Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Thar(e, Thair(e, adv. Also: thayr, ther(e, thear(e, their, theyre, thir(e, thier, thor(e, thoore, thoir, thur, tha(i, thay. [ME and e.m.E. þer(e (both c1175), þær (Orm), þare (c1200), þar (a1250), þor(e, thore (all c1300), þaire, thare (both Cursor M.), ther (Chaucer), there (c1400), OE þær, þár, þer.]Freq. abbreviated in manuscripts, and so, in many, esp. early, instances, expansion to thar-, ther-, etc. is purely editorial.

1. demonstr. adv. Referring to a place or point already referred to and away from the speaker. a. In or at that place. b. On that occasion, at that time, then. Also contrasted with here, see Here adv. 5 b for further examples.a., b. (1) 1375 Barb. iv 559.
On Turnberys snuke he may Mak a fyr … [And] mak takynnyng till ws that we May thar [C. thair] aryve in sawfte 1375 Barb. xvi 521.
Jhone the Soullis … That to schyr Androw Hardclay With [fifty] men with set the way That had thar in his cumpany Thre hunder horsyt iolyly 1375 Barb. vi 85 (C).
Thare a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 61.
Tuk I one hand to tret Forthire & of the ewangel speke Makand thare sum mencione Richt to Cristis ascencione ?1438 Alex. i 1462.
He him throw the body bare, And feld him stane-deid richt thair c1420 Wynt. i 875.
Thar nest lyis that regyown The kynrik calde off Babylown c1420 Wynt. viii 2917.
At Dwnfres … Thaire togyddyr as thai mete a1500 Henr. Fab. 161.
Ga seik the iasp, quha will, for thair it lay c1475 Wall. i 62.
Till Noram kirk he come … The consell than of Scotland meit hym thar 1490 Irland Mir. III 3/35.
Quhen the body of the child is fourmyt and disponit in the moderis wame … than God … creatis thar and producis the saule in the body c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 25/7.
In to ȝour garthe this day I did persew, Thair saw I flowris that fresche wer of hew 1513 Doug. xii viii 84.
Turnus … Now brawland in this place, now voustand thar c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1882.
He … dwelt in Tharan all his dayis And deit thare 1557 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 39.
The said Patrik tuke instrumentis that he was thair present reddy to persew his saidis brevis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6937.
At the last he come to ane cietie … Thair he soiornd for his pastime ane space 1565 Canongate Kirk S. (ed.) 23.
That the mynister declair wnto the kirk the generall essemble to be on Wednisday nixt following … and to warn the elderis and dioconis to be present the said day … and that the rest of the commonicantis to be thair present according to thair dewtye 1596 Dalr. I 242/22.
His deid bodie was transported to Dunkelde, and thair is buriit 1690 Cramond Kirk S. III 9 Oct.
Being asked if she came with a designe to ly in thair? He answered yes(b) 1375 Barb. xiv 374.
The Bane … Wes betuix thaim and Hulsyster. Thai had bene in gret perell ther c1420 Wynt. viii 5221.
The justyng lestyd dayis thre, … turnand hamwart … Willame the Ramsay wes there [C. ther, W. thare of weire] Borne throw the hewyd wyth a spere a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 128/9.
It is His verray reall body that is there present 1596 Dalr. II 194/27.
He promises to meit him stoutlie their, in that selfe place quhilk afor he wasted c1600 Pont Cunningham 20.
Keel burne, so named from the read keel found and digget ther 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas i 803.
Their first thy fame did sound into mine eare; Their Troyes distres and ruine I did heare 1665 Lamont Diary 179.
James Thomsone in Kennoway, the great ins-keiper ther, haveing depairted out of this life att his howse ther 1692 Pitcairne Assembly ii iii (1752) 29.
And there's an end o't(c) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2773.
Kyng Peleus … and Thetys Passed … To the cite of Melapsa And tuke with thaime Andromatha … And thore a son sche bure c1450-2 Howlat 526 (A).
Thus in defence of the faith … And pite of the prys knycht that was in thore [B. in pane thore], The douchty Dowglas is deid and adewe a1500 Lanc. 233.
He enterit in seruice Of Wanore … he thor, in to his ȝoung curage, Hath maid awoue a1500 Lanc. 627.
His most huntyng was atte wyld bore; God wot a lustye cuntree was it thoore, In the ilk tyme a1500 Lanc. 825.
Mony knycht, that worth ware and bolde, War thore with hyme of Arthuris houshold 1535 Stewart 14201.
That king … thankit him … Befoir thame all that present than wes thoir 1535 Stewart 43934.
On the morne befoir all that wes thoir, … the greit offence and cryme, Frelie the king remittit in that tyme(2) a1400 Leg. S. xvii 277.
There cysteris drev wele in a lyne, That this endyt in a tyme, & her to God sa thankful ware That [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xl 1094.
The forrouris scalit ware [Our] al the cunctre here & thare 1461 Liber Plusc. I 387.
Haue mynd of the dreidfull jugiment: Sum ar heire crous that thaire will syt full dum a1500 Henr. Fab. 1420 (Bann.).
All the laif … Thair dansing left and hid thame heir and thair [Bass. alquhair] a1500 Seven S. 990.
To fische a caus heir or thare 1490 Irland Mir. III 33/22.
The figuris and quhitnes ar diuers heir and thair and in vthir placis 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 174.
Inconstant warld … Now thair, now heir, now hie, and now deuaillis c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 7/20.
Thay spittit in his visage fayr … In yre thai hurlit him heir and thair 1513 Doug. v iii 74.
The fomy stowr of sey rays thar and heir a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 788.
Heir away, there away, Gallowa Thome 1633 Innes Sketches 370.
Your foster longs very much to see you and doethe not dar to tell he had rather be thair nor her

