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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Maner, n.¹ Also: -ere, -eir(e, -eyr, -ir, -yr, -ie(i)r, -ar(e, manner, mainer, mainnar, mayner, mene(i)r, -or, mendir. [ME. maner(e (a 1200), manyer (Chaucer), manar (15th c.), e.m.E. manner, AF. manere, OF. maniere.]In verse, esp. in rhyme, generally taking the stress on the second syllable.

1. The way in which something is done or takes place, mode of procedure, method, fashion.Chiefly in phrases with prepositions. See also Inlik(e)maner, Likemaner and Like A. 2 (2) and (3).(Be, in, on) na (no) maner, by no means, not at all.Be (the) maner of, by the method of, by way of.(1) 1375 Barb. iv. 691.
Thai … Of thir twyn maners makis fanding Of thingis to cum to haf knawing a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 246.
For the feynd sal of sere manere [: apere] Fand til ourcum thé Ib. xxxvi. 536.
This Herrod king … Mysdid here in maneris sewine 1399 Acts I. 212/2.
That he lette nocht that payment … in ony maner ?1438 Alex. ii. 2746.
Thow art annoyit on grit manere [: fare a.] c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1385.
In fele manerese 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59. 1409 Exch. R. IV. ccx.
To ger it be amendit amang thaimself in lufely manere c1420 Wynt. v. 5448.
In clerklyk manere and morale 1456 Hay I. 262/2.
Be a fals wikkit maner and unlefully 1533 Gau 103/2.
That ony man interpreit the wordis … in ony oder maner nay thay stand 1567 G. Ball. 6.
Efter the same maner also He tuke the coupe 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 206.
And in effect commanding … , on his pretendit maner, all men … till … leif me and my service 1596 Dalr. I. 31/34.
Thair fatt is sik, that aftir the maner of the fatt of vthir ky, it freises nocht frahand 1610 Crim. Trials III. 104.
With all kynd of hosteill maner c 1639 Scots Lore I. 161.
That imminent ruine which for the present my estate is exposed vnto in a more fearfull maner nor [etc.] 1663 Dumbarton B. Rec. 82.
Members … hes conveined … in ane very indecent manner by coming without hats 1677 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III. 101.
[To] obteane from us ane deputatione of the said shirreffshipe in maner and dureing the space above set doune(b) 1521 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xv.
My lord in all humble and dew maneyr I recommend [etc.] 1535 Stewart 17361.
[He] hailsit him than of ane gude maneir [: feir] 1605 Glasgow Trades House 4.
For cheising of thir twa to be gevin in lytes in maneir foirsaid(c) 1562-3 Winȝet I. 122/13.
Forespokin be the prophetis … on this manieir(d) 1544 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 199.
To be put in suir fermans for keping in secreit manir 1557 Inverness Rec. I. 7.
Statutts … for selling of the met fysche in quiet manyr 1605 Glasgow Merchants House 94.
To repair the said estmest hedge in … sufficient manir(e) 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 182.
Madame, in maist hwmyll manar I commend my … sarwyce to your grace(f) 1524 Ecclesia Antiqua 39.
[Their band] devisit in the maist syker mainer possible 1588 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 50.
His majesties guid health … continewis in the ould mainer 1656 Misc. Spald. C. V. 231.
It is … agried betuixt [etc.] … in mainer wndirvrittin(g) 1590 Strathendrick 172.
Quhair they were in quiet and sobir mener doing thair lesum effearis(2) 1375 Barb. i. 70.
The barownys … That on na maner mycht accord a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 975. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 4 (B).
A burges may nocht pund ane other but leif of his balȝe be na maner 1531 Bell. Boece I Proh. vi.
But I no maner couth my mind prepare(3) 1456 Hay I. 5/17.
We will mak first certane questiounis … be maner of figure c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 27/14.
To enclyne the person … fra syn, it may be done be the maner of merit bot nocht of satisfactioun

