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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.

Son(e, Sun(e, Soun(e, S(c)ho(u)n(e, adv. Also: sonne, soin(e, soyn(e, swn(e, suin, swyne, sowne, sowine, soon(e, sane, sin, sen(n, sein, seen, shonne, schoine, shun(e, schune, schuine, schowne, shoon(e. Compar. soner(e, -ar(e, sonner(e, -ar(e, -air, suner, sunner(e, suiner, sounere, -ar, -ir, -air, sowner, sowuner, soon(n)er, s(c)honer, schonnar, schunar, shuner, shooner. Superl. sonest, -ast, soin-, sounest. [ME and e.m.E. sone (a1200), son, sun(e (Cursor M.), soon(e (Piers Plowman, Chaucer), soune (c1400), compar. sonre (Ancr. R.), sonere (c1290), sonner (Chaucer), sunner(e (Wyclif), soner (Caxton), sonar (1566), sooner (1678), superl. sonest (Ancr. R.), sunnest (Wyclif), sann-, sonn-, sennest (Piers Plowman), sonyst (c1400), soonest (1471), OE sóna at once, immediately.] Soon.

I. 1. Within a short time, before long; straightaway, without delay; quickly. a. Preceding a main verb.Cf. Alssone adv. 1.(1) a1400 Leg. S. x 320.
To Sanct Mathow son went he a1400 Leg. S. xxiv 335.
For-thi sone askyt he … Pene, ink, and parchemyne ?1438 Alex. ii 3760, etc.
Sone 14.. Burgh Laws c. 22 (B).
And gyf thar be ony syluyr awine … it sal be sone gyfyn til hym that aucht the land 1456 Hay II 98/8.
Mekle lauchter gerris a persone sone seme alde 1460 Hay Alex. 3709.
And son to cum na sudiorne wauld he may a1500 Henr. Fab. 1095. a1500 Rauf C. 703.
Sone besyde him he gat ane sicht of the nobill king c1475 Wall. viii 921, etc. c1490 Irland Asl. MS 21/30.
Pane to be done heire in the world … may be sone payit in the regard of the pane of purgatorie 1570 Sat. P. x 134.
In credite sone and gorgius clais he grew c1590 Fowler I 58/6.
I … was quiklyie tamed and sone subdewed with litill pane and art c1610 Melville Mem. 23.
Some companyes of horsmen that wer schone dung bak within ther fort 1620 Perth Kirk S. MS 18 April.
Away schone or than I sall gar monye men winder wpone ȝow(b) 1375 Barb. iv 126.
For fyre all cleir Soyn throu the thik burd can appeir 1375 Barb. x 599.
Till the fut soyne cummyn ar thai Of the crag 1375 Barb. xix 379, etc. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 104/4.
Thair wyffis … baid tham betteis soin abyd Att haem c1515 Doug. (Sm.) I p. xxvi.
What incovenienssis may fall to your hwrt theroff your grace may soyn vnderstond 1551 Hamilton Cat. 53.
Gyf thow hald nocht thi self continually in the feir of God, thi house sall be soine cassyn downe 1565 Misc. Maitl. C. I 263.
Send me sum mo schankis, for them that I haiue vill be schoine doine 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 138.
The mater beand soine meassed, the toun stayed(c) c1420 Wynt. iv 911.
The amerale swne land has tane c1460 Consail Vys Man 38.
Till gud paciens gud grace is send Quhen angry hart swn takis an end a1538 Abell 11*a.
Wardly power is svn dystroyit 1549 Compl. 68/6.
My experiens vas sune expirit(d) a1585 Polwart Flyt. 50 (T).
Suin [H. Syne] be content to quyt the caus, And in thy teith bring in the tawis(e) 1375 Barb. i 566.
Bot the endentur till him gaf he, That soune schawyt the iniquite a1400 Leg. S. i 95.
For sowne sall cum ane to thé heyre a1400 Leg. S. xxi 828, etc.
Sowne 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 68.
For cunnyng men, I knaw, wyll soune conclude It dowe no thyng bot for to be deiectit a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. 52/111.
Quha is ane scheip the woulf will soune him hent(f) a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii 315.
& soone [he wes] tan & stentit out one a frame a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlviii 135.
Our maister soon his lyttil vhissell cheir[d](g) 1456 Hay II 118/32.
Gif a man be hate and dry of nature and he be fed with hate and dry metis than suld he sane be at ane end(h) 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 33.
If his place [sc. dwelling-house] be weak and thin, Some wyly thievis may senn creep in(i) 1692 Pitcairne Assembly v ii (1817) 94.
They'll seen learn to gi' the commeenion, baptize, and marry(j) a1578 Pitsc. I 21/29.
Shone be this the chancellar had resauit this ansuer the gouernoure had beltit the seige about the castell and invaidit the samyn(2) a1500 Seven S. 1554.
And as he bad son was it done c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 165/9.
Bot on the flure delyverly and sone I lap thairfra(3) 1609 Breadalbane Lett. (Reg. H.).
I wald wit quhow schon ȝe may hawe knavleg off his mynd

