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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Again, Agane, adv., prep., and conj. Also: agayn(e, (ageyne), agayin, again(n)e; agane, aagane, agan. [Northern ME. again(e, agayn(e, ageyn, etc. (= southern ME. aȝein, ayen, etc.) with g for ȝ under the influence of ON. í gegn.]

A. adv. 1. To or towards a former place, state or condition; back; once more, afresh, anew.(a) a 1350 Facs. Nat. MSS. II. 14 (cal agayne, glossing revocare). 1375 Barb. ii. 49 (now agayne to the king ga we); 72 (till L. he went agayne). 1402 Reg. Panmure II. 184 (quhil the corne be sawyn agayne). c1420 Wynt. i. 705 (in thare eelde agayne thare hare worthys blak); iii. 133 (scho tyll hyr fadyr come agayne). 1456 Hay I. 53/3 (thai war fayn to unbedraw thame agayne). c1475 Wall. i. 373 (so did he neuir agayne). c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 192 (broucht to the felde agayn). 1577 Waus Corr. I. 146 (I sall send the hors hayme agayin). 1600-1610 Melvill 196 (returning bak againe from London).(b) 1375 Barb. xix. 366 (the hardyest agane turnit). a1400 Leg. S. iv. 28 (he went agane in Juda). c1420 Wynt. v. 1280 (weill agane vpbiggit). 1461 Liber Plusc. I. 385 (fra deed to lyff agan). 1499 Dunferm. B. Rec. 106 (be set agane in the [same] place). 1513 Doug. ii. x. 198 (my swerd I belt agane). c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3442 (never to luk bakwart agane). 1567 Sat. P. v. 39 (neuer agane to dwell at hame). a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxx. 16 (glaidlie gif thame agane).

2. In return; in answer, response, or reply.c1475 Wall. i. 384 (Wallace agayne ansuer him gawe); viii. 1407 (I awcht yow luff agayn). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xvi. 9 (sum gevis for twyis als gud agane). 1535 Stewart 30759 (syne agane to him said this king). c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 119 (giue againe hir sark). a1585 Arbuthnot Maitl. Q. xxxvii. 8 (he salbe luifit weill againe). 1604-31 Craig i. 27/16 (for thryse als good agane).

3. Further; moreover; on the other hand.1562-3 Winȝet I. 24/20 (and agane quhou it mycht be that … ). 1596 Dalr. I. 7/5 (in sum places, … in vtheris agane … ).

B. prep. 1. Over against; facing.1375 Barb. xix. 720 (thair fayis that agane thame lay). 1386 Rotuli Sc. II. 85/2 (the Est March of Ingland agayne Scotland). ?1438 Alex. i. 2435 (agane the sone). c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 44 (the roch agayn the rywir resplendent); xlvi. 11 (agane the skyis).

b. In the direction of; towards; so as to meet, encounter, or greet.c1420 Wynt. i. 139 (agayne the est is gane); iii. 286 (the Phylisteis agayne hym come). a1500 Rauf C. 608 (cummand him agayne). 1567 Sat. P. v. 28 (quhen thay come ȝow agane). 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 525 (to send new support againe him).

2. In hostility, resistance, or opposition to; against.1375 Barb. ii. 106 (all Inglismen ar him agayn); iv. 186. a1400 Leg. S. i. 277 (Petir sa agayne him wrocht); xxxi. 390 (fals witnes agayne the monk). 1389 Wemyss Chart. 24 (agayne al dedelyke). c1420 Wynt. i. 806 (all that standys hym agayne); vii. 391 (the erle agayne Duncane ras). 1456 Hay I. 199/16 (to defend him agayn his abbot). 1463 Wemyss Chart. 82 (all chargis agane the said Johne). 1513 Doug. vi. Prol. 64 (versis agane Romanis). 1535 Stewart 26792 (to fecht agane thame all). c1550 Rolland C. Venus ii. 431 (agane thé will argew). 1567 Sat. P. vii. 18 (ane enterpryse againe the Quene). a1585 Maitl. Q. lxv. 128 (that stryvis againe the streme).

3. Opposite or contrary to; not in conformity with.1375 Barb. i. 488 (agayne resoune). a1400 Leg. S. vii. 175 (agane his will); xxxvii. 86 (agane bydinge of princis). c1420 Wynt. v. 2884 (agayne the lauch). 1450 Peebles B. Rec. 16 (agayn his ordinans). 1456 Hay I. 229/27 (agayn the nature of nobless). a1500 Doug. K. Hart 478 (agane my will). a1570-86 Maitl. M. Fol. c. 39 (agane ȝour proffeit and availe).

4. In preparation for (a particular time).c1420 Wynt. viii. 3262 (agayne the come off the wardan). 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 71 (to by his clething again Ȝule). a1500 Henr. Fab. 506 (agane this jolie May). 1489 Treas. Acc. I. 115 (again the Kingis passing to Duchale). 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. lii. (agane the winter). 15.. Clar. v. 23 (againe the day). 1567 G. Ball. 34 (againe the latter day). 1594 Treas. Acc. MS. b (agane the baptisme of the prince). 1635 Buccleuch Mun. I. 275 (again Hansel Monday). 1646 4th Rep. Hist. MSS. 510/2 (againe the bridell).

b. conj. (With clause expressing the time.) 15.. Sym & Bruder 62.
Thay thikkit fast in cludis Agane the man was mareit a1568 Scott i. 184.
To fecht in barrowis … Agane thy Grace gett ane guid man 1603 Philotus xxi.
Ȝour … cater may cair for … Sum delicate agane ȝe dyne