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.
Quotation dates: 1551-1698
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Sorcerar, Socerar, n. Also: sorc-, sorserer, sorrsorer, socerer, soscirar. [e.m.E. sorserer, -ar (Tindale), sorcerer (Coverdale), f. sorcer Sorcer n.] A sorcerer. Cf. Sorcer n.(a) 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 97.
Dittey … aganis Thomas Leyis … for his being ane commoun witche and sorcerar, wsing the tred and craft thairof 1597 Aberd. Council Lett. I 70.
The commissioun grantit unto us be his majestie for taking and apprehending of vitchis sorceraris consultaris and traffiquaris with vitchis 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 5/36. 1607 Criminal Trials II 524.
Sche, as ane manifest sorcerer and wich … laid on ane feirfull and vncouth seiknes on him 1612 Misc. Maitl. C. II 165.
They … wer accusit for commoun thift and commoun pyckrie and for geving of thame selffis furth for sorcereris 1629 Reid Auchterarder 70.
Being dilatit for ane manifest sorcerar and abusar thir fyftie ȝeirs by gane in cureing of all sort of diseases be sorcerie and witchcraft 1672 Alford Rec. 182.
Mr. Georg Watsone … delated Thomas Garden [etc.] … for consulting with the sorcerer, Patrick M'Komie anent stollen goods 1680 Cloud of Witnesses 30.
That they were setting bougerers, murtherers, sorcerers and such others at liberty from justice, and imploying them in their service 1698 Caithness Par. Rec. in Old-lore Misc. II ii 111.
Being informed … that sorcerers banished out of Orkney lurke there [sc. in Wick](b) 1584 Gowrie P. 40.
Yow ar accused for wichcraft in confering with sorrsorers [Misc. Bann. C. sorsereris](c) 1551 Hamilton Catechism 50.
Quhen saevir thow … seikis for ony help, counsel [etc.] … at ony wytche, socerar, cowngerar or siclike dissaveris, thow dois greit injure to thi Lord God 1596 Misc. Spald. C. I 84.
Sche is convick … as a common weser and socerer, and ordint to be brunt quhill she be deid 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 97.
Soscirar
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"Sorcerar n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/sorcerar>