b. Following a main verb.Also, sone syne.Freq. rhyming with done (dune, etc.).(a) 1375 Barb. i 203.
Thai suld fynd sone enchesone To put hym to destruccione 1375 Barb. xvii 429.
A weill gret cumpani … fyr till hyr has keyndlyt son a1400 Leg. S. v 630.
Quhen he had his iorne don, And in Ingland com ham sone 1460 Hay Alex. 248.
He began sone in ȝouthed to be wys a1500 Henr. Fab. 2404.
‘Lowrence,’ quod he, ‘leip in the bukket sone, And I sall hald the ane quhill thow haue done a1500 K. Hart 747.
Thai sowpit sone and syn thai bownit to bede c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 73/26.
We sall begyn … Ane dirige … The Lord of blis doing beseik … to … bring ȝow sone to Edinburgh joy 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2473.
Ryse vp sone loun 1549 Lamb Resonyng 5/6.
Quha knawis … how sone the Scottis maybe expert in weirfair? a1568 Scott xxvi 43. — a1400 Leg. S. v 85.
Thane at his biddinge swyth rase scho, And did son syne, as the appostil bad(b) 1375 Barb. v 370.
The laiff war sesit soyn in hand 1375 Barb. x 489.
He deit soyn, and beryit was 1513 Doug. i vii 127.
The madynnys cum fra Amason saw he soyn 1513 Doug. xiii vi 197.
Speid ws soyn Onto our wark that restis ȝit ondoyn 1551 Hamilton Cat. 162.
Turne to God soine and hastely 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 18a.
Ignominie is the gloir soine of ane prowd man(c) c1420 Wynt. i 1666.
Bot thare thai sulde have succoure swne [: dwne] c1420 Wynt. viii 2657, etc. c1475 Wall. i 116.
King Eduuard past … to Scwne And thar he gat ymage of Scotland swne 1596 Dalr. I 117/13.
Nathir sulde ony mervel heirof, quhen na man, quha leiues bot midway temperat, in the tounes of Scotland, is nocht sune rich(d) a1400 Leg. S. xxi 137.
New messyngeris send he sowne [: don] a1578 Pitsc. I 9/30.
Alledging his hurdome and harlotrie Wald bring him schowne to deith and miserrie(e) a1500 Sir Eger 293.
A lawer they have gotten soon, Warm water into it was done c1578 Reid Swire 154.
Who did invent that day of play We need not fear to find him soon 1624 Hist. Carnegies 86.
Arryvid … at Lundon, soone be twelve houris(f) 15.. Clar. i 1149.
The herbe … Quhairof he espyit sonne the vertew(g) ?14.. Ship Laws c. 27 (H1).
Gif the schip be in hard sege the maistir aw to gar the schipmene amend it sen [B. sone] at the schip tak na scaith

