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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.

Athe, Aith, n. Also: aath, ath (aht), atht, acht; aithe, ayth(e, aitht, aytht, aicht, aeth(t; eithe, eitht, eath; heith. [Northern ME. athe, ath (ME. othe, ooth, oth), OE. áþ.The forms with -tht and -cht are sometimes editorial renderings of MS. contracted forms with superior t, while disregard of the contraction gives the incorrect at, ait, ayt, eyt.]

1. An oath: a solemn asseveration or pledge.Common in both literary and documentary use. Frequently with qualifying word, as athe of fewté, fidelité, obeisance, suthfastnes, verité; see those nouns. Bodily athe, grete athe: see the adjectives.(a) 1375 Barb. ix. 540.
Sum of the men of the cuntre Com till his pes, and maid him ath Ib. xx. 146.
All the lordis … Till thir twa vardanys athes swar a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 828.
The Iug thane The athe gaf to the cristine mane 1388 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 295.
At all this covenand … suld be lelely kepit bath Alexander and Iohn … made athes on the Haly Ewangelies 14.. Acts I. 25/2.
He sall clenge hym with the athe of xii men of his nychtburis c1420 Wynt. ii. 1126.
The lardis thare Be athe to thame all bundyn ware Ib. vii. 3166.
Thai … wald na langare hald thare athe Off thare trewys before tane 1456 Hay I. 113/16.
Till a gude knycht efferis to kepe wele his athe a1500 Seven S. 203.
Be this buke And all the athis that may be sworne 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 213.
The athis of Robert Thomson and Gelis Moffat takyn 1596 Dalr. I. 185/6.
Because his fostirfather affirmet with ane athe that he was Findokis sone(b) a1400 Leg. S. xix. 114.
He … in gret thank his seruice tuke, But ony aythe one bel ore buke 1456 Hay II. 32.
That brekis thair aithe to Godwart 1463 Wemyss Chart. 82.
In contrar of this myn obligatioune and aith 1513 Doug. vi. v. 60.
The Goddis ar full laith, And dredis sair, to sweir, syne fals thar aith 1524 Carnwath Baron Ct. 14.
The said Elesabeth gaif to him aith, & he swer that scho awcht him sa mekill a 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlviii. 79.
With mony grit aith thay sell this same claith, To gar the byeris cum agane 1569 Grant Chart. 136.
I sall … obey as becummis a detfull subiect, and … gif my solempnit ayth 1581 Lanark B. Rec. 84.
Hie … may, unhurtand his aith, refuis the samyn offece 1622-6 Bisset II. 225/3.
That na private aythis be amangis theme [sc. mariners] for defrauding of thair maisteris 1651 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 119.
That they present the foirsaids armes … and give thair aithes … that they ar not borrowit 1687 Misc. Spald. C. V. 237.
John … deponed upon aith that he saw them both at the ground(c) 1470 Prestwick B. Rec. i.
Quhove mony burges was … lefand that had maid lawti and atht 1530 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 477.
To … tak the said Agnes aitht apoune the awale … of the saidis gudis 1549 St. A. Baxter Bks. 5.
The aicht being maid solemplie be the said Duncane 1622-6 Bisset II. 99.
The persewer will refer to the defenderis aytht(d) 1547 Black Bk. Taymouth 184.
The forsaid … hes deponit thair eitht of fidelite upoun the Mes Buk a1568 Scott ii. 96.
Bot ethis haif thay sworne He suld deir by 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 85.
Whair the eath of the suddartis wer taken a1570-86 Maitl. F. xxxii. 86.
The rest of craftis grit ethis swair 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 140 b.
Quha may sweare be his awin eath, gif he hes na witnes 1610 Sutherland Chart. 179.
I ordaine my motheris dettis to be peyed to theme shee was iustlie addettit vnto, by there aethis(e) 1590 Waus Corr. 447.
Of my heit[h] I assur your l. [etc.]

2. A profane oath. 1533 Gau 87/9.
Thy halie nayme is … abusit … to mony greit abhominabil aithis 1551 Acts II. 485/1.
Deuill stick, cummer, gor, roist, or ryfe thame, and sic vthers vgsume aithis 1570 Sat. P. x. 370.
He wald not thoill blaspheming, nor na aithis 1584 Melvill 184.
Giff … a gentilman sall nam the devil, banning, pronounce an athe, … the Eldar sall cause him pey to the box

3. Comb. in athe-breking. 1442 Reg. Great S. 64/1.
Till underly the charge of ath breking and perpetuale reprufe