A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Trow, Trew, v. Also: trowe, trou(e, treu, true, trw, throw, throu. [ME and e.m.E. trowwenn (Orm), tru(e, trou, traw, trowe (all Cursor M.), trow (Rolle), OE trúwian, tréow(i)an, ON trúa.]
1. tr. To believe, give credence to, trust, have confidence in (a person and the like).pres. 1375 Barb. iv 237.
Feyndys … mak ay thar ansuering Into dowbill wnderstanding To dissaiff thaim that will thaim trow ?1438 Alex. i 330.
I will nocht sik message ma Bot gif men trow me quhair I ga a1500 Henr. Praise of Age 25 (Makc.).
This wrachit warld may na man trow [Ch. & M. traist, Bann. trust] 1490 Irland Mir. II 11/18.
The haly faith of Jhesu is a gret spirituale & hevinly licht that … inducis ws to trow the autorite of God a1508 Want of Wyse Men 5 (Ch. & M.).
Thare is na faithfull fastnes founde in erd; Now ar noucht thre may traistly trow the ferde a1578 Pitsc. I 147/1.
Gif me credit and trow me a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 842 (Wr.).
Should I not trow mine own two eyne a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1500.
They are evill to trow wil trow na man(b) 1375 Barb. ii 329.
He that will trew His fa it sall him sum-tyme rew a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 168.
Mary consauit but mare, Treuand the angelp.t. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 113/40.
The silly thing trowd him, allace! The lame gaif creddence to the tod a1568 Bann. MS 243b/37.
Gif wemen trowid sic tratouris than For till enioy the fructs of lwfep.p. ?1438 Alex. ii 2105.
Gif I be trouit, ȝe sall nocht faill c1420 Wynt. viii 90.
Thir ware twa well commendyt men, And trowyd [C. trewit] welle off lawte then ?14.. Ship Laws c. 26 (B).
[If the chapmen do not help to salvage the cargo] than the maystyr sal be trowyt be his athe 14.. Acts I 35/2.
He … sall tyne his office … and fra that tyme furth … nevir to be trowyt a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 644 (W).
Bewar ȝit, ȝe ar ȝit, Mair talkatiue nor trowit a1568 Scott xxvi 33.
Thay wald be trowit, and hes no trewth 1604-31 Craig iv 21.
For if a poet may be trowde a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1272.
Quhat rak quhat ye say ye sall not be trowit
b. To believe (a quality) (to be) in(till) (a person).1375 Barb. v 532.
Nane may betreys tyttar than he That man in trowis leawte 1375 Barb. vii 143 (C).
Schir, it is na mysteir To trow in-till vs any ill
c. To entrust (something) til (another)14.. Burgh Laws c. 66 (B).
Of det to be trwyt til acastalman … Aburges sal nocht len syluir [etc.] … to the baile of castel attoure the valw of xl d.
d. specif. To believe, have faith in (the existence of) God.1456 Hay II 34/27.
First and foremast it suld be sperit, gif he trowis, lufis, and doubtis God c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 17/57.
In the twelf artickillis of the treuth: a God to trow [B. in God to trow] [etc.] 1513 Doug. vi Prol. 81.
We trow a God regnand in personys thre
2. To give credence to, accept as true or trustworthy (a claim, statement, article of faith, etc.).(a) 1375 Barb. xix 303.
It beis nocht swa Giff my consaill may trowyt be 1391 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 379.
Jone of Forbesis fadre was a gude man wise mychty and manly … and had he trowit ony richt [sc. to the land] he had nocht lattyn it bene vnfollowit c1420 Wynt. vi 2154.
I am sa fals, that na man may Trow a worde that evyre I say 1460 Hay Alex. 5200.
He leit thame nocht wit of the kingis vow Bot all the contrare of it gart thame throw 1462 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V i 449 (10 May).
Thom Quelp sal swere at he trowis thair athe 1513 Doug. ii iv 90.
Quhat euer scho [sc. Cassandra] said Troianys trowit nocht a word 1559 Sel. MSS Q. Mary 74.
Se thay trout my cownseill, … and hes fund my saiings trew 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 39/2.
Pray you … go forward in telling what ye thinke fabulous, or may be trowed in that case(b) a1400 Leg. S. xliii 150.
Sene that thu Has trewit heilesum consel now
b. To believe, accept (something) to be as stated.1596 Dalr. II 59/9.
The chanceller trowit all to be trew
c. To accept as true, to believe, to be of the opinion that (something is the case).(a) a1500 Sir Eger 1370.
I trow to God ye shal do well 1490 Irland Mir. I 71/14.
For it is nocht to be trowit that the haly saule of Jhesu and His blist body has thar hie dignite and beatitud throu the syn of man 1490 Irland Mir. III 37/38.