c. Preceded by al, fairly, full, rycht or weill as intensifiers.(1) c1420 Ratis R. 1719.
As a child [he] wald greit al-soin, And covthe ansuere at na resoun(2) a1500 Henr. III 114/16.
‘O ȝowtht thi flowris fadis ferly sone'(3) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 845.
He cryis his ensenye and conteris hym full soune a1500 Henr. Fab. 938.
The lawest heir I can full sone vp hie c1475 Wall. ix 1009.
Wallange was wys, full sone couth wndrestand, Be lyklynes Wallace suld wyn the land a1500 K. Hart 362.
Pietie doun the stare full sone is past a1500 Seven S. 1360.
Scho … sped hir hamewart full sone c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 28/91.
Sklandir … him [sc. Lust] aganis Assemblit ane semely sort full sone a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 963.
A spowng … intill wynakar thai soupit it full sone(4) a1400 Leg. S. xxi 750.
At baptysme rycht sone he lacht c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2665.
Bot Mereon richt sone but le Deit eftir his fadere couth de c1420 Wynt. vi 1814. c1420 Wynt. vii 633.
The bak thai turnyd rycht swne, and flede 1535 Stewart 2134.
Bot in all haist he had him rycht sone 1535 Stewart 14141.(5) 1375 Barb. xvi 585.
He askit thame weill soyn quhat hy Maid thame till turne so hastely 1375 Barb. xix 379.
Bot of hym weill soyn chaynge wes maid For othir that men takyn had

d. In proverbs, or quasi-proverbial sayings. a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 10.
Farest ros soyne takis fadyng 1515 Douglas Corr. 68.
A wyse friend is soyne chargeyt 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. Prov. No. 107.
Soone hett soone colde a1589 Maxwell in Paisley Mag. (1828) 383.
He that hes ane lytill hors, soine may he fall a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 161.
Better lang little nor soon right nought a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 777.
How sone is a gude turne done quo the wif quhen sche peild ane egge and cuist it in her gob a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1366.
Soone ane old man, lang ane old man

e. In special phrases and collocations.Sone or syne, sooner or later.(1) 1375 Barb. viii 50.
And syne soyn the remanand Thai saw weill neir behynd cumand(2) c1420 Wynt. iv 1275.
Bot the Sampnytys, sone and tyte, Wes wyth the Romanys discumfyte(3) 1535 Stewart 48583.
Suddantlie and sune The feildis baith togidder thair did june(4) 1604-31 Craig ii 154.
Thy lines allure mee to be thine, And thou shalt see it soone or sine 1639 Baillie I 117.
All that passes here ye shall have from me soone, or syne 1643 Baillie II 61.
What I know I shall ever give yow ane accompt of it soon or syne 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 123.
For fear that the whole race of beasts sould soon or sin be totally exstirpated

2. Followed or preceded by eftir (also, thar- or heireftir) (adv.).Also sone eftirhend, sone eftir syne, syne sone thareftir, alsone thar eftir.(1) 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 58.
Sone thar eftyr ȝoure said hee excellence dedeyngnet to gif ath to my felaw Syr William of Morehefd [etc.] a1500 Seven S. 839.
The tother … Was … sone efter maid governour 1529 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 100.
The said Sande … hard his bruder … say sone efter that [etc.] 1533 Bell. Livy I 24/22.
Throw quhilk al the lynnage of Poticianis sone eftir failȝete 1533 Bell. Livy I 136/14.
Ȝit I beleif that sone eftir grete burdingis of erde and sand has bene brocht to the said ile c1500-50 Brevis Cronica 326.
In the begynning of his empyre he apperit gude, and sone eftir fell in all manner of vice and crewelte 1570 Sat. P. x 210.
Thair come … anew of men … Quhilks chaist ȝour lords sone efter in Ingland(b) 1375 Barb. vii 272.
But soyn eftir, the kyng has kend James of Douglas(c) c1420 Wynt. viii 6477.
Swne efftyr thai Held downwart in to the town thare way a1578 Pitsc. II 151/7.
Scho banischt the honest men … and swne efter turnitt to Falkland(d) a1538 Abell 124a.
Swin eftir Paip Paull send ane breif a1578 Pitsc. II 102/21.
Swine heirefter the governour of Scotland and quene convenit the consall at Stirling(e) a1578 Pitsc. II 102/19.
God … soune heirefter castis the scourge in the fyre(f) a1400 Leg. S. i 317.
Sin eftir can Crist appere To Petir(g) 1654 Inchmahome Pr. 150.
The beginning of ane great mischiefe which followed shoone efter(2) a1578 Pitsc. I 280/8.
Ȝeit sune efter hend thair come great troubill in Scottland(3) 1375 Barb. ix 284.
Thai deit soyn eftir syne 1535 Stewart 36163.
Sone efter syne quhen that he did retorn(4) 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary II 181.
Syne sone thareftir, the quene and the lordis returnit to the abbay(5) 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 58.
Alsone thar eftire as tha merchandis gat land thai [etc.](6) 1375 Barb. iv 333.
He deit thar-eftir sone c1420 Wynt. v 5065 (C).
As ȝhe may here heyr eftyr sone a1500 Seven S. 1904.
The burges … passit efter sone Fra hame