2. Appended, unstressed, to a noun or name of a person to which attention is being directed. That is or was there.Some quots. may be further examples of 1 above. a1400 Leg. S. xvi 207.
The Jowis thire & mony wthyre Cristyne … Put in a bat apone the se Bot gouernale c1400 Troy-bk. ii 3008.
He rusched on his brothir thore … For to revenge his faderis deid ?1438 Alex. i 157.
In the bargane thair His helme and lance baith hewin wair c1420 Wynt. i 706.
In thare eelde agayne thare hare Worthys blak in all tyme thare 1562 Reg. Privy C. I 226.
The personis underwrittin … that is to say … William Stewart in Air, Williame Cuninghame thair, Johne Purvenis thair … Williame Gordoun in Wigtoun, Johne Martine thair 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 110.
Nomina assise. Arthour Vdny, in Auchlown. William Vdny, thair 1628 Aberd. Council Lett. I 279.
I have acquaynted my Lord Chancellor, Thesaurar … with youre great love and readiness to his Maiesties service in the behalf of his Maiesties ship theare and [etc.] 1632 Lanark B. Rec. 324.
Passand southe up the merchdyike to the hill and merche stane thair 1652 Red Bk. Grandtully II 147.
Iff all the sesse be alloued to our tennents thear, they haue no resone to complein 1697 Rental of Brabster in Old-lore Misc. VIII i 5.
Sleiklie William Read, ther, laboures ane pennyland