Wn cristin men trowit and ȝit trowis … that the companȝonis … of Diomeid of Grece … war turnit in foulis c1490 Irland Asl. MS 4/28.
Trowand to his perswasioun, all mankynd was tynt 1559–60 St. A. Kirk S. 24.
Sche … saw ane young man, quhilk sche weynd haid beyne Williame Rantoun himself, and, becaus sche trowet it haid beyne the said Williame [etc.] a1568 Bann. MS 264b/37.
Ȝe gart me trow … Ȝe lovit me best of any ane a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xviii 71.
The tersel troude not, vhill he tryde, That natur passis nuriture a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 796.
He that is in hell trowis there be na other hevin a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1828.
Ye will not trow quhat grotes will do, the[y] will swel and be a potful 1630 Melville Commonpl. Bk. 10.
He wald mak me trow the moone wir made of greine cheise(b) a1400 Leg. S. v 332.
Drinke the venome I sal thé gyfe And gyf that thar-eftir thu ma lyf … I sal treu thi God suthfaste be a1400 Leg. S. ix 19.
Fulis trewit wele that he Thame heylyt of infyrmyte(c) 1405–6 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 58.
For thi I trow my lege lorde has chargit to ȝoure hee excellence ane of tha merchandis … to tak restoryng … of thaire said gudis 1692 Presb. Eloq. (1693) 96.
I true I have nick'd you there, Lord
d. ellipt. Also with adverbial complement?1438 Alex. ii 9539.
Thus wend thay, bot thay trowit wrang 15… James V in Misc. Spald. C. II 193.
For I sall never trow ille one to the tym that I se the contrayre c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 41/20.
I trymmill sa, ȝe will not trow
e. absol. Passing into 5 below.c1515 Asl. MS I 153/14.
Tiberius tald it [sc. Christ's miracles] to the senatouris bot thai trowit nocht for thai herd neuer speike of sic merwellis befor 1587-99 Hume 62/333.
Faithles folk will never trow, Quhile be experience they ken
f. absol. To be (for) to (till) trow, to be worthy of being believed; to be deserving of trust or credence.?1438 Alex. ii 2427.
Ȝe ar to trow, And als ȝour skill is to allow c1420 Wynt. ii 1302.
Bot that is noucht yhit all to trowe 1456 Hay I 74/16.
And all thingis that ar done in this warld war jugit here, the jugement of God in the tothir warld on domysday suld have nocht ado, the quhilk is nocht to trow 1535 Stewart 55787.
And my author thairof be for till trow 1563 Ferg. Tracts 39.
I hope … we shalbe instructed by the Holy Spirit … what we oght to propone to others, and set furth to trow
g. In parenthetic use.a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 416.
Oure godis … That helpis al the warld we trou ?1438 Alex. i 1502.
And thay of Gaderis sall wit … As I trow, at his first assay … That [etc.] c1420 Ratis R. 446.
For-thi with ilke day mone thow Haf intermeting, as I trow c1420 Ratis R. 529.
Can nan so weill the vays rycht Till the first makar … As simpill treuth can, trow thow me c1420 Wynt. vii 17.
In the Crystyndome, I trow, than Wes noucht in deid a bettyr man c1420 Wynt. vii 561.
This tre yhe may wndyrstand To be the kynryk off Ingland, … The rwte, yhe trow, kyngys sede c1450-2 Howlat 990 (B).
In the forrest foirsaid frely perfyte Of Terway tendir and tryd quho so trest trowis 1460 Hay Alex. 3115.
I traist with Goddis mycht Will ȝe me trow I sall thame mak affray a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 415.
It has bene tauld hym with tong, trow ye full traist, Your dedis [etc.] a1500 Henr. Fab. 283.
Thraf caikkis als I trow scho spairit nocht c1475 Wall. vii 920.
Off sic thingis I will ga by … I haiff had blayme to say the suthfastnes, Tharfor I will bot lychtly ryn that cace, Bot it be thing that playnly sclanderit is; For sic I trew thai suld deyme me no mys
3. intr. a. To trust, have confidence in, to (a person, his words, etc.). b. To believe, put one's faith in, off, to (God, a system of belief, a dogma, etc.).a. 1375 Barb. i 490.
And gyff that ȝe will trow to me … I sall be in ȝour helping 1375 Barb. ii 475.
He trowit in nane sekyrly Owtane thaim off his cumpany a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii 174.
Bot til his tale scho ne wald treu c1420 Wynt. ii 1124.
Tyll thir wordys Josue Trowyd [C., W. Trowit] 1456 Hay I 18/24.
He drewe, with his fleching and fair langage, the emperour … to trow in his opyniouns c1475 Wall. ii 235.
In Inglismen, allace, quhi suld we trow? 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2998 (Ch.).
Quhom in trowis thou, fals monster mangit?(b) a1400 Leg. S. xvi 595.