b. Followed by eftir prep. with noun phrase object. 1375 Barb. xiv 205.
Fra soyn eftir the sone-rysyng a1400 Leg. S. vii 285.
Sone eftyr the sone gayn done a1500 Bk. Chess 1.
Sone efter the tyme that ald Saturnus … regnit had 1535 Stewart 21383.
He thame send sone efter that to Rome 1562 Reg. Privy C. I 208.
Sone eftir hir first arrywell and hayme cuming in this cuntre 1570 Leslie 210.
Sone eftir hir cuming a1578 Pitsc. I 157/24.
Sune efter his deid … scho became leichorous of hir body a1578 Pitsc. I 228/3.
Suine eftir this the said captane passit to the sie(b) 14.. Acts I 74/2.
This inquest aw to be maid … sin eftir the fest of Ȝoulle

3. In various temporal expressions: Early, betimes. Also with richt, weill.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 66 (Bann.).
[The cock] flew furth at a doun[g] hill sone be day a1500 Seven S. 1291.
On the morne sone be sex houris The king gart call the tormentouris a1500 Seven S. 2237.
Sone on the morne the empriour bad To the gallhous his son be led 1542 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 30A.
On Furisday … soun be the sone rais the rumor and noyes of the cuntre com to me(2) a1500 Seven S. 660.
On the morne richt sone airly 1375 Barb. x 198.
In-to the mornyng Veill soyn ane fudyr he suld bring

4. In various phrases denoting the exact moment when something happened or was done. a. As sone as.Cf. Alssone adv. 2.(a) 1375 Barb. xv 131.
Als sone as the day wes cler Thai … had armyt thaim 1386 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 9.
That warnyng sal be made … as sone as it may be godely wyth outen fraude 1409 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 73.
And as sone as we hafe ane [sc. a seal] made of oure awne we oblys vs lelyly to sett it to 1490 Irland Mir. II 37/7. 1533 Soc. Ant. II 397.
The said Wylȝem Walson & Archibald Borthwik … to be preist als sone as thai cum to aig a1540 Freiris Berw. 293.
Thay … Halsit Symone als sone as thay him se(b) 1375 Barb. iv 617.
Als soyn as the moyn wes past Hym thoucht weill that he saw a fyre 1509 Justiciary Rec. (Reg. H.) II 157.
Als soyne as he mycht be brocht he suld enter him ?1549–50 Corr. M. Lorraine 321.
For gyf my lord governour wald byd me cum … I sould be rady … alls soyn as sould ony uder(c) c1580 in Bann. Memor. 337.
Alse soune as thei come to the durre againe, the noyse was als grit as it was of befoir(d) 1547 Cal. Sc. P. I 18.
Sowine(e) 1599 Warrender P. (SHS) II 383.
Thus referring to metinge, quhilk sall be als schuine as I may, I commit yow to God 1636 Sutherland Bk. II 164.
Heast yow north als shoone as ye can 1661 Maxwell Mem. II 305.
As shune as I was aryued I hard that you war to be fayned 1662 Stirlings of Keir 498.
As shon as I meit with him, I shall … remember yow to him 1666 Laing MSS 352.
As shonne as I came my Lord Commissioner gave me his Majesties letter to read, which keept me till all had spoke round 1671 Meikle Old Session Bk. 106.
As shoon as she becam able for travell(f) 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 50.
As soon as ev'r she look't upon her

