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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Than, Then, adv. (conj.). Also: than(n)(e, thain(e, thene, theyne, thin(e, thyne, thone. [ME and e.m.E þonne (a1175), þanne (a1175), þenne (c1175), þann, tanne (both Orm), þan(e (both Layamon), than (Chaucer), then (c1400), thenne, þeyne, þynne (all c1420), þon (Cursor M.), OE þanne, þǫnne, þænne, þonne.]

A. adv. 1. Referring to time in the past: At that time, then. Also with as preceding.(1) 1375 Barb. v 507.
He was the maist dowtit man That in Carrik lywyt than a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 537.
Sanct Colme duelt thare-in thane As abot and haly mane c1420 Wynt. viii 1891.
Rychard Sward, that wes than Off that castell capytan 1460 Hay Alex. 2573.
Bot Rome was nocht than in gret maiestie, It was beginnand mychtie for to be a1500 Seven S. 19.
In Rome cite than was thar sevyne Sagis c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 28/108.
To the court maid his repair Quhair Matremony than woir the crowne 1513 Doug. iv xi 101.
Hir awyn nurys in hir native land Was beryit in to assis broun or than 1535 Stewart 57273.
The lordis … Quhilk in England vncuming hame war than 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV 52.
The prince, being thanne but of thrittene monethis awld 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 55.
Androw Sandis, than indueller in Leith 1584 Coll. Aberd. & B. 630.
To … pay … to the berne his wyf was with than ane thousand merrkis money gif it was ane medin berne 1610 Misc. Hist. Soc. II 218.
Hir majestie had not than the hap to be fried of the Erle of Bothwell ather be his apprehension or his flicht 1632 Justiciary Cases I 200.
[They] come under silence and cloud of nicht to the said schip than lying at the new kie(b) 1375 Barb. iv 116.
The mekill hall That then with corn wes fyllyt all a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 106.
The oure-men, That the cite gouernyt thene c1420 Wynt. ii 790.
He send … sum off his men Tyll Yrland, that was noucht yhit then Inhabityde c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1279.
The erth than wes so plentuous Off fruct and spyce delicious 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 113.
When they sall teach me be Godis plane written word, that the repruife of vice is a evile … thing … I sale doe as Godis word comandis me. But vnto that tyme which will not be till the morne after dovmesday and not then I may hold that sentence and power … gewin be God to his prophetis 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 65.
The Erle of Lennox, levand then Our regent, and a worthie man c1590 Fowler I 53/151.
The ins that I did tak And solitarye resting place was then the wellis and woods(2) a1400 Leg. S. x 122.
He sik grace had in prechinge, That all that harde hyme … Had wondyre that sik grace suld be In ony manne as thane had he c1400 Troy-bk. i 250.
The kyng Lay thar as thane in soiournyng c1420 Wynt. viii 2340.
Bot as than he grawntyd till The Kyng off Frawnce thai trewys, for he Wes till hym cusyne 1456 Hay I 176/11.
Mony noble men ar bakkit in bataill … that did full worthily and honorabily thair dettis in bataill, suppos that fortune be aganis thame as than c1475 Wall. i 375.
Off that labour as than he was nocht sle a1500 K. Hart 281.
Discretioun wes as than bot ȝoung of age 1495 Acta Conc. I 399/2.
The said James walde nocht produce the said testimoniale as thane c1515 Asl. MS I 236/12.
Gif … the king baith send & come him self and askit the said hous and gat it nocht as than and incontinent laide ane sege about it … and than it was gevin our 1535 Stewart 57467.
Rycht cankartlie he ansuerit him as than a1568 Bann. MS 143a/3.
I met my lady weil arrayit … Scho wald nocht speck to me as than

