A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Dispare, Dispair, v.1 Also: dispayr, -spear; despare, -spair. [ME. dispayre (a 1340), -spaire, -spare, variants of despayre, -speire, etc., OF. despeir-, desperer, L. dēspērāre.]
1. intr. To despair, be in despair. Also const. of or with infin.c1420 Wynt. iii. 62 (C).
Dispayrande thai war of gud ramede 1533 Gau 105/29.
Without dout he haid disparit haid notht God … confortit hime 1551 Hamilton Cat. 48.
Al thai quhilk disparis of the mercy of God a1605 Montg. Son. xxxviii. 14.
I might haif dred, but deidly not dispairde 1596 Dalr. I. 141/18.
Aluterlie despairand euir to be restored to his kingdome Ib. 244/18.
Desparing, he began to remember [etc.] 1600-1610 Melvill 222.
To tyne hart and almaist dispear 1657 Balfour Ann. I. 128.
Joane, … disparing to haue aney isshew … , adopes Lewes
2. tr. To despair of obtaining (something).c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxiii. 15.
Neidis nane ȝour payment till dispair 1533 Boece iv. xviii. 158 b.
The Romane chiftanis than exhortit thare folkis to fecht & nocht dispare the victorie
