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.
Thewis, n. pl. Also: thewys, -es, theuys, theuis, thowis. [ME and e.m.E. (sing.) þeau, þeu, þæw (all c1200), þeauwe (Layamon), theu (Cursor M.), thegh (1422), (pl.) thues (Cursor M.), thewis (Wyclif), thewes (1559), OE þéaw.] Personal qualities or characteristics; customs, habits; behaviour.(a) a1400 Leg. S. ii 1121.
Ȝeit thane of thewis fare to se, Condicione and honeste [etc.] … He transcendit all men that … befor hym had bene a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 175.
[He] eftyr held the sammyn meknes That he had ore he byschap wes In thewis saddare thane wes he ere a1400 Leg. S. xxix 702.
The prince … beheld thame & thocht in hy That thai war abil & worthy Of theuys & of honeste c1420 Wynt. iv 1964.
Quha that habowndis … in till gud thewys [C., W. thewis] … may … fayre lordschip tyl hym wyn 1456 Hay II 13/17.
All knicht suld have in him thir four thingis … charitee and gude thewis, lautee and justice 1456 Hay II 35/22.
As scholaris examynit tobe prestis … rycht sa suld bacheler squieris … for he suld nocht … ask the ordre that he wald eftir deffoule be his evill thewis c1460 Thewis Wysmen 303.
It is nocht anerly Spedful that ȝong men proprely Hawe knawlege of wysmenis thewis Bot als of fulys [etc.] c1460 Thewis Gud Women 2.
The gud wyf schawis … Quhilkis ar thewis of gud women Quhilkis gar women be haldin deir c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 119.
That carll … full of eldnyng is and anger and all evill thewis 1513 Doug. i viii 80.
Quhou beyn sik thewis [Ruddim. theuis] sufferet in this cuntre? [L. Quaeve … tam barbara morem permittit patria?] 1513 Doug. vii i 98.
A strange man … Quhilk for hys bonte and his thewis meke Sall weild this palice 1513 Doug. vii vii 149.
Thewes 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 74.
Scho … wastis hir tyme In thiggyn as it thrift war and other vayn thewis(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 299.
In gud thowis to haf delyt, & in vertuyse to be parfyt a1400 Leg. S. xxx 831.
In vertuise & in thowis fare