b. Followed by a conjunction or relative chiefly in periphrastic phrases taking the place of the conjunctions as or how. Also in maner that, = so that.(1) a1400 Leg. S. x. 165.
At the wyndow thu ma se Quhat maner that we [sal thame] do 1393 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 28.
It is accordit in the maner that followis 1424 Dumbarton B. Rec. App. ii. 2.
Al thyngis … to be haldyn in maner as is befor wrytten c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 634.
And with his toung he likit all his hand Movand his tale be manere as fawnand 1498 Montgomery Mem. 52.
It is fullely endit … in manyr and fowrme as efter folowis 1531 Bell. Boece I. 8.
To mak … sacrifice to the goddis on the same maner as the Egyptianis usit 1539 Grant Chart. 272.
In meneir, forme, and effect as eftir fallowis 1584 Conv. Burghs I. 191.
All fisches … to be graithitt … in maner as is mentionatt in the said act(2) 1456 Hay II. 123/37.
Quhen thou hast governyt thé in maner that thou has eschewit thir perilis

c. With gerund or noun of action, const. of or with infin.(1) 14.. Burgh Laws c. 70 (A).
Of the maner of walkyn c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 198.
Thar maner of deinge is baith bot ane c 1466–80 Letter from Lord Hamilton.
To … ler the craft of fyning of lede & the maner bath of byrning & smeltyn the samyn 1490 Irland Mir. I. 12/35.
Quhethire thi manere of lyfing in thi state riall plesis to God Id. Asl. MS. I. 38/24.
The … tyme of fasting and the maner c1500 Crying of Play Title.
Heir followis the maner of the crying of ane playe a1586 Maitland Geneal. Setoun 10.
Certane maners of beginning of housis 1556 Carte Northberwic 72.
[The vicar] execut the residew of the said maner of handfasting conforme to the consuetud 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest. 15.
Ewill gouernance of the patient in maneir of leauing a1578 Pitsc. I. 207/5.
To sie the maner of thair coming 1596 Dalr. I. 94 marg. Ib. 119/1.
Ane new maner of kuikrie 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. 122.
The direct maner of improbation 1650 Brechin Presb. 44.
The tym and maner of death of Georg Stewart's kye(2) 14.. Burgh Laws c. 28 (A).
Of the maner to defende court in burgh 1494 Loutfut MS. 4 b.
The maner to disarm thaimplur. 1549 Compl. 101/19.
The Romans … purposit mony maneyrs to ische furtht

d. To make, take (the) maner (to do something), (1) to make as if to do it, make a show of doing it, (2) ? to take steps to do it. 1456 Hay II. 97/15.
Gerr thame trow thou drinkis quhen thou sall mak bot maner 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 306.
Bot thaj gaif in haistie ansuer, bit tuik maner to adwyse thair-on a 1673 Alex. Jaffray Diary 15.
Having made the manner to learn some Greek in Banchory, I entered to my logics

2. (To tell, ask, learn, etc.) the maner how something was done or took place. Hence b. ellipt., (to tell etc.) what had happened or was happening, how things stand or stood, the state of affairs.(1) a1400 Leg. S. vi. 80.
A seruand … Be-held the manere how he sat & mete & drink vald nocht assay 1456 Hay II. 9/2. a1500 Seven S. 519.
He bad hir tell the maner howe: Scho said ‘Blythlie’ Ib. 1925.(b) 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV. ii. 164.
He had declarid … the manner how he cam to the lyttle guilt coffer 1703 Edinb. Univ. Chart. 138.
To know the tyme and place way and manner how the lauriation should be made(2) c1420 Wynt. viii. 686.
The sevyn and twentyd chapytere All thus tellis the manere [C. maynere] c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2810.
Alexander said certis he wald be Vpoun that roche and all the maner se a1500 Henr. Orph. 123.
Orpheus … With awfull luke … Speris the maner, and the maid said thus [etc.] a1500 Sir Eger 468.
Under the wall she stood so still, Heard the manner that it was ill a1500 Seven S. 1961.
The pyot that the maner knewe Scho sesit hir sang Ib. 2108.
He bad hir tell the maner haile. Scho said, Quhat makis it avale? 1513 Doug. ii. ii. 85. Ib. iii. v. 7. 1523 Carnwath Baron Ct. (S.H.S.) 3.
The inqueist dolais this mater quhil thai be ferder avyssit & speir the maner 15.. Clar. iv. 580.
Unto the King he raid … And told him all the maner and the meine What that thay war, and how thay war arayit a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. ii. 23.
Quha wald the maner speir 1573 Reg. Privy C. II. 253.
The said … boitman and the said lairdis twa servandis schew the said complenar the mane[r] with a promeise of warrandice of the boit to pas sauflie up the watter a1578 Pitsc. I. 249/19.
The paip inquirit quhairat they [the bishop's men] lewche, and the bischope schew the paipe the maner

