woe?