3. Used unemphatically, chiefly at the beginning of a sentence or clause where the verb comes before its subject, freq. for the purpose of changing the emphasis or making the construction impersonal. Chiefly with the verb to be. Also thairs = there is, and with ellipsis of the verb = there are, also in the mod. dial. Also with the verb to have.Freq. with the verb in the singular with a plural noun. Cf. later Sc. where the verb may be plural although the subject is singular.(1) a1400 Leg. S. iv 29.
In that land a man thar wes That to name had Hermogines, That had delyt in devilry ?1438 Alex. ii 10317.
Thare is na leuand man on laid … Bot he wald … suere That ane better nor he bare neuer spere 14.. Burgh Laws c. 32a (A).
Thar is iii heid mutis in burgh thru the ȝer c1450-2 Howlat 176 (A).
Thar was pyotis and partrikis and pluwaris ynewe a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 305.
Thayr wes na spurris to spair, spedely thai spring a1500 Seven S. 19.
In Rome cite than was thar sevyne Sagis the wisest vnder hevyne c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 13/17.
Gif thare hes ane wounde … Thair is no leiche ma mak thé haill and sounde Quhill it be sene and clengit every deill 1533 Gau 9/1.
Natur leris vsz … that thayr is bot ane God 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 171/16.
Thare is kirkmen evin as Judas was ane apostle 1567 G. Ball. 67.
Thair is na dedis, that can saue me … Bot throw Christ and his greit mercy 1570 Sat. P. x 269.
That day, thair wes slane, in that place, Ma Hammiltounis nor any vther race 1594 Innes Sketches 532.
I testifie before God that thair wes never sic ane contract maid or menit 1600 Crim. Trials II 143.
Thair is na mentioun of knoking, conforme to the Act of Parliament c1650 Spalding II 444.
Thair wes killit of all, as wes thocht, 1500; quhairof thair wes of chief men the Laird of Auchinbrek … the Laird of Lochinȝell [etc.](b) a1500 Henr. Fab. 989.
He spak, and at thame speird Geue there wes ony beist in to this eird Absent c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 161.
To speik, quod scho, I sall nought spar; ther is no spy neir 1549 Compl. 87/5.
There vas neuer faitht nor promes kepit be them c1567 Melville Corr. 232.
Theyre is four hundrethe [stones] lakkyng awght or nyne a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1079 (Wr.).
There 1601 Elphinstone Mun. 31.
Whereof I wolde not theare weare so many examples 1611 Reg. Panmure I xcv.
In ane chartowre … thear is ane witnes insert 1633 Misc. Spald. C. III 71.
James Gray … declarit that ther was restand to the said James be William Setone … ii^m merkis 1681 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 290.
It had been mor then I will neam in my way that I had not come this jurno, but ther is no helpe(c) 1570 Leslie 166.
Thier wes gryt dule and meane maid for him c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxiii 35.
Becaus wickitt Iesabill … Eleas blod scho snair to spill, On hir gritt sorrow thir was sene(2) 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II 200.
That thair be na sic gudis as followis sauld on the saidis cramis, viz.: … sewin silk [etc.] c1590 Fowler II 14/16.
Thair be sum that for my youth wil contem me 1643 Acts VI i 12/2.
Thair be many shippes … manned with Spainȝeardis, Irisches and uthers who tak spoyle … or burne all Inglisch or Scottisch shippes(b) a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 130/29.
I traist there be nane of theme sa rude bot he beleuis hyme selff to haue ane immortal saul 1649 Sc. N. & Q. XII 74.
That besyd the reading and exponing of Scriptur … their be two sermons in every congregation every Lord's day throughout the year 1659 Rothesay Par. Rec. 10.
That ther be ane commone loft builded 1662 Sc. N. & Q. 2 Ser. II 64.
Ther beinge to manie friendes and the defuncts pairtie irresolute, it [etc.] a1699 Skene Agric. MS (ed.) 69.
Ther be some ky that will not lett downe ther milk vnless they sie the calf standing besid them 16… Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 312.
Ther be other pettie countreys south and southwest from Ros as Knoydert [etc.](3) 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. 173.
Force me compellis, strange termes to forbeir, Within my box thairs few to get or leir 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7581.
Nay, nay, not sa my iois, thairs ȝit sum graith to find — c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 216.
And ther so mony kene knyghtis this kenrik within a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 831.
There mae wayes to the wood nor ane 1638 Bk. Pasquils 82.
I think weill ther worsse then he That now turnes coate so shamfully 16… Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II Pref. xlv.
This is wryten out of Mr. Timothies papers & in it thur manie things false(4) 1398 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 38.
For als mykil as thair has ben mony and gret attemptatz done syn the begynnyng of ther trewis on bath the sidis c1475 Wall. i 10.
Quhow gret kyndnes thar has beyne kyth thaim till 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6503.
Gude schir thair hes bene knichts thre Heir diuers times desiring lufe of me 1570 Sat. P. xvii 4.
In eirth lang syne thair had been nothing than, Saif only vice and malice manifest 1605 Elphinstone Chart. 147.
Thair hes bein na haineing or saiveing for the young grouthe(b) 1666 Rothesay B. Rec. 123.
The magistrats and counsell … taking to thair consideratioune that thir hathe bein many laudabill lawes of this kingdome … do be thir presents … inact that [etc.]

b. With modal and other auxiliary verbs.(1) 1375 Barb. i 59.
Thar mycht succed na female Quhill foundyn mycht be ony male How that in [lyne] ewyn descendand 1398–9 Acts I 212/1.
Thar sal be at Perth the Thursday next efter Paske thre deputis of ilkane of the thre estatis 1456 Hay II 39/33.
Thare suld na man … desyre to tak the ordre [sc. of chevalry] bot he war a lorde 1460 Hay Alex. 3024.
Thare will ane vengeance fall ws but remede 1474 Aberd. B. Rec. I 32.
It is ordanit … be the haill consel … that thare sal na dene of gilde be chosin for this yere a1500 Seven S. 170.
He wald gang the sternis to se Gif thar ony remeid mycht be a1500 Bk. Chess 495.
So secret was the thing That thai on sat that vnder bannysing Or to be hedit thair suld no man revele c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 349.
Thar myght na molet mak me moy na hald my mouth in c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. viii 12.
Thare salbe weping and girnyng of tethe c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5640.
Full gloriouslye thare sall compeir More brycht than Phebus in his speir The Uirgene Marie, Quene of Quenis c1590 Fowler II 13/2.
Thair did cum into my hands an letter derected to our ministers 1603 Philotus 38.
Ȝe ar sa rasch thair will be slachter Ȝe will not spair nor speir quhais aucht hir 1614 Aberd. Council Lett. I 120.
Thair sall inlaik na diligence in me(b) a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 134/16.
Giffe thare be the real presence of the body of our Lord in the sacrament, onforce there man be als transsubstanciacione