3. A customary mode of procedure; habitual practice; usage, custom, fashion. Also transf. 1375 Barb. ii. 181.
Bruce … in the kingis stole was set As in that tyme wes the maner ?1438 Alex. ii. 5018.
And foulis singis of soundis seir, And makes thame mirth on thare manere Ib. 48. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1147. c1420 Wynt. v. 1494.
He ordanyt alsua that manare [: thai ware] Quhen barnys suld confermyt be Ib. 4826.
As yhe se yhit ilk[a] yhere Haldyne the oys and the manere Ib. 4894.
A wont manere 1456 Douglas Chart. 85.
Be the deliuerans of erde, tre and stane, as the maner is, at the cheife chemes 1513 Doug. ix. xii. 116.
Hys maner and hys gys Was forto syng [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece I. 103.
Be quhom certane men war limit to minister justice on the Romane maner 1546 Mill Mediæv. Plays 155.
That euery … freman … gif him [the schoolmaster] thair wagis of the auld maner efferand to thair estatis 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 83. 1596 Dalr. I. 101/22.

b. For (the) maneris sake, maner saik, manersakes, in order to conform, or seem to conform, with the normal practice, for the sake of appearances. 1563 D. Fergusson Ane Answer to ane Epistle 37.
They … occupyeth the tyme with speaking to the wall, and now & then for the manersakes, one word or two (turning them to the people) in a strange language 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots 537.
The mater being wonderit at … for the maners saik a councilwes convenit … to mak sum schaw of inquisitioun Ib. 541.
[The queen] then for the maner saik keping the bed 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 21.
The Quene thairfoir for maneris sake … gais up to the Kingis ludgeing

4. a. A person's habitual behaviour, conduct, morals. b. One's outward bearing, deportment, mode of address. sing. and plur.sing. 1375 Barb. xi. 197.
Suld I tell all thar effer, Thair countynans and thar maner ?1438 Alex. i. 1009.
Philot … Of ioyous and of blyth manere Ib. ii. 2768.
Gif my father … War gude in manere and in deid Ib. 7759. c1460 Thewis Gud Women 115.
Bot ay hald rownd and plan maner a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 153.
Saturne … as ane busteous churle on his maneir [:cheir] a1500 K. Hart 291.
Fredome gentrice cuning and fair maner All thir wer lous daylie a1500 Bk. Chess 702.
All the peple till informe & leire Of gudlie manere & iustlie leving heire 1522 Douglas Corr. 84.
Ane Italiane callyt Evangilista, the manere of a Lumbard 1535 Stewart 36547.
Of morall maneir maistres and motherplur. c1420 Wynt. vii. 522.
My specyall famylyerys Off plesand and off fayre manerys c1450-2 Howlat 331.
Knychtis … clene of maneris [:weris, deris, saphiris] 1456 Hay II. 93/9.
Villaine … men that … wald copy his maneris and fynd lak to him in his communicacioun c1460 Thewis Gud Women 6.
Ill maneris and thewis That folowis ful women & schrewis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 259. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 20.
He was far discordant fra him in maneris Ib. 104.
Instrukand the rude pepill … in civill maneris 1562-3 Winȝet I. 2/5.
For vnfenȝeit reformation of doctrine and maneris 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 304. 1596 Dalr. I. 83/23. 1597 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 127.
To tak attendance to the maneris of the pepill therin a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1689.
Upaland folks hes muirlands maners 1621 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 341. 1618-60 Lithgow Poet. Rem. 224.
To rectifie his [a child's] manners [: complainers] 16.. Rudiments 8 a.
My bairne, thow shalt obserue moreover a noune to be gude mainnares 1684 Bk. Pasquils 285.
I shall not here, with burlesque penners, Carp at her beauty, wit, or manners