b. Contrasted with now referring to time in the past or future. Esp. in the legal formula now as than and than as now, at any present or future time, for all time, see Now adv. 5 (2) for further examples. Also now and than, at various times, now … than …, at one time … at another time.(1) 1492 Treas. Acc. I 205.
The Chauncellare, than Erle of Ergile, was dettour tharfore, and the Abbot of Cambuskynneth … has maid compositioun with his sone, the Erle of Ergile that now is, for the quhilk he sall ansuer 1618 Melville Chart. 153.
At the feast … off Witsonday, in the yier of God … i^m sax hundreth and sewintene yiers … thane following, and now bygene(2) 1500 Douglas Chart. 175.
We do thane as now, and now as thane, we bind and oblis ws faithfully … to … pay … the said fourty schillings 1506 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II 163.
And geif it salhappine me the said Alane, myn aris or assignais, to falȝe in the premissis … to the said Johne his spous ther aris or assignais, now as than and than as now, I bind and oblis me, myn aris [etc.] 1509 Newbattle Coll. Somerville (Reg. H.).
Geiff at swa happynis that the said William streinȝeis mayr than the xij bollis cummys to now as than & than as now the said William renunsis & quhitclemys the xij bollis of meill for ewyr 1550 Coll. Aberd. & B. 182.
In that caise we … renuncis and reuokis the saidis letteris and instence thairoff now as than and than as now 1557 Prot. Bk. W. Douglas 295.
I … sall render and be this wret now as than and than as now renuncis all heretable rycht quhilkis I … mai haiff in and to the said sex part landis 1575 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 1b.
The said George now as thaine and thaine as now renunceis all vther reversionis grantit to hym of befoir 1584 Acts III 366/1.
Our said soverane lord … now as thane and thane as now willis and declaris that this present confirmatiun salbe [etc.](3) 1611-57 Mure True Crucifixe 82.
God … Good hopes to Man did giue … To mortall eyes presenting now and than, The world's redeemer in the shape of man a1649 Drummond II 72/161.
Neuer seeing vs twice with that same face, now looking blacke, than pale and wanne, sometimes againe in the perfection and fulnesse of her beautie shining ouer vs

2. Directly, after that, subsequently, next.(a) 1375 Barb. i 183.
Quhen Schyr Edward the mychty king Had on this wys done his likyng … To Scotland went he than in hy a1400 Leg. S. i 135.
Than Paule to the presone can halde, And all this taile to Petire tawlde 1388–9 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 2.
And than thai left ?1438 Alex. i 243.
He sichit, and the tearis than For piete our his chekis ran c1420 Wynt. vii 3476 (C).
Alexander … weddit … The Erl of Flawnderis douchtir fayr And lyppynnyt than to be his ayr a1500 Henr. Fab. 2387.
Than to ane manure place thay hyit in haist 1519 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 52.
The said myll [is] yerlie to wak in the commonite handis and thain to be seit … to quhatsumever freman … the quhilk woll geiff mast for hir c1520-c1535 Nisbet III 342/14.
Thann 1531 Bell. Boece I xlviii.
This … tre was brocht to the lard of the ground, quhilk … gart devide it be ane saw. Apperit than ane multitude of wormis thrawing thaim self out of sindry hollis … of this tre c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 693.
First he ȝour grace did lichtlie and me than c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 969.
Pas, and seik ane dispensatioun; Than sall I wed ȝow with ane ring 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. iv 561.
Deinde, and than a1578 Pitsc. I 223/3.
The kingis grace and his iudges grantit his petitioun … Thene Mr. Patrick raise of his kneis 16.. Hist. Kennedy 15.
Blak Bessie Kennedy, quha wes mareyit first to the gudmanne of Dinehame; and thanne to the Laird of Colȝeone … and to hir third gudmanne, Williame Kennedy of Bronistoune 1622-6 Bisset II 252/1.
Gif within ane heavin … the maister may nocht pase [v.r. put] away any of his maryneris except he pay his half hyre; and gif the schip passis furtht of the heavin … than putting away, he man pay the haill hyre unto him(b) a1540 Freiris Berw. 283 (B).
The gudman said vnto the maid thone [M. sone] Go pray thame baith to cum till me annone