b. Sa sone as (once, that).(1) a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 30.
Lufe … in ane man of age … kendillis nocht sa sone as in ȝoutheid a1500 Henr. Fab. 2302.
I can not hastelie Swa sone as now gif sentence finall 1559 Corr. M. Lorraine 423.
Sasone as I ma travel I salcum to your grace 1572 Peebles B. Rec. I 337.
The haill communite to help to big it with dry stanis sasone and safare as is within thame selffis 1577–8 Glasgow Chart. II 559.
Sa sone as the nixt crop salhappin to be innit of the grund(b) 1551 Hamilton Cat. 161.
Gif he [sc. Christ] had differrit his resurrectioun langar, than his discipillis had nocht bein sa soine certifyit in the faith as mister was(c) 1533 Gau 63/8.
Sa sune and oft as ony man desiris forgiffines of his sinis … He forgiffis thayme a1578 Pitsc. I 378/8.
That scho … inbark and schipe sa sune as wind … may serue(d) a1578 Pitsc. I 23/7.
Than bot ony fardar sa schone as he haid put him sellff in the king and governouris willis 1584 Cal. Sc. P. VII 174.
Sa schone as the Stirling newes com to the court a soudain charge was geven to hym c1610 Melville Mem. 172.
Bot sa schone as they saw the sattires waging ther tailes or romples 16.. Hist. Kennedy 12.
Sa schone as he wes out of handis(e) 1609 Crim. Trials III 22.
So schune as I heir from those I derectit eftir thame(f) 1559–60 St. A. Kirk S. 24.
Schoun c1590 Fowler II 127/5.
Sua soune as thow hes discovered thy self to a discontented compagnon 1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 303.
[To deliver up the said bond] soe soune as the samen sall com to my hands(g) a1578 Pitsc. I 216/1.
Sae shone as the prince … came a land 1615 Highland P. III 184.
So shone as it wer dark(h) 1651 Hossack Kirkwall 252.
And so shun as ye are endit with him … and gottin thir resaitis(i) 1683 Fraser P. 264.
Delyver thir letters … sua shoon as they come to yowr hands(j) 1618 Aberd. B. Rec. II 358.
Sic as will not mend, be maid new sa soone as the same can be convenientlie gottin done(2) 1633 Orkney Witch Trial in Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. V 545.
Marrioun said unto the lass that iff ever the lass reveillit it againe scho should never thryve and so schune after that the lass reveillit the wordis scho dieit

c. Sone as. ?1438 Alex. ii 10833.
Sone as the sacrifice was done, Thay deid corps war erdit sone c1420 Wynt. viii 4522.
Thai lukyd behynd swne as thai mycht And saw off thare falowys ga

d. (Qu)how sone. Also (once) const. as.For further examples see Howsone adv. and Quhowsone adv.(1) 1500 Montgomery Mem. 59.
What tym and how swyne the said sowme … beis fullely payt 15.. Wyf Aucht. 54.
Owt he ran … How sone he hard the gaislingis cry 1591 St. A. B. Ct. 23 Nov.
Incontinent and quhow schone he or they be thankfullie contenttit and payit 1596 Dalr. I 25/14. 1596 Dalr. II 206/8.
The quene how sune tha war parted mariit … Henrie Stuart 1596 Dalr. II 427/21.
Quhilk how sune was done the quene gatherit ane hoste numberable 1596 Dalr. II 416/5.
Suin 1629 Black Orkn. & Shetl. Folklore 104.
How shone ye cam in the cors … immediatlie bled mutch bluid 1634 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 253.
I intend how schone I have attended his funerall … to sie your Majestie 1674 Elgin Rec. I 319.
The counsel … does … grant hir liberatione from the inner hous to the hous abow the samyn how sein the dore lock and chambers of the said roume be helpit(2) 1562-3 Winȝet I 124/23.
Quhow sone as a sinnar is resauit in the fauour of God to mercy