c. A way of life, mode of living or behaving. 1490 Irland Mir. 107 b.
Sene in oure humanite … are foure diuers staitis and maneris, … the feird perfit contemplacioun

d. A disposition, inclination, aptitude (to a certain way of life). 1375 Barb. iv. 721.
The constillacioune That kyndly maneris giffis thaim til For till inclyne to gud or ill

e. Decorous or restrained behaviour, moderation, circumspection; polite or well-bred behaviour. sing. and plur.sing. c1420 Wynt. v. 2166.
Hawtane in hys fere He past all mesure and manere 1456 Hay I. 265/35.
Thare is suteltee and maner to tak this jurement c1460 Consail Vys Man 185.
Luf nocht … our loud lauchtyr na ladry For maner makis man of valour And bringis a man to gret honorplur. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1631.
Now ȝe haue brocht him heir With na maners, bot doytit, daft and dum Ib. 8636.
Gif ony man in maners and wisdome And gude ingine vnto his [Titus] court wald cum

5. The way in which a thing is executed or made, its nature, character, form, shape, make, fashion, style.In (the) maner of, in the form, shape or style of, also, consisting of.(1) 1387 Edinb. Chart. 35.
With a durre als gude maner as the durre standand in the west gavyl Ib.
Alsua the chapel and the ylys … sal be voutyt all vndir a maner c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1882.
To se the maner certanely Of the gold at the letter said c1420 Ratis R. 1728.
And as of child of ȝhong manere 1456 Hay II. 107/36.
Scho knew the course of the ȝeris … sesonis and all thaire maneris 1533 Bell. Livy I. 73/27.
The proces and maner of euery religioun be him devisit 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary II. 167.
A pair of blak velvet hoise … and ane doublet of satin of the same maner 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 20 b.
He salbe punissed conforme to the maner & quantitie of the crime(b) 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 58.
Sic complaynt … the qwilk the maneir thair of war ourlang to put in writing Ib.
It is nocht vnkend to ȝoure hee excellence hw thar is trowys takyn & the maneire betwix ȝw and … the Kyng of Scotland a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 576.
On this maneir [she] maid hir testament 1531 Bell. Boece I. Proh. ix.
Ane man … Quhen he is deid, the mateir dois remane, Thoucht it resolve in to sum new maneir 1549 Compl. 14/12.
He dar be sa bold … tyl indoctryne the maneir of the veyris a1585 Maitl. Q. ii. 26.
Thair wovin hois … With gartennis of ane new maneir(c) 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III. 82.
Efter the mener of our ingine and capasite of oure sensis 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 38.
Albeit the mener of sic [occurrences] wes nowayis very plesand to us nor yow(2) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) fol. 281 b.
In the maner of spelling that I wreit 1583 Melvill 158.
Sa will we nocht … prescryve unto yow anie forme of answering or maner of wrytting againe to the bischop's … questionnes — 1490 Irland Mir. I. 164/13.
I haue maid this werk in this manere of speking in the commoune langage of this cuntre a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. 9 b/20.
Quhat phrais and maner of spekynge menis thir vordes(3) c1420 Wynt. i. 382.
Ane ark in maner of ane stak 1436 Cop. St. A. 132.
To haf … to ferm lattin in maner of clere husbandry al oure landis [etc.] 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 84.
Ane hinger set with diamantis in maner of M Ib. 85. 1497–8 Acta Conc. II. 140.
The sade Alexander producit ane writing in maner of ane acquittance 1513 Doug. vi. iv. 22.
In the haly ingil … [she] Kest thame, in maner of the first sacrifice Ib. v. x. 86, vii. viii. 107. c1515 Asl. MS. I. 169/17.
[The river] enteris in the erd in the manere of a swelch 1580 Edinb. Test. VII. 350 b.
Ane prophane … geving ouer in maner oflegacie ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III. 128.
High traverses of earth, which crossed the high street … in mainer of blynds

