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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.

Wander, Wandir, v. Also: wandre, wonder, woundre, uander, vandre. [ME and e.m.E. wandrier (a1175), wuandre(n (c1200), wandre(n (Layamon), wander, wandir (both Cursor M.), OE wandrian, MDu., MLG wanderen.] intr.

1. To make one's way, go, travel, esp. in an aimless or casual manner or without any particular route or destination; to roam; to stroll; to saunter. With adverbial complement. Also fig.pres. a1400 Leg. S. ii 844.
In a wod as he wandrand was, Wolfis hym rafe, and drank the blud a1400 Leg. S. xvi 578.
He Sperit at hyme … for quhat cause … He wes thare cumyne wanderand a1500 Rauf C. 328.
Ane thousand and ma of fensabill men War wanderand all the nicht ouir … Gif thay micht heir of the King a1500 Henr. Fab. 1112 (H).
The meir is men of gude conditioun, As pilgrimes wandrand in this wildernes a1500 K. Hart 889.
Ressoun forfochtin and ewill drest And wisdome wes ay wanderand to the dure a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 88.
Adam … and his seid … Wanderand in wa, as man in nycht glaidles 1513 Doug. i vi 137.
Onkend and mysterfull in desertis of Lybe I wandir, expellit from Europ and Asia 1513 Doug. xi iii 79.
Than throu the woddis … Troianys and Latynys sammyn … Quhar so thame list, wandris but danger 1533 Boece 49b.
Britouns … nocht knawing the cuntre wandering amang haggis sewchis and gattis c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 67.
Because that I was auld, His grace thocht petie for to hang me, Bot leit me wander quhare I wald c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3542.
That peple wandrand wes Fourtye ȝeiris in wyldernes c1590 J. Stewart 18/126.
Scho vilsum vauers vandring vext vith vo … Ane day and nycht contineuall ryds scho so 1635 Dundonald Par. Rec. 398.
The minister and elders … dischairgis the said poor to wander or seik almous ony quhair els without the bounds of this our paroch(b) Arundel MS 256/31.
Myrk was thi mynd, Mary, To wonder on throw Jerusalem thou hyit, To se thy awin sone … dep.t. 1375 Barb. iii 371.
The king and his cumpany … Fra thai had send thar hors thaim fra Wandryt emang the hey montanys 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 48 (B).
Me thocht I happinnit on ane montane sone I wanderit vp 1580-92 James VI Lusus Reg. 51.
Lyke a blynde man laking licht thay uanderid heere & thaire 1596 Dalr. I 205/24.
He was inflamed with the desyre and studie of lerneng … he wandiret throuch Hispane, France, Italie, Greice, and Asia, to leir ȝit mair(b) 1657 Johnston Diary III 87.
I went to the Hall and woundred up and doun idlep.p. 1596 Dalr. I 71/26.
Quhen be the sey called Mediterrane … he lang had rauet and wandirit, at last he arriuet in Numidiefig. 1596 Dalr. I 135/18.
The alde discipline of the Ægiptianis, and the rite and custome in offiring nocht alluterlie wandired away, and cleine gaid out of vse

2. To deviate from (a route, group, etc.), to stray. a1508 Kynd Kittok 8 (B).
So to hevin the hie way dreidles scho wend, Ȝit scho wanderit, and ȝeid by to ane elrich well 1596 Dalr. I 31/25.
In the mountanis of Aargyl … ar … ky, nocht tame … bot lyke wylde hartes, wandiring out of ordour 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 102.
She loved so weill to play at the carts and wandring from hir house to hir commorads, likt better their houses then hir oune