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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.

Enter, Entir, v.¹ Also: entyr, entire, entre. [ME. enter, entre (c 1250), OF. entrer. Cf. Inter v.¹]

1. intr. Of persons (or animals): To go or come into a specified or implied place, building, etc. Occas. with in adv.(a) a1400 Leg. S. i. 617.
He met thar-at Ihesu enterand Ib. ix. 13.
The apostol enterit thare c1400 Troy-bk. i. 44.
Leamedone … has gret ferly That ȝe enterit so sodanly To sogeourne here c1420 Wynt. viii. 4490 (C).
Thai til Edynburgh halde the way, And at Freyr Wynde enteryt thai c1450-2 Howlat 130.
He … Bad send for his secretar … That enterit but hone a1500 Seven S. 1929.
He enterit than till his paramoure 1514 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 152.
Beand … agane in enterit thai fand … the said Alexander … innocent c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1398.
Of all foulis of the air, Off euerilk kynd enterit ane pair 1568 Buch. Indict. 35.
He being enterit revisit hir aganis hir will(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 66.
For he entre mycht nocht, For gret strinth & hicht of wal c1420 Wynt. viii. 4492.
Thai till Edynburgh held the way; In at the Frere Wynd entryd thai c1475 Wall. i. 93.
Eduuard entrit, and gert sla hastely … vij thousand and fifty Ib. iv. 232.
On to the hous thai socht And entryt in c1515 Asl. MS. I. 188/18.
Thai suld help thaim gif ony wald ganestand thaim to entre 1531 Bell. Boece II. 161.
Thir men … entrit at sindry partis thairof(c) 1513 Doug. ii. viii. 34.
Quharat was wont alane Andromocha To entir oft c1550 Rolland C. Venus II. 588.
To entir heir … I am to blait

b. With preps., esp. in.(a) 1375 Barb. v. 272.
In Douglasdaill … Apon ane evynnyng enterit he a1400 Leg. S. x. 473.
A fende in hyme sone enteryt Ib. xvii. 108.
He enterit in riuere faste c1420 Wynt. vi. 2202.
This Malcolme enteryd in Scotland 1456 Hay I. 73/11.
The usage was that thai suld enter in barras c1475 Wall. ix. 851.
The Scottis defens so sykkyr was and keyn, Sotheroun stud aw to enter thaim amang c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 91.
Thir ladyes all in fere Enterit within this park c1515 Asl. MS. I. 266/7.
The king of Yngland enterit apon Scotland with a gret multitud 1558-66 Knox II. 73.
Gif strangearis wald pretend to enter in this realme with ane navy or army a1578 Pitsc. I. 223/10.
Witht all the laif of the lordis … quhilk was enterit in to the bose wondow(b) 1375 Barb. iii. 697.
Thai entryt sone in-to the rase a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 127.
Syne, as oyse was, Thai entryt in thare oratore c1420 Wynt. v. 1966.
Scho … entryd in a hows nere by The tempyll 1456 Hay I. 72/5.
Quhethir it be … laufull thing till entre in clousit felde 1513 Doug. i. vii. 41.
He entrys syne amyd the thikast rowt 1549 Compl. 6/12.
The hagbutaris … entrit in the toune but resistance(c) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 49.
I rede we … ask leif at the lord … That we myght entir in his toune 1513 Doug. iii. vii. 57.
Gif evir in Tybir to entyr me betydis 1596 Dalr. I. 21/29.
Gif at any tyme he fynd the passage narrow, that he can nocht entir vndir the eard

c. Of material things: To move or pass, to be carried or brought, into a certain place. 1391 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 380.
The mere is … the burn of Canny as it entris in Bolgy c1420 Wynt. i. 152.
By Alexawnder that cite It [the Nile] entrys in the Mykyll Se Ib. 1582.
Hys cours haldande … Fra he entyre in the sygnyfere 1456 Hay II. 132/1.
Wynter begynnis quhen the sonne enteris in the signe … Sagittarius a1500 Rauf C. 189.
Syne enteris thair daynteis on deis c1515 Asl. MS. I. 157/21.
This gret se that enteris at Hercules pillaris Ib. 157/28.
This ryver … enteris in the se that we call Elesponte 1513 Doug. i. vi. 160.
Thy schippys … with bent saill entris in the port Ib. ii. iii. 82.
This statw of tre … Thus large and gret … So at the portis it ne entyr myght

d. Of immaterial things. a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 9.
Thru the vicis of ydilnes, gret foly … syndry hartis enteris withine c1420 Wynt. viii. 7144.
The dede wes entret in Scotland, Begynnand at the Candilmes 1456 Hay II. 46/35.
That thare suld nouthir enter na isse throu his gorge thing that suld be villanie c1460 Thewis Wysmen 277.
Wysdom enteris in na wy, That frawart is c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 389.
I … leit neuer enter in my thoght that he [etc.] Id. xvi. 34.
His cry nocht enteris in his eir 1568 Pref. Lyndesay 5.
This play did enter with sic greif in thair hartis, that thay studyit … to be auengit thairof

