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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.

For-thy, For-thi, adv. Also: fore-thi. [ME. forþi, forþy, OE. forþí, forþý.]

1. For that reason, therefore: a. Introducing a clause.(a) 1375 Barb. iii. 33.
He dred to tyne hys folk, for thy Hys men till hym he gan rely a1400 Leg. S. ii. 89.
Fawt of rowme gret thar wes, For-thy a man clymit on hycht To her hym ?1438 Alex. ii. 1741.
For-thy I shew ȝow thair fechting That ȝe suld moue … On ȝon tua knichtis 1456 Hay I. 291/34.
Becaus he servis the pape at his mes … , forthy is he callit hafand office of dyakyn a1500 Rauf C. 373.
Thow gaif him ane outragious blaw. … For thy hald ȝow fra the Court c1500-c1512 Dunb. xliv. 7.
That fowll his nest he fylis, and forthy Exylit he suld be of all gud cumpany c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 910.
I myself will hald him as my fo, Forthy I will not sit in jugement(b) 1375 Barb. v. 504.
Thai maid him mony tyme varnyng, … For-thi in thame affyit he a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 739.
I haf ado ellis quhare For-thi I byd here no langare c1420 Wynt. ii. 495.
Thai gat nowthire flesch na bane Off thare modyr, and for-thi Thai ferlyid off this hugely c1475 Wall. iii. 82.
At Corsentoun the gait was spilt that tide; For thi that way behowid thaim for to ride a1500 Seven S. 1843.
Ane gud ensample thow has tald me; For thi the morne … Sone and sage all sall be deid

b. Placed later in the sentence.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 101.
That Amphymacus for-thy … [suld] be perpetualy Banyst ?1438 Alex. i. 2773.
He maid na semblance ȝit for-thy To be abaissit greatumly 1456 Hay I. 224/30.
It folowis nocht forthy, that his sonis ar anoblyt c1420 Ratis R. 951.
Be war, my veddyt sone for-thy. And treit thi wyf rycht tendyrly 1513 Doug. ix. xii. 34.
Thou seys thy fays strength … ; Ȝeild thé for thy, thou may eschape na syde 1535 Stewart 20317.
Be Maximus I say this thing forthy a1568 Bann. MS. 239 a/5.
Ȝour grace for thy I sall humily affey(b) c1420 Wynt. vii. 3618.
This falyhyd fra he deyd suddanly; This sang wes made off hym for-thi c1460 Thewis Gud Women 276.
Had scho done weill Scho had ben maryt richly; Now lat her chewys her fore thi a1500 Seven S. 1230.
His wyf … was … With the king chargit for to ly And haf the hunder merk for thi 1535 Stewart 48988.
Robert the Bruce, in greit furor for-thi, Richt suddantlie ane lang knyfe furth he drew

c. With that: For the reason that; to the end that.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxiv. 111.
Thai set hyme ayrly to the schule, Artis liberalis for-thy That he suld cone 14.. Acts I. 389/2.
Scho that hes the freman has al the heretage, forthy that an thryll man may haf nan 1428 Liber Melros 519.
For thi at it is merytable & medful to ber wytnes to the suthfastnes 1456 Hay I. 198/14.
Gif … his lord slew him forthy that he wald nocht sla the lady 1489 Wemyss Chart. 113.
Al wrytis and documentis maid til hir tharuppone, for thii that the divors is maide betuix the said knycht and Dame Margret(2) ?1438 Alex. ii. 5563.
This gude man … Hes maid vs here assemble … For-thy that ilk man suld say [etc.]

2. Nocht for-thy, nevertheless. 1375 Barb. iii. 124.
The tothyr failyeit fete, And nocht for-thi his hand wes ȝeit Wndyr the sterap c1420 Wynt. v. 3783.
All this he dyd, bot noucht for-thi, … Wythin the kyrk he durst noucht ga 1456 Hay I. 82/30.
Bot nocht forthy thai will nocht leve thair purpos 1513 Doug. xii. xii. 134.
With na les pres and haist ȝit, nocht for thy, He, fute for fut, persewys him fervently