5. Sa sone, so quickly; so early. a1400 Leg. S. v 483.
Tel thi entent Quhy thu vnbent thi bow sa sone a1500 Henr. Orph. 397.
Quhen that his wyf … Bot for a luke sa sone was hynt hym fro a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 506. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xxi 81.
Sen in tyme sa sone to cum [etc.] 1513 Doug. xi Prol. 167.
That gettis thou not sa soyn, quhill forthyrmor 1535 Stewart 42427.
No wonder wes suppois his hart wes wo, … So sonne to lois his onlie sone and air 1600 Crim. Trials II 180.
This deponar desyrit Maister Alexander to dischone with him, be ressoun his awin culd nocht sasone be preparit

b. With correlative clause. 1375 Barb. ix 232 (C).
Thair bost has maid me haill … For suld no medicine so soyne Haff couerit me as thai haf done 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1945.
Be thay get hail clais, Sa sune do thay leir to sweir a1599 Rollock Wks. I 405.
And he or scho … will not sa sone heir of this lenity and mercie … bot als sone they will be moved to obey the requeist

6. Over (ower) sone, too sone.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2921 (Ch.).
Greit folie is to gif ouer sone credence To all that speikis fairlie vnto thé 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1654.
To sic voyde sawis gif not ouir sone credence a1568 Pedder C. 25.
Thir (cur coffeis) that sailis oure sone 1570 Sempill Sat. P. xii 193.
Quhen all is done thay start ouer sone To boist and not the better(2) 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xviii 5.
Too sone (alace!) … Thy pairt is acted on this wordlie stage

7. As sone, as quickly (or early) as. 1375 Barb. xii 463.
And ȝe sall se als soyne at thai, Magre thair lordis, sall brek aray 1460 Hay Alex. 129.
The coniunctioun salbe this day als sone And meit sall in ane sign baith sonn and mone 1585 James VI Ess. 46.
Fra Malice thus was rooted be Inuy, In them as sone the awin effects did shaw

8. comb. with saddled: ? Hasty of temper, quick to anger. 1637 RutherfordLett. (1894) 371.
Contestations and quarrelous replies (as a soon-saddled spirit, ‘I do well to be angry, even to the death’) smell of the stink of strong corruption

II. compar.

9. In less time, more quickly; at an earlier date or time. c1420 Wynt. v 1460.
And all lyk for to be dede Bot gyff scho sonnare gat remede 1456 Hay II 125/26.
The naturale hete that is reenforssit is mare vertuous and consumys soner the fude in the stomak c1490 Irland Asl. MS 56/17.
Mercy & pete … inducis a persone to helpe sonere & erare the persone mare conuinct as in blude, frendschipe, or other waye 1490 Irland Mir. I 140/4.
This blist child … was sonare and langare in his moderis wame na ony vthire 1490 Irland Mir. II 69/12.
That thai fall sonar and erar in syn 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 108.
Gif your Lordschipe thinkis mervaile that I send na ansuer soner, ther wes nocht a persoun … that wald cum to your Lordschipe for na kynd of fee 1521 Fife Sheriff Ct. 278.
That thai sal compeire befor our justice … the thrid day of our nixt justice ayre … ore sounir 1535 Stewart 529.
The hetter weir, oft syis the sonner peis 1535 Stewart 19589.
Had nocht Maximus sonner send reskew, The Britis bald … that same da had bene lost 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6749. 1567 Douglas Chart. 263.
Svner 1568–9 Reg. Morton I 40.
The wedder hes bene sa ewill heir … vtherwayis I suld hawe maid your Maiestie sowner aduertisit of my procedingis c1590 Fowler II 77/7. 1593 Acts IV 40/1, 2.
Sounair 1595 Highland P. I 171.
Had I come sunner a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 219.
To be at his hous that same nycht, at nyne of the clock, and nather to cum, soner nor laitter 1683 Edinb. City Archives Letters II (17).
I expected that you would acquent me shoner