2. a. To appear, present oneself, in court. 1411 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 31.
We bad the parteis ramwif and fynd borrowis til entire and heir the determinacioun of the court 1456 Peebles B. Rec. 114.
To … warn hym til enter til the next curt … to the chalang of Rob Percle 1488 Lanark B. Rec. 4.
The said Cuthbert callit, nocht enterit, the court wardyt and dom gewin 1499 Dunferm. B. Rec. 106.
The said John was amerciat for his nonentra and to entir to the nixt court 1555 Peebles B. Rec. 227.
Thomas Tuedy … fand John Dikesone souirte till enter to justice, and gaif his colleraith a1578 Pitsc. I. 328/11.
Gif he fand nocht cautioun to enter … that he sould be put to the horne

b. With again (expressed or implied): To return to prison. 1456 Hay I. 183/19.
The said knycht is in a difference: to enter to sauf his ath, or to absent him to sauf his lyf Ib. 24.
Me think he aw to enter agayn to his maister a1578 Pitsc. II. 51/5.
Thay gave counsall … to releiwe the erle of Angus vpone catioun that he sould enter agane quhan it pleisit the governour

3. a. To place or establish oneself in, to take up the duties of, an office or other position. c1420 Wynt. v. 4792.
Set this ilke Pape … Entryde in to that stede wyth gyle Ib. vi. 1357.
This byschape he cald … And sayd hym, be publik fame, … That he entryd be symony 1456 Hay I. 145/6.
For advocacy and service of the princis in office fra thai entre in the ȝeris service 1478 Peebles B. Rec. 183.
The said Sir Wylyam Gybson … sall enter tyll his seruice again withowtyn ony pley 1525 Reg. Great S. (1527) 97/2.
The dekin that passis furth of his office … shall mak compt … to the dekin that enteris in office

b. With in. To become a member of a society or order. 1456 Hay II. 13/33.
Ilke man suld be war that wald enter in the foresaid ordre c1515 Asl. MS. I. 256/23.
Eftir this Constantyne enterit in religioun c1500-c1512 Dunb. lx. 31.
Sum causles clekis till him ane cowll, … Enterand for geir, and no devotioun 1520 Stirling B. Rec. 2.
That na man enter to the fredoum of the gild bot he that sall pay v li., … excep tham that enteris be airschip 1562-3 Winȝet I. 112/12.
Gif ȝe allege that ȝe wowit nocht, of quhat mynd enterit ȝe in ȝour religioun? 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 16.
[To] mak ane registre of al that entres in the nombre of the vniuersite 1613 St. A. Baxter Bks. 79.
Gif it sall happin me to entir and come in to freiman to the said craft 1682 Ib. 141.
That all brethrin of traid … entrand freemen … shall pay veiklie … ane schilling scottis

c. To engage in, begin to, occupy oneself with, some action or task. c1420 Wynt. viii. 1600.
How he made hym his court to lede, Qwhen this Makduff entryd in plede 1494 Acta Aud. 196/2.
He … aucht nocht … to ansuere nor enter in pley in the said mater 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 311.
To the Abbot of Lundoris, to enter to the Kingis werk in Striuelin c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 85.
Quhen thay wer entrit in the dance 15.. Clar. iv. 1562.
Thay fand the King … With ladies enterit in ane carroll dance 1551 Hamilton Cat. 28.
Afoir we enter to the special declaratioun of the x commandis 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 253.
The maissonis enterit to big vp the … wallis 1600-1610 Melvill 37.
My uncle … enterit with me to understand to what calling my hart inclyned

d. To be involved in difficulties, etc. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 23/1.
Lord … we ask at thé, that thou thole ws nocht to enter sa fere in temptacioune a1578 Pitsc. I. 70/30.
To red them selffis of sick cummeris … as they had enterit in befoir

4. To obtain or assume possession or enjoyment of lands or other property or emoluments. Freq. const. in or to. 1392 Lennox Mun. 47.
The saydis … sal frely entre in thair sayde landis … and joyes thaim c1420 Wynt. vii. 14.
All thare homage than tuk he, … Swa entryd he in possessyowne 1423 Edinb. Chart. 55.
Enterand the saide alderman, dene, and baylyes … at Martimes, … and joysand [the tack] yhere be yhere [etc.] 1466 Acta Aud. 4/2.
Johne … sall furthe withe thare efter enter til the saide annuel … , and joyse the samyne a1500 Prestis of Peblis 218.
Fra that he was deid than come his son, And enterit in the welth that he had won c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 108.
Swa till his heretage he wan, And entirt be breif of richt 1515 Reg. Privy S. I. 404/1.
[The assignee] enterand to the said assignatioun at the terme of Martymes next tocum 1553 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. I. 142.
The said Jhone, ȝowngar … enterant to the hail saxtein s. land eftyr the deces of … his fathyr

