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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.

Are, Air, adv. (conj. and adj.). Also: ar, hare; aire, ayr, ayre. [Northern ME. are, ar, ONhb. ár, aar (ON. ær) early = OE. ǽr ‘ere’.]

1. Before this (or that) time; previously.(a) 1375 Barb. i. 19.
The dedys Of stalwart folk that lywyt ar Ib. 76.
Thir twa that I tauld off ar a1400 Leg. S. i. 632.
He saw Cryst … Pas in hewine quhare he was ar Ib. xviii. 557.
I … me demaynyt as I dyd are c1420 Wynt. i. 1504.
Thir poetys feyhnys mare Off this Saturne we spake off are a1500 Henr. Orph. 396.
This Tantalus, of quham I spak of are —Comb. 1456 Hay I. 138/32.
Gif I send thame for … payment of are done dede(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 117.
Sancte Nicholas … lad it thar as did he ayre c1420 Wynt. ii. 644.
As I sayde ayre c1475 Wall. iv. 704.
This woman, the quhilk I spak of ayr Ib. x. 213.
It that I said ayr 1513 Doug. xii. xiii. 83.
Lat it remane Latium, as it was air Ib. xiii. Prol. 93.
I saw ȝow nevir ayr

b. conj. Before; = Or conj. a1400 Leg. S. v. 16.
Criste … his modyr … Betaucht hym, ar he ȝald the gaste

2. Early (in the day, year, etc.). c1420 Wynt. viii. 4999.
Come I are, come I late, I fand Annot at the yhate a1500 Rauf C. 546.
I neid nane airar myne erand nor none of the day a1500 Henr. Fab. 2225.
His vse wes ay in mornyng to ryse air 1585 James VI Ess. 73.
As I was pansing in a morning aire a1598 Ferg. Prov. 26.
Come it aire, come it late, in May comes the cowquake c1650 Spalding I. 76.
Vpone the sext of July … quhilk wes very air in the yeir

b. In phr. late and (or, nor) are, or are and (or, nor) late.(1) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 995.
He fayndis bath lat and ar For to distroy quytly our lare Ib. iii. 244.
He bad thame … that neuir mare Thai grewit men lat no are 1475 Peebles B. Rec. 173.
He beand … in his scoul lat and ayr quhen tym is c1500-c1512 Dunb. xviii. 19.
Than will thay say … That I am jaipit lait and air a1568 Scott xxv. 29.
My hert, be mirry lait and air 1587-99 Hume viii. 29.
Quhilk hes sa oft baith lait and air Sung praise to thee 1604-31 Craig ii. 82.
Diomed did late and aire frequent Her companie 1611-57 Mure True Cruc. 3166.
Nor by night nor day, nor late nor ayre(2) c1460 Thewis Wysmen 249.
Thai ar ful of worschip air and lait Ib. 244.
Wysmen … wyll neuer crab thaim air na lait c1475 Wall. ii. 74.
Gud ordinance … His cusyng maid at all tyme ayr and late a1500 Bk. Chess 1579.
To gadder gold or gudis air or late 1513 Doug. ix. x. 38.
To dant and reyn the horssis ayr and layt 1535 Stewart 58313.
In all his passage, other air or lait 1567 G. Ball. 77.
He is our Aduocate, Prayand for vs baith air and lait a1570-86 Maitland M. Fol. xcv. 65.
Nane dar steir thame air nor lait Ib. cx. 49.
That thai may serue ȝou ayre and lait a1651 Calderwood II. 211.
Skairse could anie of the nobilitie have accesse to her aire or late

3. adj. Early. 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 304.
It was ayr morow or tyme of mes c1650 Spalding I. 76 marg.
Ane air yeir