b. Followed by na, nor or than.(1) a1400 Leg. S. iii 1103.
Bot the fend wes away in hy Sonare na ony man cuth thynke c1420 Ratis R. 168.
Trow weil the philosophuris word, That sonar slais ill air na suord c1420 Wynt. ii 500.
For rydely wylis in wemen Sunnere [C. sonnar, W. sonnere] apperys than in men 1456 Hay II 141/9.
Syk wynis … convertis the metis soner in … blude and flesche na othir wyne dois c1490 Irland Asl. MS 49/21.
God heris sonere and erare the urison maid in the kirk na in other placis c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxxi 81.
Ane besy askar soonner sall he speid, Na sall twa besy serwandis out of dreid 1567 G. Ball. 1.
For thay wil soner consaue the trew word nor quhen thay heir it sung in Latine a1570-86 Mersar in Maitl. F. 411/16.
Ȝit sall eird go to eird sonar nor he wold 1558-66 Knox II 285.
‘Weall’ (said sche) ‘ye may perchance gett that sonner than ye beleve.’ ‘Assuredlie,’ (said the other) ‘yf ever I gett that in my lyeff, I gett it sonnar than I beleif’ 1596 Dalr. II 445/26.
Tha suiner war directed, than appoyntment was maid to mak peace with the Inglismen 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. Prov. No. 193.
The fine cristall is sooner crazed than the harde marble 1656 Falkirk Baron Ct. March.
The defender … alledgit that he did tak them [sc. the oxen] awey schoner nor the ordiner tyme of grassing of guidis(2) 1607 S. Leith Rec. 5.
That the bellman … sowld not proveine the hour appoynted … to the evening prayers any suner nor the appoynted tyme

10. Tytar and soner (soner and tytar): a. Rather; to a greater degree. b. More readily; with greater alacrity.a. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 49.
For that is vnderstandyne … to be tyttar & sounar ane nakyt & a bar hecht than ony weray or lauchfull gyftb. a1586 Lindsay MS 44b.
Sanct Augustin sayis that the prayer of ane gude gentilman is sonner and tittar hard in heavin than the prayeris of ane evill carle

11. The soner, the more quickly, the earlier. Also (once) all the soner.(1) ?1438 Alex. i 248.
Bot gif we succour the sonar get, Alexander sall tyne to-day The folks that he luffit maist ay 1456 Hay I 144/34.
Tharefore we leve sum part of oure resounis to cum to the effect of oure mater the soner 1456 Hay I 161/36. a1500 Henr. Fab. 652 (Bann.).
My mysleving the soner bot I mend a1500 Prestis of Peblis 62 (Asl.).
The thing begwn is the sonere endit 1531 Bell. Boece I 40.
To bring his purpos the sonar to effect a1568 Bann. MS 135a/51.
A wound quhen it is grene Is the soner heilit a1578 Pitsc. I 324/22.
[He] commandit James Douglas of the Parkheid to pas the sunner to his bede that he micht wait wpon him tymmos in the morning a1578 Pitsc. II 100/26.
All the Scottis had cassin thair wapouns and airmor frome thame so they war the sowuner ower comed a1578 Pitsc. II 223/32.
Thairfoir the michtie God tuik him the schonnar frome ws to His joyes a1605 Montg. Sonn. xlii 12.
Delay in love is dangerous indeed; Indeid I shape the soner to assay(2) a1578 Pitsc. I 18/21.
Gif this nobill woman … haid nocht helpit ws all the schunar we sould haue tholled schairp persecutioun

