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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.

Drede, Dreid, v. Also: dred, dreyd, dread. P.t. dred, dredde, drede, dreid, dread; dredyt, dreid(d)it. P.p. dred, drede, dread. [ME. drede(n, early dræden, reduced from adreden, OE. an-, ondræadan.]

1. tr. To fear, be afraid of; to regard with apprehension or awe.(a) 1375 Barb. vi. 316 (E).
Thai … said thaim byrd on na maner Drede thair fayis a1400 Leg. S. xlviii. 32.
Thane byrd me wele my lord dred ay c1420 Wynt. viii. 3412.
Wys men suld drede thare innymys 1456 Hay II. 45/19.
A knycht suld be schamefull as a maydin dredand repruf c1515 Asl. MS. I. 259/21.
This Makbeth exilit mony, dredand the richtuis aris 1533 Gau 59/17.
I am partakir of al thayme that dredis thé a1585 Maitl. Q. xix. 53.
Not dredand Goddis iudgment as feinȝit ipocreitis(b) c1450 Cr. Deyng 25.
Sa thai that … deis in the faithe … suld nocht dreid thare ded Brus vii. 430.
Fra that thai the kyng had slayn, … His men, thai thoucht, thai suld nocht dreid 1490 Irland Mir. I. 12/28.
Tharfor … cleng thi conscience, dreid God 1513 Doug. ii. i. 66.
Quhou euer it be, I dreid the Grekis fors 1535 Stewart 46.
Nocht dreidand God, and neglectand thair cuir a1578 Pitsc. I. 246/11.
He neidit to dreid no bak heir of Scotland as he was wont to do a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 393.
Brynt bairne with fyre the danger dreids(b) 1375 Barb. i. 293.
In Ingland … Wes nane off lyve that hym ne dred c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2868.
He. that dred thusgat his sone c1420 Wynt. ii. 1437.
All the lawe that dowt swa drede, That thai tyll strayttare heychtys fled Ib. viii. 6784.
His hors rycht weil armyt was, That he thare stabbing dreid the les 1456 Hay I. 19/28.
As God he dred nocht the dede, bot wele as man 1513 Doug. ii. x. 24.
Sayr punytioun of Grekis dred scho c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 16.
Quhen I had authorite, … I neuer dred necessite 1574 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 2.
Comperit Felane Johnesoun and maid fayth that he dred Johne Campbell … of bodely harme 1595 Paisley B. Rec. 160.
Johne Gemmell … swore that he dred Petir Erskin bodilie harme 1652 Peebles B. Rec. II. i.
Williame Wilson … gave his oath he dread Thomas Moses … bodilie harme(b) ?1438 Alex. ii. 4501.
He thame dreidit bot richt small c1475 Wall. vi. 630.
Than rais thai wp, for Wallace dredyt gyll(c) 1375 Barb. xv. 535.
He so gretly dred was than a1400 Leg. S. iii. 535.
Gyf that terrour dred suld be 1456 Hay II. 12/33.
Sa suld he ger him self be dred and lufit of his folk 1490 Irland Mir. I. 56/13.
Thou suld knaw, that the trubile … of this waurld is litle to be drede 1531 Bell. Boece I. 20.
Gif thay be fals, thay suld nocht be dred 1549 Compl. 21/10.
Quhar is the toune of Cartage that … vas grytumly doutit and dred be the Romans? 1570 Leslie 122.
The Erle of Shrewysburie (sa mekill dred in France as ye knaw weill) a1578 Pitsc. I. 66/10.
He glorieit to be dread of all men

b. With objective clause, with or without that. 1375 Barb. vi. 24.
I drede that his gret wassalage … may bring till end [etc.] c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2262.
Dredand my men suld be Merrit with thar sle fantasye c1420 Wynt. iv. 1749.
Gyff thai ware all reknyd here, I dred [thai] suld dull yhoure appetyte 1482 Lennox Mun. 122.
His Maieste dred and doutit that certane lordis … wald hafe slayne … him c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxvi. 74.
It is so lang in cuming me till, I dreid that it be quyt gane will 1536 Reg. Privy S. II. 305/2.
It is dred that he sall dilapid … his landis, rentis, [etc.] 1571 Sat. P. xxvi. 65.
Gif ȝe dreid that sum will aithis ouirhaill a1578 Pitsc. I. 199/8.
Dreiddand that the victorie sould fall to him Ib. 20/19.
Thai dreiddit that thay sould tyne the auctoritie 1622-6 Bisset I. 53/26.
Evir dreidand in his mynd, that the … murthour … suld cum sum tyme to lycht

c. With dependent infinitive. 1375 Barb. ii. 325.
Ȝone folk … Schapis thaim to do with slycht, That at thai drede to do with mycht Ib. xiii. 219.
Thai dred so gretly thane till de a1400 Leg. S. i. 261.
Quhy dredis thu For to her me of pece spek now? c1420 Wynt. iv. 1544.
For to be slayne or tane thai drede Ib. viii. 6945.
Thai sall drede to trespas 1456 Hay II. 98/24.
Sa that otheris tak example … to be mare dredand to brek the lawis 1513 Doug. vii. v. 68.
Quhy suld I dreid or spar To purches help 1531 Bell. Boece I. 156.
Dredand sum dangeir to fall be thair continewal feirsnes 1574 Davidson Three Reformers 107.
To tell his freinds he na whit dred, How they had lang been blindlins led

2. intr. and refl. To be afraid; to have fear. Const. for, of.(1) 1375 Barb. iii. 152.
Sa dred thai for his mekill mycht Ib. 671.
He wes dredand for tresoun ay a1400 Leg. S. i. 321.
Drede na deile, For I sal helpe thé wondire veill c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 744.
The Troyiens … lay slepand, Of syk assawtes not dredand c1420 Wynt. iv. 1740.
He for dede than dredand was Ib. viii. 3832.
Wythin the town … Thai ware dredand rycht grettumly c1460 Thewis Wysmen 107.
He is euer dreydand fore the ill c1475 Wall. iii. 388.
Than Wallace drede, and drew towart a side c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxiv. 4.
The foul delyte Off woman-kynd that dreidis for na schame 1535 Stewart 8413.
Ostorius … dreidand for na deir, In Londoun la in na beleif of weir a1568 Scott ii. 124.
Full sair he dred for blame a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 933.
Sum seimd assurd, sum dred for doubt Id. Son. xxxviii. 14.
I might have dred, bot deidly not dispairde(2) ?1438 Alex. i. 1826.
Of his feiris he dred him than, For drede thai sould discumfit be a1500 Rauf C. 237.
For my dwelling to nicht I dreid me for blame Ib. 710.
I dreid me sair I be begylit a1500 Doug. K. Hart 703.
I dreid me sair … of that delay a1540 Freiris Berw. 207.
I dreid me sair, and he cum in this innis And fynd me heir, that [etc.]

3. tr. To affect with dread. 1513 Doug. i. x. 28.
Bot to quhat fyne, richt sair it dredis me, Sall turn this plesand gestnyng in Cartage

4. intr. and refl. To be in doubt. c1450-2 Howlat 876.
It sall be done as ȝe deme, dreid ȝe richt nocht a1500 Rauf C. 598.
I dreid me, sa he dantit thé, thow durst not with him deill c1500-c1512 Dunb. v. 6.
Eftir hir dede, scho dredit nought in hevin for to duell