3. In that case, in those circumstances, consequently. Chiefly, in conditional clauses with if, quhen, sen, etc. Also in formal documents as than and in that cais. Cf. 4 below. 1375 Barb. iii 196.
Fra a man disparyt be Then wtraly wencusyt is he 1391 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 3.
Giff it hapyn … that the forsaid Wauter or his ayris be disstrowblit … be ony caus than he or thai sal be gyn agayn tyl thai or he haff joyssit the landis … four ȝer pessabili c1420 Wynt. viii 2875.
The Brws than be this payment Consayt had off the erlys intent 1456 Hay I 104/8.
Tharfore, sen him self beirs witness thareto, how may he than geve pardouns and indulgence to mark were apon thame? 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 330.
Gyf ony of the saide landis beas be ony maner of way recouerit fra the said Williame … that he … may nocht … bruik the said landis … than incontinent within fourty dayis … the said James … sall infeft the forsaide Williame [etc.] a1500 Quare Jel. 88.
Sen thou wote that my complaynt is treuth Off pitee than compassioun haue and reuth c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 208.
Hed I that plesand prevelege to part quhen me likit, To change and ay to cheise agane—than chastite adew! 1520 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 205.
Gif it sal happyn the said James [etc.] … to lat thre termes annuel byryne vnpayit to the forsaidis, than and in that cais xl dayis befor the thrid terme the said Johnne [etc.] … sal haf fre regres agane to the said tenement 1521 Douglas Corr. 81. 1533 Gau 32/28.
Forquhy if [pr. is] He is owr fader thane ar we His barnis and aris c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3772.
Quhen that gret Kyng omnipotent, Cumis to his generall iugement, His monarche than salbe knawin 1587 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 15 May.
Geif the said Robert payis nocht the said thre pundis … that than & in that cace the said Johne sall bruk the said hors for euir 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xv 29.
Since all must die, then let no mortall froune Thot hyer powers do reclaime thair owin 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 430.
I hope then that your Lordship will acquit yourself as a man of courage for Christ, and refuse to bow your knee … to wood or stone

b. Or than, or alternatively, or else, failing that, or even, or otherwise, see Or conj.² 2 for further examples. 1375 Barb. i 217.
Gud knychtis … For litill enchesoune or than nane Thai hangyt be the nekbane 1375 Barb. iii 98.
Thai had sworn … That thai suld dey or then hym sla ?1438 Alex. i 1880.
Emynedus mekill debait can ma To tak the duke, or than to sla a1500 Lanc. 653.
This nycht Or than to morn as that the day is lycht, I shal remuf 1513 Doug. viii x 96.
The gret gammys … Quhilk iustyng or than turnament cleip we 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 168.
Abyding na thing bot othir perpetuall servitude or than recouering of thair liberte 1534–5 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. 67.
The sayd James sall haf that land … payand thaime tharfor as wisse wes and is in the cuntre, or than as thaj can agre 1567 Sempill in Sat. P. viii 55.
Bot, knew I thé, thow sould recant, Or than thy pallat ly in perell 1587–8 Burntisland B. Ct. 1 March.
Ane barrell off north illis heringe … quhilk he promisit to deliwer or thane the pryce thairoff 1622-6 Bisset II 259/26.
The boitisman aw to have the top saillis of everie schip that beis takin or than ane rose nobill of compositioun therefoir 1647 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 76.
The said Grissell to be put in the joggis, and to remain thairin fra nyn houris till tuelff houris befoir noone, or then to redeem hirselff be payment of tuentie merkis money

c. Nocht than, nevertheless, however, see Nocht-than adv. for further examples. 1456 Hay I 298/4.
Men sais that the king of Navarre is nocht properly king … for he has bot a citee in his contree. Bot nocht than, he is haldin as king privilegit be custume 1456 Hay (Glenn) III 103/61.
Traist wele thir thingis makis men lene, nocht than sum ar lene of thair nature

d. Than-ȝhit, however, nevertheless. Also ȝet (sa) thane, see Ȝit adv. and conj. for further examples.(1) c1420 Ratis R. 1714.
Than-ȝhit this eilde I spak of eire Did him forȝhet him-self so neire, Quhen [etc.](2) a1400 Leg. S. xix 193.
Thu sal nocht ga ȝet sa thane a1500 Henr. Fab. 2.
Thocht feinȝeit fabils of ald poetre Be not al grunded vpon truth, ȝit than, Thair polite terms of sweit rhetore Richt plesand ar vnto the eir of man

