Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Effair, Effare, n. Also: effayr, effaere. [Later form of Effere n. Cf. also Affair.] An affair; a matter of occupation or business. (Common c 1550–1650.)(a) 1545 Reg. Privy C. I. 3.
Sik effaris and besynes as concernis the commoun wele of the realme 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 197.
To serue the towne … in all thair commoun effaris and commoun werkis 1567 Acts III. 35/2.
That thai elect … tua or thre ma baronis … of gretaist experience in poletique effares 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 4 b.
[A man] of lang experience concerning the effaris of the common vealth 1631 Highland P. I. 324.
In all … thair legall effaris and business(b) 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 174.
In all besynes concernyng the commoun weill and vther effairis of the towne 1558-66 Knox II. 382.
A discharge … of all further intromissioun or cayr with his effaires 1568 Buch. Indict. 33.
He wes … restrainit … fra knawleg of the counsele effayris 1583 Conv. Burghs I. 168.
Quhither they war of mynd to employ him forther in thair effaires or nocht c1590 Fowler I. 99/50.
Claudius … That … from Italie declynde The tempestes of more greit effairis 1609 Gardyne Garden 38.
I fash me not with Court effairs 1620 Aberd. Sheriff C. II. 298.
Understanding hir selff to be aigit … and nocht abill to … sustein or awaill on hir effairis c1650 Spalding I. 263.
Efter satling of his effaires, he goes directlie to England 1670 Ann. Banff I. 150.
Such personis as will tyne and win in all the effairis of the burghe(c) 1595 Conv. Burghs I. 453.
For keiping of semlie ordour … , and for better depasche of thair effaeres