Helsum consale sekyrly Thé tuk, quhen to Magdelane Mary Thu throwit in scho to thé tachtb. a1400 Leg. S. xxx 10.
Cristine men, that stedfastly Throuys in God ?1438 Alex. ii 6888.
He … betaucht hir full courtasly To all the goddis thay trowit in c1420 Wynt. i 60.
Off angelis nature and thare state I trowe [C., W. trow] fer bettyr than I wate c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. ii 8.
Thame that ar of strijf, and that assentis nocht to treuthe, bot trowis [P. bileuen] to wickitnes
4. tr. To expect, anticipate, suppose, think, imagine; to hope for (an eventuality or outcome not yet verified). a. Const. clause object. b. Const. infinitive. c. With direct object. d. ellipt. e. In parenthetic use.a. 1375 Barb. i 87.
Thai trowyt that he as guid nychtbur And as freyndsome compositur Wald hawe iugyt in lawte a1500 Henr. Robene & M. 68.
Mawkin mvrnit in hir intent, And trowd him nevir to se c1475 Wall. ii 391.
Thow Scot, abide, I trow thow be sum spy c1475 Wall. v 874.
Warly thai raid … thai trowide weyll Sotheron wald afaynd With haill power at anys on thaim to sett 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 84 (B).
And walknit syne quhair trow ȝe that I was 1592–3 James VI in Misc. Spald. C. III 213.
I troue ye ar not sa unuyse, milorde, as to misinterprete my exterioure behavioure the last daye a1605 Montg. Sonn. xxviii 11.
Vhair sho [sc. an ass] troude hir maister suld hir treit, They battound hir 1746 J. Row Sermon 3.
What trou ye she [sc. the Church of Scotland] is flichtered with, but with a silken threedb. 1375 Barb. ii 111.
Throw hym I trow [1571 think] my land to wyn c1420 Wynt. vi 1174.
I trow to sauffyd be Be helpe off the Virgyne pure c1475 Wall. v 364.
Her is merwaill … That a persone … Trowys to stop the power of Ingland 1521 Dundee B. Ct. I 51b (22 Oct.).
James Fresar protestit that as he alleggis he trowit to be hurt c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 70.
Quhen I trowit best to be ane laird, Than in the court ilk wicht did wrang me 1551 Hamilton Cat. 247.
The Gentillis … trow to be hard in thair mony wordis without faith and devotioun of thair mynd, trowand be multiplicatioun of wordis, to declare to God thair mister 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1455.
Trowand perfytelie to preuaill And of this childe to be victour 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 52.
All the wolfies ran west and eist, Trowing to be betraid a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 585.
God let never the wel ga drye, that al men trowis be fulc. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1759.
Thare all nycht stone-still he lay … Trowand none vthir thing bot deid c1420 Wynt. viii 1027.
To that scho heycht for to be bowne But ony kyn condytyown For scho trowyd bot honeste 1575 Reliq. Antiq. Sc. 52.
His wyffe was sa seik that nane trowit hir lyfe, being oppressit with swait and womyng 1596 Dalr. II 252/3.
The Inglismen trowet nathing les than to be gude freindesd. 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 78.
Ye ar better prowydit na ye trow a1605 Birrel Diary 19.
Ther came to Striveling, or day light, befor euer the … toune vist or trew, the Earle of Huntly 1685 Hay Fleming Six Saints I 83.
When it [sc. that day] comes ye will not crack so much of it as you trowe. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 11.
Bot now, how trowe ȝe? suich a fantasye Fell me to mynd
5. intr. To believe, have faith; to hold or subscribe to a belief. Chiefly, of belief in Christianity.a1400 Leg. S. xv 79.
Quha that trewis trewly Sal lyfe euire-lestandly a1400 Leg. S. xv 91.
Ȝe schryfe ȝow of ȝoure synis cleyne & trewly trow & baptist be a1400 Leg. S. xix 636.
Of paianis he had gert trew … sexty thousand c1420 Wynt. v 1606.
All the barnage off his land Than baptyst wes and welle trowand a1500 Henr. Fab. 1649 (Bann.).
Non suld presume be reasoun naturale To serche the secretis of the trinetie Bot trow fermlie and lat dirk ressounis be 1490 Irland Mir. II 13/4.
And vthir sempill peple trowit as the kyrk trowit that tym and that saffit thaim c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxiv 26.
Gif thai say to yow, Lo, he is … in priuee places; will ye nocht trow [W. bileue, P. trowe] 1551 Hamilton Cat. 130.
Beleive or trow. Quhy sais thow this secund word, beleive or trow, sayand, I beleive or trow, mair than this word, I see or I understand perfitly? 1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. 12.
Befoir a thousand yeiris … wes thair peple of God that trowit as thai do