4. In unemphatic or enclitic use: Therefore, so, that being the case, consequently. Cf. 3 above. c1420 Wynt. v 5562.
Swa had he ane specyalle man, That cald be name wes Phylipe than c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 63.
Sen, quhen ȝe go, ther is noght ellis than: Bot hert! quhere as the body may noght throu, Folow thy hevin! 1456 Hay I 86/8.
Be that caus, a man suld nocht desyre to ches it than 1460 Hay Alex. 1777.
The lordis … bad Clissoun and Tholomee Dele all the ryches till all the haill menȝe As it efferd, thane nane haid mair na vther, Be thair estetis ilkane was wther brother a1500 Sir Eger 328 (L).
To the lady could I say, No longer than against the day, It is not my will for to lend a1500 Colk. Sow ii 246.
The hurd quhill it lyis It servis nowdir the warld nor multeplyis And gif thow deis it is vnknawin to men In avarice quhat cheir is with thé then? a1500 Bk. Chess 569.
In thi bed thi fule he sall be slane For planly than thi frendis ilk ane seis That for the lust of sic a sot thow deis a1500 Bernardus 403.
[They] Quhilk mary thane bot for thar gud ande ger, Qwhen that is gane thar is bot lestande wer 1535 Stewart 12309.
Quhen the Romanis saw him in that stait So blunt ane berne so baisit and so blait, Ane vther chiftane haif tha chosin than 1567 G. Ball. 9.
Than quhy gaif God to vs this law, The quhilk be na way we can keip? a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 881 (Wr.).
Keep mine then from thine then And each one use their owne 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. i 143.
Let then thy hert discern quho best doth merit, If subtile fraud, or faith, sould thé inherit

5. As noun. That time, the time referred to. Chiefly, referring to a time in the past. Freq. preceded by a preposition. See Be prep. and conj. 6 b for further examples. a1400 Leg. S. i 552.
He sad that he wes bowne For thane [MS thame] and ay to leif the towne At he defendit had fra skath a1400 Leg. S. xviii 276.
He bethoucht … That scho mycht neuir his name kene Sene scho saw hyme neuir to than c1420 Wynt. vi 569.
Quhare that the Peychtis Had before than thaire duellyng, He gert thame [sc. the Scots] duell c1420 Wynt. vii 2671.
Fra theyne [C. thine, W. thin] in forthirmare Thai suld newyr be contrare To the kynryk off Ingland 14.. Burgh Laws c. 10 (B).
Fra than furth he sal nevir be herde of that cause c1475 Wall. xi 132.
Be than thai had the knyctis brothyr slayn c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 160/38.
Syne thay sall discend … And preiche in erth the Antechrystis impyre; Be than it salbe neir this warldis end 1521 Selkirk B. Ct. MS 88b.
The sowme of xx^ti lib. … to be payit upon Mertymes daye nixt to cum … or betuix this and than 1533 Boece 359.
Syne [Feredeth] rade to Angous … Scottis be than in that regioun war enterit 1545 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 118.
The provest [etc.] … hes devysit that ane baillie [etc.] … walk nychtlie fra thyne furth quhill Candilmes nixttocum for eschewing of vagabunds a1578 Pitsc. I 23/11.
The haill nobillietie present for the tyme quha held him fra thyne furth nocht as ane enemye bot as ane principall pillar of the common weill

6. As adj. That was at that time. The 1673 quot. may be a further example of 1 above. 1667–70 Lauder Jrnl. 189.
His lady was … a daughter of the then Lord Thirlistanes … now Erles of Lauderdale 1673 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 3 April.
The said Thomas Tailȝfeir rests to the toun of his last yeiris intromissioune and accompts as then thesaurer the sowme of fourscore ten pundis Scots money