c. With other verbs, chiefly come.(a) c1450-2 Howlat 204 (A).
Thar come the curlewe a clerk and that full cunnand Chargit as chancillar 1455 Acts II 43/1.
That thar pas ane ambaxat to our haly fader the pape a1500 Henr. Fab. 12.
Sa springis thair ane morall sweit sentence Oute of the subtell dyte of poetry a1500 Henr. Fab. 17.
The nuttis schell … Haldis the kirnell, sueit and delectabill; Sa lyis thair ane doctrine wyse aneuch … vnder ane fenȝeit fabill a1500 Rauf C. 2.
In the cheiftyme of Charlis … Thair fell ane ferlyfull flan within thay fellis wyde a1500 Rauf C. 30.
Thair wist na knicht … quhat way the king raid c1475 Wall. i 44.
Thre ȝer in pes the realm stude desolate; Quharfor thair rais a full grewous debate 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 110.
With that gleme sa desyit was my micht Quhill thair remanit nouther voice nor sicht, Breith, motion, nor heiring naturall 1535 Stewart 20731.
In falt of meit thair deit than far ma … nor sword or knyfe did sla 1562-3 Winȝet I 2/23.
Thair apperit ane daingerous seditioun in Edinburgh 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 19.
Thair come ane Inglis ambassadour … to infek this realme with heresie a1578 Pitsc. I 233 heading.
Hou thair come ane Duche knicht in Scotland and desyred justin c1590 Fowler II 157/3.
Thair inlaiketh not sa far remedeis bot that men in calmer … tymes may mak gud provisioun to keip him [sc. flood] in his naturel course with hight dykes c1650 Spalding I 46.
Thair brak out a number of Hieland lounis and heiryit the brayis of Morray(b) a1500 Seven S. 405.
Ther wonnyt quhylis a gentill knycht Off hie worschipe wys and wicht 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 269.
Ther laiked one to execute the interpryse 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 23.
The place seimed to me wery toun like, for their came a woman to me and spered whey I all alone

d. In reduced forms tha(i, etc. Also in the mod. dial. a1538 Abell 50b.
Tha ar ma ydill men in Scotland as I trow na in ony regioun christnit a1538 Abell 120 (bis) b.
We ma noit heire that thai ar sum thingis of the law of natur as begynnyngis [etc.] 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 162/16.
Thay will na man of jugement or learning mak difference betuix thir wordis ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 77 (see Thareabout adv. 1).

4. To that place, thither. 1375 Barb. v 582.
A chamber page thar with him ȝeid 1375 Barb. xiv 116.
Thai thoucht he suld nocht thar away Bot he his wiage sone has tane a1400 Leg. S. ix 13.
The apostol enterit thare, In habit as he a pilgrime ware ?14.. Ship Laws c. 12 (B).
Thai ar haldyn to bryng the schyp agayne thar thai brocht it fra c1475 Wall. i 210.
Into the toun he wsyt everilk day; Thre men or four thar went with him to play a1500 Bk. Chess 559.
Quhar scho was slepand sone in come he thar 1535 Stewart 36572.
Baith theif and revar … Arreistit war that tyme to cum thoir 15.. Christis Kirk 7 (M).
Thair come our Kittie … In hir new kirtill of gray 15.. Clar. iii 80.
Thair is no bute heirin to speik no more, Clariodus most neidis make thore 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 764.
Daylie thair he gaid to dyne 1596 Aberd. Council Lett. I 65.
Giff I culd a gottin my debtis heir I sould not a wretin to yow to a delyverit it ther 1603 Moysie 122.
His Majestie wreyt to the Lord Vchiltrie … desyring him … to try and learne gif Angus resorted theare in Douglas or therabout 1690 Cramond Kirk S. III 30 Oct.
He knew not for what end she came thair, neither knew he any thing of her

5. With deictic function indicating something present to the sight or perception. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1355 (Ch.).
Tak thair [B. thir] ane vther [sc. blow] vpon thy peild harne-pan Arundel MS 240/71.
O Lord, as thou said to thi moder: ‘Woman, lo, thair thy sone’

6. As noun. That place. a1400 Leg. S. xxiv 170.
Ilke day thigyt his lyf-led At thame that passag by thare mad

7. As a relative or conjunctive adverb: At which place or point, where. 1465–6 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V i 575.
Gif he has na gudis to lay in the saide mayster sall saile with the gudis that he has in & quhen he cummys to the havin thar he losis he sall schaw the vast rowme to the mayster of the barge a1500 Lanc. 1495.
No powar may withstond, Ther God hyme self hath ton the caus on hond a1500 Quare Jel. 519.
To euery lady schortly I declare That thare thou art beith thare neuirmare Rest nor quyete