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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.

Frethe, Freith, v. Also: freth, freithe, freitht, frieth(e, freeth(e. [ME. frethe, frithe, OE. friðian, freoðian.]

1. tr. To set free, to liberate.(a) c1420 Wynt. ix. 2483.
Frethit he wes nocht off presoune Ib. viii. 5802 (W).
Ogill had thaim till his presoun, And syne were frethit for ransoun a1500 Seven S. 400.
Fra deid mak his deliuerance. Freth him or ellis do ȝour plesance a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1140.
Frethand the man, that had nocht to lay doun 1533 Boece xv. ii. 576.
The son of Johnne Balliol (quhilk eftir frething fra captiuite of Ingland passit as exile … to France) 1546 Misc. Spald. C. IV. 216.
To freth William, maister of Forbes, furth of ward of the Castell of Edinburth 1584 Douglas Corr. 27.
We … frethis and relevis oure rycht traist cousing … furth of his present ward(b) c1475 Wall. ix. 1516.
Wallace gert freith the wemen, off hys grace 1495 Acta Conc. 385/1.
And gif ther be ony personis enterit in warde … that lettrez be writin to freitht thaim 1502 Treas. Acc. II. 344.
To warne the Lordis of the cuntree to pas to freith the lard of Weym, quhen Neil Stewart segit him 1535 Stewart 25743.
Beseikand him … For to … freith thame for to go To thair awin land 1560 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 90.
To freith and put to libertie the said Jhonn Sandersoun 1583 Digest Justiciary Proc. K. 34.
[To] send ane takin to the jevalour to freith James Gilchryst furth of the tolbuith 1615 Peebles Gleanings 35.
The council … findis that the provest may nocht freith nane wardit be the baillies without thair consent c 1630 Bk. Carlaverock II. 13.
[To] freith, releif, and set him at libertie furth of his present vaird

2. To free or release from being surety for another, or from some claim or obligation.In early use with borch (pl. borowis) as object; in later use commonly coupled with releif and keip scathles. a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii. 290.
To the presone … son wane he To freth his borowis & mak fre 1385 Rotuli Sc. II. 73/2.
That all prisoners taken on bothe the sidis sall be frely deliverid and all thair borous frethit 14.. Acts I. 51/2.
Quhatsaever he be that lattis his borch inrin sic scath and walde nocht cum to freyth him 1488 Acta Aud. 122/1.
Reseruande to the said Alexander his actioune agane ony persouns that he allegiis sulde freith him 1502 Wemyss Chart. 118.
To warand, freyth, relief and keip me skathles 1528 Acts II. 323/2.
I … suld … entir my brothir and Archibald my eyme in ward in the castell of Edinburgh ilkane to freithe vthire 1566 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 47.
To freth, releif and keip him, his aris, … harmless and skaithles 1600 Misc. Spald. C. IV. 78.
The said Adame … oblist him … to freithe, releve and keip skaythles his saidis cautionaris

3. To set or make free fra or from something. c1420 Wynt. iv. 204 (W).
For that cause thai frethit [R. freyde] ware Fra tribut gevin tene ȝere 1570 Sat. P. xxiii. 80.
Ay venturand … to freith thy natiue realme fra strangeris 1573 Ib. xli. 70.
God … freith thé from thy fais 1600 Crim. Trials II. 156.
He, swa far as he micht, … freithit my lord fra present strugling 1600-1610 Melvill ii.
The Lord … friethe me from the just desert of my vyle sinnes

b. To exempt from harm. 1513 Doug. x. ii. 131.
Nowder Troianys nor Rutilianys freith [L. solvo] will I

4. To make free of something.(a) 1489 Dunferm. B. Rec. 308.
The said John … beand fre of al annuellis … the forland frethand hym tharof 1507 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 70.
The said Johnne oblist him to fretht the said Georg of the said borrowgang 1531 Reg. Privy S. II. 102/2.
Our soverane lord dispensis with the said M. Henry … dischargeing and frething him of residence [etc.] 1578 Fife Sheriff Ct. 95.
The said Alexander [is] oblist to freth hyme tharof 1598 Glasgow Weavers 14.
The … maisteris … frethis the said sevin brether of craft of thair serving in the officiarship 1616 Misc. Hist. Soc. I. 90.
Siclyk the said Erll oblissis him to freth and releiff the saidis landis of thir annuelrentis(b) 1466 Acta Aud. 3/2.
The lordis ordanis the lord Cathekert to freithe the said landis … of the v mercis 1471 Ib. 22/2.
Cuthbert sall incontinent freithe the said personys of the said soume 1483 Acta Conc. II. p. cxv.
The Lordis ordains the … maister of the Kingis artilȝery … to freith him of the said irne 1521 Fife Sheriff Ct. 211.
James Spittale … offerit to freitht & warrand Williame Smytht … of ane hors sauld be him to the said Williame 1590 Grant Chart. 179.
Johnne Grant band and obleist him, … to freith and releve the said erll of his becuming cautioun 1638 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 390.
Twa of thair number sall ryde to Edinbnrgh … vpon thair awin charges, and to freithe the toun thairof 1691 Stirling B. Rec. II. 64.
To freith, releive, & disburden the saids heall inhabitants of all cess and uther publict burdeings(c) 1631 Grant Chart. 228.
The saids lords freeths and releeves the said Sir Johne Grant of the act foresaid 1664 Reg. Privy C. 3 ser. I. 511.
I … oblidge me … to freeth and releive my said cautioners of all paine, … or inconvenients that they may incurr

b. refl. To free or absolve (oneself) of. 1596 Edinb. Test. XXIX. 297.
To freith and exoner my self of wardlie effairis 1600-1610 Melvill 5.
Freithing him selff of the charge bathe of Anstruther and Pittenweim 1615 Melrose P. 198.
Freetheing oure selffis of your maiesteis just reprooffe heirefter 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 84.
If Mr. Hew did not freithe him of ane sclander laid upon him be the parochen

c. refl. To clear (oneself) by performance. 1596 Dalr. II. 350/22.
The thrie estates … band thame selfes … that [the] Quene mother suld freith her selfe in al quhat euir scho had promiste

5. tr. a. To clear (land) from any charge or burden. 1456 Wemyss Chart. 78.
The said Johne of Wemys … sal fretht … all the thriddis of all the landis … belangand to the said Johne of Wemis moder 1474 Acta Aud. 35/1.
Sir William sall freith and deliuer to the said Dungal the landis … als fre as thai war the tyme quhen thai war set to him

b. To clear the cost of (something). 1556 Crim. Trials I. 390.
The furneist bed, on the nycht, and that to freithe the chalmer

6. To remit the payment of (a sum). 1610 Edinb. Test. XLVI. 177.
I freith him the wther fyve hundreth merkis for ane taikin of luif