B. conj. 1. Than. Used after a comparative adjective or adverb or a clause, noun, etc. to introduce the second element of the comparison which, chiefly, takes the same grammatical form as the first. Also used following mare, etc. = more, etc. than, greater, etc. than, to a greater, etc. extent than.See also Les adj., adv. and conj., Mar(e adj., n.³ and adv., Mor(e adj., n.² and adv., Na les n., adj. and adv. and Na mar(e n., adj. and adv.(a) 1375 Barb. i 240.
He … suld think fredome mar to prys Than all the gold in warld that is a1400 Leg. S. iii 641.
My passione wil endit be In a day, twa or thre, Bot thi tormentis sall leste … Mar thane a thousand of ȝeris a1400 Leg. S. xi 180.
Me think ȝou mychty-are Thane oure goddis ar, be fulfar a1400 Leg. S. xvi 854.
He mycht nakine gat Cum nere the place … Thane a mane with a stan mycht caste ?1438 Alex. i 463.
Into this message mon ȝe ga On Bausand that … Is suifter than is foull of flicht ?1438 Alex. ii 1217.
Thow sall neuer haue that paramour Nakit vnder thy coueratour. Scho sall al out haue ane better than thé, To quham that scho sall geuin be c1450-2 Howlat 44 (A).
Wa is me wretche in this warld wilsome of wane With mair murnyng in mynd than I meyne may a1500 Henr. Fab. 130.
This gentill iasp … Mair excellent than ony eirthly thing a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 343.
I knaw yone bauld berne better than ye a1500 Seven S. 1417.
More for hir modere than for the mes To kirk scho went a1500 Colk. Sow i 181.
Rowch Rumple out ran Weill mo than I tell can c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 213.
Me thoucht scho semyt lustiar of chere … Than of before, and lufliare of face 1531 Bell. Boece I li.
In Orknay … thair hors ar litill mair than asinis; bot thay may indure mair labour than ony othir hors a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 115/4.
Quhat artikil of our beleif is mair plainly and expresly contenit in scripture than this is? c1590 Fowler II 25/13.
Presing fordwart euery on to strike me, & to plague me mair than to release me of my pane 1596 Dalr. I 50 marg.
Quhy in Scotland mair than in vthiris natiouns abundance of salmonte(b) 1375 Barb. i 458.
Thai war sum tyme erar may then les c1420 Bute MS 170a.
Bult clath say wey mare then the wastel be vij d. a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 129/21.
His preciouse body … is glorifyet and occupeis na place in the sacrament mair then quhen he enterit in the house quhair his disciples var 1570 Leslie 6.
With exemplis of bothe [sc. good and evil] … sett furth in historeis we learne … to lead our liefes with vertu … mickell better then be the instructione of ony philosopher 1558-66 Knox II 319.
Then 1575 Orkney Oppress. 4.
Precious gear, which will extend mair then ane hundreth thousand punds c1590 Fowler II 141/1.
It sal be als imposseble for him to plese theme then it was for the formar 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 59.
He maks me to love God better then any uther thing 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 7/7.
Being borne to be a king ye are rather borne to onus then honos 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 18/7.
It is surelie more then wonderfull vnto me, vpon what groundes they can haue gathered suche conclusions 1624 Edinb. Univ. MS La.ii.319.
Bot blist is he, ȝe, mor then thryse whois lowe sall never changit be 1611-57 Mure Sonn. i 13.
With vertue grac'd far more then forme of face c1641–54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 559.
Heir never lack wolves, more then ar expedient 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 102.
His wife … wandring from hir house to hir commorads, likt better their houses then hir oune 1677 Edinb. B. Rec. X 305.
The councill ordaines a proclamatione … that no higher raits shall be at penny weddings … then twentie four shilling Scots for the men and eighteine shilling Scots for the women 1680 Dunkeld Presb. I 226 n.
The kirk of Meigill is a great deal mor capacious then the kirk of Coupar 1693 Conv. Burghs IV 181.
That no magistrats in any burgh … shall containow longer then two yeares at onceproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 28.
A tratler is worse then a thief a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 661.
Nothing comes sooner to light then that which is long hid

2. Used after other, otherwise, different from, apart from, see Other adj. and pron.¹ A 4 for further examples. ?1438 Alex. ii 6492.
In amouris the fare playing Schent he is that vtherwayes dois then thus! 1490 Irland Mir. III 15/20.
This sacrament [sc. confirmation] is a distinct sacrament and vthir than is the bapteme 1533 Boece 65.
Gif be ony vthir torment than in the tabillis was contenit thai war afflictit, thai pleneȝit that thai sufferit iniustlie 1563 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 42.
David Rae, minister … was admonished … to follow the text, without inveying otherwise then the text sall require c1590 Fowler II 21/3.
Quhat may thay els learne of thé than that quhilk thai heare? c1590 Fowler I 233/14.
Lat none with me conferr Of vther purpose then of graves, of bluid, of death, & warr! 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 90.
The said Bessie Schives saw neyn wther than bot ye onlie

b. ? ellipt. for other than, etc. = except, besides, but. 1375 Barb. i 501.
Thar is nother man na page … than thai sall be Fayn to mak thaim selwyn fre 1375 Barb. iv 124.
Na thar may na man [fyr] sa cowyr Than [C. That; pr. Bot] low or rek sall it discowyr ?1438 Alex. ii 9221.
In all this warld thare is na man That redly had behaldin him than That him bird till haue great dreding

c. Les than, unless, see Les adj., adv. and conj. C 1 for examples.