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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.

At, prep. Also: ate, att, atte. [ME. at (att, atte), OE. æt.]

1. Denoting place or position.For various phrases, as at (= on) the erde (or grund), at fute, at hame, at hand, see the nouns. At under, see Under adv.a 1300 Acts I. *96 (at the Rade bra). 1375 Barb. viii. 477 (at the castell). 1397 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 166 (att Edynburgh). c1420 Wynt. viii. 4492 (in at the Frere Wynd). c1475 Wall. i. 238 (in at the dur he went); 246 (at quhat ȝett he in ȝeide). 1492 Myll Spect. 289/18 (he was cassyn doun at the trape). a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 461 (at the Bas). c1500-c1512 Dunb. vii. 65 (at parlament); lviii. 1 (at everie feist). 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 231/1 (at the west sey). a1568 Scott i. 49 (att croce gar cry); 183 (at listis with scheild and speir). a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 98 (at fountaine Helicon). 1590 Lanark B. Rec. 97 (at the cors at Welgat fuit). 1633 Acts V. 54/1 (the Parliament haldin at Edinburgh). 1682 Misc. Spald. C. V. 205 (to any person at south).

b. Beside, with, in the presence of (a person).1433 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 286 (ȝoure son was at vs to hafe oure ansuere). 1542–3 Corr. M. Lorraine 6 (I salbe at ȝour grace in all haist). c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1248 (I salbe sone at ȝow agane). 1585–6 Montgomery Mem. 227 (I desyrit Johnne C. to be at me ȝesternycht). 1627 Bk. Carlaverock II. 91 (the drummer wilbe this weik at ȝour Lordship). a1691 Kingston Contin. Ho. Seytoun 76 (he stayed constantly att the King).

2. From (a person). With verbs of asking, requesting, learning, taking leave, etc.1375 Barb. iv. 365 (thai at the kyng thair leyf has tane); xii. 8 (at othir to tak consale); 484 (thai ask mercy, bot nocht at ȝow). c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2887 (at his moder he gan inquere). ?1438 Alex. ii. 2433 (ask ȝour intent at ȝour king). 1466 Acta Aud. 5/2 (Andro Vrre askit the landis at the abbot). 1480 Acta Conc. 80/1 (to bere witnes in it that salbe sperit at thaim). c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 257 (leir at me wit). 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 107 (ȝe may tak it at the Shiref). 15.. Clar. i. 885 (taking his leave at all the companie). a1568 Scott xxvi. 20 (that takkis sic maneris at thair motheris). a1578 Pitsc. I. 16/2 (to seik redres at the chancellar). a1598 Ferg. Prov. ii (he begs at them that borrowit at him). 1673 Red Bk. Grandtully II. 212 (ask att him giue he will … ).

3. Implying some action or occupation.a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 168 (at Petir I wald begyne). a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 409 (selcouth to say at saw). a1500 Henr. Rob. & M. 17 (at luvis lair gife thow will leir). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiv. 22 (to play thame at the trulis). 1531 Bell. Boece II. 298 (at thair game and solace). 1549 Compl. 44/4 (vitht his auen hand at the pleuch). a1568 Scott v. 54 (sum rynis at barlabreikis). c1568 Lauder Minor P. 15/369 (abyding at my wourd). a1570-86 Maitland M. Fol. xxiv. 6 (waist not thi guidis at the dyce). 1621 Acts IV. 613/2 (play at cairdes); Ib. (to gayne at waigeris).

4. Denoting time or occasion: At, in, on.At (the) last: see Last n.1375 Barb. iii. 144 (at the fyrst strak he him slew); v. 37 (he met thame at thair ariving). 1398 Acts I. 574 (the clergie at this tyme has grantit … ). 1413 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 364 (att what tyme). c1450-2 Howlat i (at morne). 1471 Acta Aud. 20/2 (at mydnycht). a1500 Henr. Fab. 2050 (at the nixt bait). c1475 Wall. iv. 285 (at a schot). 1492 Misc. Bann. C. II. 145 (at a set daye). 1494 Lennox Mun. 152 (ate ten houris befor noyn). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xi. 31 (at all houris). 1524 Reg. Privy S. I. 493/2 (ȝeirlie at termes usit and wount). 1565 Edinb. B. Rec. 211 (at this present). 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 177 (at the quhilk day). 1593–4 Chron. Perth 63 (at the chap of eleven houris). 1603 Moysie 132 (at efternoune). 1654 Lamont Diary 81 (att on dash). 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. 525 (at several occasions).

5. In (a state or condition).Freq. in phrases as at all, at devise, at large, at lenth, at the leste, at neid, at point, at rest, at richt, at schort, for which see the noun or adj.1375 Barb. xix. 77 (to se at myscheiff sic a knycht). ?1438 Alex. ii. 2474 (Ideas spak wysly at layser). c1450-2 Howlat 61 (all thir fowlis has me at feid). c1475 Wall. i. 237 (the captane has fallen with me at stryff). a1500 Henr. Fab. 280 (ȝe ar at eis). 1513 Doug. x. xi. 58 (the swyne standis at the bay); xi. xiv. 101 (lurkand at wait). 1515 Reg. Privy S. I. 398/2 (lands being at the kingis gift). 1531 Bell. Boece I. 203 (saw the king at quiet). 1563 Crim. Trials I. 435 (now being at the saill). 1583 St. A. Kirk S. 503 (being at hatred ar reconcilit). 1617 Montgomery Mem. 264 (to my lordis hors at the gers). 1653 Lamont Diary 64 (att unawarrs). 1659 Hay Diary 5 (not at eneugh of leasure).

b. Denoting adherence, submission, or subjection. See also the verbs Abide, Bide, and Stand.1471 Acta Aud. 22/2 (to remayne at the decrete and sentens of the arbitrouris). 1525 Douglas Corr. 98 (youris at command). 1531 Bell. Boece I. 91 (all the landis that stud at his opinion). c1550 Rolland C. Venus iii. 835 (heir I promit to stand at correctioun). a1568 Scott. xxvii. 49 (I am at hir command).

6. In accordance with, according to.1375 Barb. iii. 667 (at his liking); iv. 535 (till anoy thame at our mycht). a1400 Leg. S. v. 520 (kepe tham at all macht). c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 90 (at maundement of Pryame kynge). c1420 Wynt. iv. 492 (wyne thai had at wylle). 1441 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 7 (at all his gudely powar). 1452 Reg. Great S. 131/1 (at his aune lyking). 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 330 (at the awys of his freindis). c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 183 (at all powere); x. 36 (at all ȝour mycht). 1513 Doug. xii. ix. 124 (at the vtyrans of all his fors). 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 258 (thair enemies missit at the plesour of God).

7. In the direction of, towards, against, in contact with.1375 Barb. iii. 142 (the king strak at the tothir). c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1097 (nought at the deth scho wggis). a1500 Doug. K. Hart 283 (he was crabbit at the page). 1531 Bell. Boece II. 246 (thay fell at erd). 1557 Inverness B. Rec. I. 9 (the breking of the dowrk at Androis heid); 110 (he past at Thom Mannis chalmer). a1578 Pitsc. I. 253/7 (to pick ane quarrell at the king of England); II. 154/21 (they haue greatter invy at ȝow nor att all thair enemies). a1598 Ferg. Prov. 52 (he stumbles at a strea, and loupes at a brea).