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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.

Fare, Fair, n. Also: far, fayr(e. [ME. fare, far, OE. faru f., fær n.]

1. A journey or voyage. 1375 Barb. iv. 627 (E).
God furthyr ws in till our far [C. fair] Ib. xv. 273.
To Tarbart thai held thair way In galayis ordanyt for thair far [C. fair] Ib. xx. 308 (C).
He … fast him bownyt for his fare a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 420.
Althinge, that nedfull ware To serwe & ese thame in thare fare c1420 Wynt. vi. 2497.
All the weddrys in thair fayre Wes to thare purpos all contrayre 1513 Doug. x. iv. 90.
He … with hys lang and lusty ballyngar Ourslydis the deip fludis in thar fair

b. Passage by sea. c1420 Wynt. vi. 2070.
Thare suld nane pay mare Than foure pennys for thare fare

2. Display or show; pomp or ceremony. 1375 Barb. ix. 137 (E).
The Erlys men ner cummand war Trumpand and makand mekill far Ib. 253.
Thai abaid, makand gret fayr, Till thai ner at assembling wayr Ib. xx. 100.
The queyn hes left hyr douchtre thar, With gret riches and reale far Ib. 126.
At that parleament swa did he [crown them] With gret fayr and solemnyte

3. What has happened to one; one's experiences or fortunes. 1375 Barb. xvi. 21 (E).
He … speryt of his brodyr fayr, And of journayis that thai had thar Ib. 905 (C).
Quhen the kyng had sperit tithand How thai had faryne in-till Ingland, And thai haf tald hym all thar fair a1400 Leg. S. xxi. 684.
As his wyf saw thai sa fure, … Sare rewit scho thare fare

4. A course of action or activity; an affair or matter. 1375 Barb. xvii. 905 (E).
Quhen … thai had tauld him all hale the far a1400 Leg. S. vii. 774.
I was thare, & beheld to thare fellone fare a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 731.
Wthir four of the folk foundis to the fair Ib. 1259.
All effrayt of that fair wes the fresch king a1500 Prestis Peblis 1042.
Allace, how now, this is ane haisty fare 1513 Doug. xiii. viii. 111.
Thai fut it so that lang war to devys Thair hasty fair, thar revellyng and deray 1573 Sat. P. xl. 73.
Think weill my freindis, this is na fenȝeit fair

b. Manner of acting; conduct or behaviour. c1420 Wynt. iv. 502.
All tyme thai nere thaim ware, And saw thare manere and thare fayre Ib. vi. 464 (C).
Scho was to wanton of hire fayr ?1438 Alex. ii. 2641.
Speke courtesly and leif sic fare c1475 Wall. vi. 459.
The man lewch at his fair a1570-86 Kennedy Maitl. F. cxxxi. 12.
Quhill eild said, fule, lat be thi fair

5. Bearing or demeanour; personal appearance or look. 1375 Barb. xix. 208 (E).
His iwill ay woux mar and mar, Quhill men persawit be his far That [etc.] ?1438 Alex. i. 2937.
He was … sueit and debonare, Of courtis speking and of fare Ib. ii. 3414.
And sone persauit he be his fare That Caulus wald richt blythly ga c1450-2 Howlat 55.
Quhy is my far … fassonit so foule? c1475 Wall. ii. 396.
A felloune freik thow semys in thy fair

b. With qualifying adjectives.(a) 1375 Barb. xi. 256 (E).
He welcummyt thaim with glaidsum far a1400 Leg. S. ii. 341.
Thai turnyt agane with ioyfull fare Ib. xi. 304; etc.
Athre of thame with stut fare But rednes schot thai edryse til ?1438 Alex. ii. 3628.
I haue lemman and luffare, Fare and fetas and of gude fare c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 225.
On syde scho lukit wyth ane fremyt fare(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii. 351.
Adryane with blitht fair Sad [etc.] c1460 Thewis Gud Women 20.
A woman suld … With fenȝeand fair nocht mak our moy c1475 Wall. xi. 118.
The thrid he met with a rycht awfull fayr a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 576.
The feght sa felly thai fang, with ane fresch fair 1535 Stewart 39493.
With feinȝeit fair he gart him trow … That he no langar mycht that seig sustene 15.. Clar. ii. 1546.
The lordis … maid him for to licht with freindlie fair Ib. v. 1530.
Minstrellis playit with ane mirrie fayre a1568 Bann. MS. 217 b/38.
Suppois ane fremmit fair thow feill, Ȝit in hir serwice perseveir 1567 Sat. P. iv. 63.
With feinȝeit fair and wylie wordis discreit Scho come to me

6. Entertainment; provision or supply of food and drink; (good or bad) cheer. 1375 Barb. xvi. 46 (E).
Thai … maid thaim mekill fest and far c1460 Thewis Gud Women 150.
Thar is na thing thai cowet mare Na fredome, fauore, and gud fair a1500 Henr. Fab. 272 (A).
A lordis fair thus can thai counterfeit, Except a thing; thai drank the watter cleir In steid of wyne a1500 Rauf C. 208.
The King him self hes bene fane, Sum tyme, of sic fair c1590 J. Stewart 105 § 7.
Sum croms of grace … Fals from thy childrins fair 1596 Dalr. I. 90/13.
Sik sobrietie in meit and drink, and sik maner of fair and cheir 1611-57 Mure Dido i. 920.
Whil Dido doth her ghuests entreat, With choisest cowrses and deliciows faire

7. A load or stock of goods. a1500 Rauf C. 417.
Sa saw he quhair the coilȝear come with all his fair, With ywa creillis on ane capill