5. tr. a. To produce (a document) for examination. 1375 Barb. i. 623.
This lettir sall I entyr heyr, Befor all your consaill planer

b. To produce or present (a person) to a court of justice; also, to place in custody. c1420 Wynt. viii. 3265.
Till his court he yhed … And off the lave that entryde ware Iwstyce he dyde evynlyk thare 1432 Ayr B. Ct. Bk. MS. 15 Dec.
He enterit nocht Thom Mason as he that was pleg to enter him to the chalans of Patrik Walas 1467 Acta Aud. 8/2.
That his persoun be enterit in ward in the castel of the Blaknes 1496 Justiciary Rec. (Reg. H.) I. 21.
Ane delyverance of the lordis of consale to entre William of Newtoun the thrid day of the next Justice air 1505 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 50.
Robert Dogud … enterit Andro Elisone before the said Shiref deput thar till ansuer to the borgh 1533 Bell. Livy I. 262/12.
Ane plege sal be gevin to the tribunis to entir him at the day assignit 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 245.
The counsale ordanit Thomas Hal, javillour, to releif the baillies anent the boy quhilk was input in the tolbuith … or to enter the boy agane 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 29.
Having enterit in ward S^r George Dowglas, … he send for the said erll [etc.]

c. To put (a person) formally in possession or occupation of land or property, or in an office. 1419 Wemyss Chart. II. 45.
The said Schir Jon answert at he wes lauchfullie entryt in that land 1491 Acta Aud. 153/1.
He wes nocht as ȝit entrit as are … and therfore micht nocht nor aucht nocht to enter the said Johnne to the saidis landis 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 252/1.
That ȝe … efter his informatioun, outputt, enter and input tenentis in the samyn landis 1522 Fife Sheriff Ct. 257.
The schiref decernit ane precept wyth ane officiar to pas, entir, & bekene the said lady to hir terce landis 1549 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 272.
To the effect that he ma be enterit, be cursable brewis of our chapell, as nerrest tutour of law to Dauid Arrot 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 27.
His vncle … wes willing … to haif enterit him … in possessioun of the Duchie of York 1615 Highland P. III. 173.
I having now enterit myself as air … in the saidis landis, and being infeft and seasit thairintill 1694 Lanark B. Rec. 250.
George Baillie … , who holds few of the said burgh … hes commensed a process against the said burgh for entering him in the forsaids burgage landis

d. To record (an incoming vessel or cargo) in an official register. 1436 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 4.
After the cumming in of ony schip enteret in the Tolbuith with quheit 1506 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 109.
That na skipperis … saill … with thair schippis chargit with ony merchandice or guidis quhill the samin be lelely enterit to yow our saidis customeris, and the cokket thairof deliuerit to thame and entred 1540 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 103.
For his petit customes of viij lastis hering … enterrit in our Souerane Lordis customaris bukis of this burgh 1566 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 232.
The frauchtin and entres of all the schippis frauchtit and enterit … in the entres buke of the toun 1580 Dundee Shipping L. 200.
Comperit Patrik Thomsone … and enterit the said schip cum from Norroway 1618 Ib. 301.
Comperit William Halyburtone … and entered ane ship of Dundie … laitlie cum frome Elsingoir

e. To place or provide (a person) in a certain position; to record or register as a member of a body; to note by name. Also refl. 1492 Myll Spect. 293/12.
It is writyn … that the madyn Rea was enterit be hir brethir in the hous & habit of relegioun 1490 Acta Conc. 153/2.
Robert the Broise sall within xx dais … enter ane prest to signe [= sing] in the kirk of Arth 1539 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 94.
That all … personis allegeand … thame to be fre and comburgesses of this burgh … compeir and enter thame selffis within xl dayis nixt heirefter 1548 St. A. Baxter Bks. 4.
The quhilkis forsaidis maisteris ar enterit deuly conforme to the … akkis maid … thairapone 1596 Ib. 61.
That na prenteis be tane in nor enterit quhill he pay … tuentie pundis money to the craft 1626 Stirling's Royal Lett. I. 39.
That yow furthwith give ordour for entring him in the cheker rolls of our army ther 1634 St. A. Baxter Bks. 98.
Quhensoever any frie man sould be enterit and acceptit to the fridome … of ony of the saidis craftis

6. To train (a hawk) to fly at game. 1497 Treas. Acc. I. 360.
For ane gus, to enter ane halk with

7. To put or bring in; to cause to enter or begin. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 97 marg.
Resist the auld serpent that he enter nocht his heid 1575 Wemyss Corr. 74.
To enter deidle feid betuix tua nobill hous 1628 M. Works Acc. XX. 14 b.
To Nicoll Murray, garritour, for ringing the bell to lous and enter the warkmen