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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1400, 1456-1596
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Confort, Confourt, v. Also: -forte. [ME. conforte (c 1290), OF. conforter, L. confortāre. Cf. Comfort v.]
1. tr. To comfort, encourage, console.(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints i. 324.
Paule … I sal sende To confourt thé 1456 Hay II. 154/24.
To … prively and secretely confourt thyne inymyes(b) 1375 Barb. ii. 586.
The king oft confortyt wes Throw his wyt 1375 Ib. v. 178.
Feill sis confort scho the kyng Bath with siluer and vith met 1489 Acts II. 215/2.
That nane of his liegis … confort, help, supple, or commoun with ony of his rebellis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar W. 521.
The sueit sawour of the sward, … Myght confort ony creatur 1533 Boece iv. xviii. 158.
With blyith vult the king resauit his liegis, conforting thame with gude wourdis 1568 Buch. Indict. 36.
The King … come to Jedburghe to veseit and confort hir 1585 James VI Ess. 68.
The answer quhilk I haid Did greatly ioy and confort me 1596 Dalr. II. 123/13.
That seiknes … greuet him sa sair, that he wald not be conforted
b. intr. To give comfort. a1400 Legends of the Saints vi. 509.
Thane confortand he sad hyre till, That payne he tuk vith gud will
2. tr. To strengthen. 1456 Hay I. 131/9.
As to this poynt, thare is a decree that confortis this mater gretely 1456 Ib. II. 124/28.
Sleping eftir mete … confortis the membris and nurischis the corps 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 67/14.
I sau borage, that is gude to confort the hart c1552 Lynd. Mon. 144.
Phebus … Confortand euerye corporall creature a1578 Pitsc. I. 212/22.
Wald God that prince had beine that day confortit With the sapience of the prudent Salomon
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"Confort v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/confort_v>
