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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.

Aither, Ather, a., pron., conj., adv. Also: aithir, ayther, -ir(e, -yr; athere, athir (atthir, adir, ader), atheyr, athyr(e, athar(e, athair. Cf. Ether. [ME. aither, ayther, either, eyther, etc., OE. ǽᵹðer, contracted from ǽᵹ-hwæðer.]

A. adj. Each of two; one or other of the two; either. Freq. with partitive nouns, as side (part, half, end).(a) 1386 Rotuli Sc. II. 85/2 (aythir part sal make warnyng til othir). 1386 Bk. Carlaverock II. 418 (on aithir side of the water of Nith). 1409 Exch. R. IV. p. ccix. (willand on ayther part that … ). 1428 Liber Melros 521 (four ryggis till aythir part). 1456 Hay I. 54/11 (the vasselage done on ayther syde). 1641 Acts V. (1817) 611/2 (on aither syid of the said water). 1653 Lanark B. Rec. 151 (to take the pandis of aither pairtie).(b) 1375 Barb. ii. 346 (on athir syd); xii. 100 (apon athyr hand). a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 290 (lyand on athyr syd). c1420 Wynt. viii. 6740 (of athyre party xxx-ti). a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 571 (athir berne bokit in blude). c1420 Ratis R. 1569 (thai ar gud at athir ende). 1513 Doug. ii. iv. 24 (athir serpent); v. x. 70 (athir sort). 1531 Bell. Boece I. 4 (slane on athir side). 15.. Clar. ii. 1336 (skaffaldis on ather half). 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 237 (thir headis wer presentit to ather partie). 1607 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 107 (na cawisse of gruge on ather syd).

b. With plural noun: Both.1448 Buccleuch Mun. II. 41 (aithir partis has gevyn thair athis). 1456 Hay I. 54 (mony men on aythir sydis slayn). 1513 Doug. iii. viii. 62 (lat ws mak but a Troy of athir realmys twane); v. vii. 78 (on athir sydis). 1668 Aberd. B. Rec. 247 (in ayther colledges).

c. Followed by the. (Cf. sense B pron. 1 below.)1427 Melville Chart. 245 (aythire the partys). 1542 Grant Chart. 89 (atheyr the saidis parteis).

B. pron. 1. One or other of two persons, parties, etc.; each of two.a1400 Leg. S. xi. 373 (athyre of thame can hafe thare propyre cafe). 1400 Maxwell Mem. I. 142 (aither of the parteis has gyffyn ath). 1409 Exch. R. IV. p. ccxi (aythir of the saide lordis sall suppouel othir). 1450 Peebles B. Rec. 16 (aythir of thir partis til othir ar oblist). 1513 Doug. iii. x. 57 (by athir of twa). 1546 Reg. Privy C. I. 32 (the articlis gevin in be athair of thame aganis uthairis). c 1590 Douglas Corr. 35 (all tortis that any darr offer to ather of you). 1622-6 Bisset II. 383/6 (confermed be Silvester or Johne or athir of thame).

2. One or other; either, each.1375 Barb. vi. 185 (thai straif, for athir kyng vald be); vii. 624 (athir syne drew to partis). a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 338 (athyr held thare way sone). ?1438 Alex. ii. 4193 (athir wend the wourthiest for to be). 1513 Doug. i. vi. 19 (in athiris hand). c1550 Rolland C. Venus iv. 534 (in time to cum ather do na outrage). a1570-86 Maitl. M. Fol. xvi. 78 (to cowpill thir tua realmes, ather to defend).

b. Contrasted with uther.1375 Barb. xvi. 164 (as athir apon othir ran); xvii. 565 (quhen athir had of othir sicht). a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 512 (athyre kyssyt vthyre swyth). 1456 Wemyss Chart. 80 (the partis has changit, aithir with vthir, thair landis). 1492 Acta Conc. 233/2 (all summondis rasit betuix the said partiis, athir aganis vtheris). 1513 Doug. ii. x. 190 (athir in otheris blude). 1535 Stewart 39382 (ather hes other intill armes tone). 1561 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 502 (berand armes of differens aither fra vthir). a1578 Pitsc. I. 239/8 (ather of vther was sworne). 1600 Grant Chart. 196 (to keip this contract, ather to vtheris).

c. Aither uther, each other; one another.1375 Barb. xvii. 614 (thai mellit syne athir othir in). a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 1079 (thane can athir wthire kis). a1500 Rauf C. 826 (thus ather vther can assaill). c1475 Wall. x. 855 (athir othir festynyt with clippys). 1521 Grant Chart. 66 (sworne athir othir to defend). 15.. Clar. i. 853 (thay luifit ather uther). c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 464 (aither vther doun dang). 1570 Sat. P. xvii. 6 (thocht ather vther hes opprest).

3. Irregular or exceptional instances of pl. and possessive uses.Various 15–16th cent. examples of athir(e, athyre, ather for othir, etc. (Other a.) are app. errors, scribal or typographical.a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 844 (atheris thar lewe can ta). 1457 Peebles B. Rec. 119 (ilk an athir borch). 1513 Doug. xi. xii. 44 (the athyris contyr fruschyt otheris banys). 1533 Bell. Livy I. 53/27 (eftir that we ar brokin with athir slauchter); II. 47/10. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4023 (atheris deand in utheris armis).

4. Which one (of two). a1568 Montg. Bann. MS. 163 b/13.
Than chus ȝow ane of thais, I rek not ader, Tak Beelzebub or Brutus to ȝour fader

C. conj. Either (followed by or).A late substitution, after Eng. either, for the earlier other; common after 1560.15.. Clar. i. 390 (ather … or). 1561 Reg. Dunferm. 456 (sa mekill ather of silver or victuall). 1585 James VI Ess. 59 (ather a monosyllable or ellis … ). 1600-1610 Melvill 556 (athare Prelates or Bisschoppis). 1644 Aberd. B. Rec. 22 (aither in moneyes or wictuall). 1666 Kelso Baillie Ct. 30 (ather maltmen or the malterer). 1688 Reg. Marischal Coll. I. 339 (aither for decorment or profeit).

D. adv. Any more than the other or others. 1585 James VI Ess. 27.
Princes … that ar tyrants rather Then Nero, Commode, or Caligule ather