b. Followed by nor (cf. 9 b). 1672 Meikle Old Session Bk. 70.
[To] convein the shuner nor ther custome is and that be 10 howrs peremtorlie

c. With correlative clause or phrase, containing a comparative. c1490 Irland Asl. MS 50/10.
And the nerrar thow be him & pray with gud faith … thow art the soner herd 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 88.
For the suner he go the better it is 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 97.
Bot thai man be helpit and an the sonar the better 1545 Douglas Corr. 163.
And the soner that the king mycht be providit, he sall with the moir eise cum to his purpose 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 230.
The sonair the better that I depart a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 286/25.
The moir thai speik the sonar ar thai spyit 1600 Crim. Trials II 287.

12. No (not) soner. 1408 Fœdera VIII 539/1.
Aftir the entree or the deth of the forsaid Erle of Douglas … and no sounere 1549 Lamb Resonyng 63/16.
Gildas, in quhais tym and na sonare begouth the oppressioun of Britane 1553 Edinb. B. Rec. II 179.
That the marcat … begin at vij houris in the mornyng, and na sonar 1622-6 Bisset II 287/14.
Johne caused at Ephasus his graif to be maid, and in presens of diverse, went in alyve, and being no soner in and to thair semyng deid they covered him 1639 Aberd. Council Lett. II 133.
The occasion off my not schoner written to your worships 1673 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 8 Sept.
Unless he happen receave the saids impositiones … and na shooner

b. Followed by bot (but), na, nor, than and correlative clause or phrase. 1533 Boece 533.
Ȝe sall na sonare sla bletand beistis na ȝone mate and wery armye 1549 Compl. 177/15.
Fortoune hes schauen hir folie na soner nor I beleuit ?1555–6 Corr. M. Lorraine 407.
Your grace sall cum na sonare thar bot your grace salbe welcum 1569 Cal. Sc. P. II 644.
[To repair] na sonar thether nor this Monunday c1590 Fowler II 75/7.
Louyes the 12 king of France … was no soner expelled then be his auen forces [etc.] 1606 Acts IV 292/2.
They no sonner awovit and vtterit thair dissobedience to his maiestie bot [etc.] 1629 Wodrow's Life of Bruce 135.
I lap no sooner on my horse, but [etc.]

III. superl.

13. Most quickly or readily.Freq. in proverbs or other sententious sayings.Freq., with co-ordinate clause or phrase containing another superlative.(a) c1460 Thewis Gud Women 10.
As farest ros takis sonest faidinge a1500 Colk. Sow ii 209.
Quho that surest dois keip him sonest dois slyd c1515 Asl. MS I 195/22. c1490 Irland Asl. MS 36/29.
Thou suld … geve … mast & sonest to tham that ar in mast indigence c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxvii 18.
Defy the warld … Quha maist it servis sall sonast repent 1533 Bell. Livy II 258 (BM).
Quhen the Romanis and Sabynis war makand thare prouisioun … (quhilk of thame suld invaid vthir sonest) 1559 Knox VI 52.
Whyther ye doo in dede take that waye that should both sonest and suerliest leade yow therto 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 15.
For inlaik of the quhilk [sc. medical assistance], … the tirane … slayis sonest a1585 Maitl. Q. 111/89.
Maist feruent luiff dois sonest ay decay a1585 Maitl. Q. 204/87.
The bad abydis, the best ay sonest gois c1590 Fowler II 82/29.
[They] might haue had the advantages above the gretest potentates quhase pouar might bene sonest supported(b) 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. Prov. No. 81.
Those medicines euer soinest heale ws quhilk most greife ws 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. Prov. No. 164.
Best wittis ar soinest caucht by Cupide a1589 Maxwell in Paisley Mag. (1828) 384.
The fattest in the grege will soinest hing(c) a1568 Scott iv 85.
The denkest sounest doun … The gayest grittest loun

b. Preceded by the. ?1543–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 54.
Send me answeir and your awys the sonest ye may