6. A species, variety, kind, sort (of anything, and with of omitted).Freq … more or less pleonastically, espec. with the adjs. all, every, na, ony.Also plur. without inflection.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. i. 256.
Ȝardes for herbys and for virgerys, That fruyt in grew of sere maneris 1456 Hay I. 12/35.
The haly scripture has four maneris of understanding Ib. 195/13.
Thare is a maner of bondis callit libertouns 1494 Loutfut MS. 153 a.
To knaw neidful is xv maneris of lionys in armys 1490 Irland Mir. I. 62/1.
This maner of knawlage deferris mekle fra oure maner 1662 Crim. Trials III. 609.
Blew beaver, land-feaver, maneris ofstooris(2) 1513 Doug. vi. xiii. 33.
Quhat maner ȝong gallandis bene ȝon? Ib. vii. iv. 208.
His stedis … Sik maner hors engendrit of bastard kynd(3) 1379 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 2.
That nowthir I no myn ayres … for na maner of reragez … may … distourble [them] … be ony maner of way bot fra all manere of rycht … be ws excludit 1381 Douglas Chart. 29.
Withoutyn ony manier of gaynsaying … or distourbance of vs 1409 Exch. R. IV. ccxi.
Na na undoing be na manere of way 14.. Acts I. 312/2.
The laf of al maner of corne 1469 Ib. II. 97/1. a1500 Quare Jel. 236.
Withoutyn cause of ony maner thing c1490 Porteous Nobilnes 183/7.
All manere continens, voce, aynd [etc.] 1508 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. 258.
That nay manere of personis … cum [etc.] 1513 Doug. viii. iv. 57.
So that no maner wikkytnes … Mycht be that he ne durst nocht [etc.] Ib. xiii. ix. 9.
The bankat … With alkyn maner ordinans 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 189.
That … he aucht nocht to ansuere … to na maner of attachment maid upone him 1536 Edinb. Hammermen 2 b.
That nane maner of thair seruandis … tak vpon hand [etc.] a1540 Freiris Berw. 473.
Bot gif it wer on sic a maner wyis Him to translait [etc.] c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 989. 1548 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 141.
That na maner of wemen … be fund … flyting a1568 Scott xiii. 29.
Secreit alswa, in every maner sort Ib. xxxiv. 43.
Ȝe send all maner thing With trattillis thame to trane 1584 Acts III. 353/2.
That na maner of persone … sall … eat ony maner of flesche in tyme of lenteren 1696 Cramond Kirk S. IV. 8 June.
Four hundreth marks … to be payed to her in liew of all that she can aske … any manner of way from the paroch(b) 1582 Cal. Sc. P. VI. 146.
To refwise all menor of thinges that [etc.] 1653–7 Irvine Mun. II. 255.
To sei quhat mendir of comission ther 1689 Acts XII. 68/1.
Upon all mener of boats(4) a1400 Leg. S. vi. 473.
Lyknand that word … To foure maner of sere thing c1420 Bute MS. fol. 172.
Thai of Normandy sal hafe twa maner of kychyne a1500 Henr. Orph. 464.
To betakyn thre manir of dedis 1490 Irland Mir. I. 28/11.
Ilkane of thire manere of pepil c1515 Asl. MS. I. 327/25. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 55.
Thaim that … culd find to him new maner of lustis 1573 Riddell Tracts 192.
Be thre manner of wayis … quhilkis thre maneris of probation of knawlege ar [etc.]

b. A kind (of), a sort (of), a thing in the nature of, something like (the class of thing specified). c1475 Wall. iii. 133.
A maner dyk off stanys thai had maid Ib. xi. 379. c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 20/19.
A maner of sclander and detractioun 1513 Doug. i. x. 8.
In hir mynd scho had a maner feir Of this lynnage 1577 Knox IV. 301.
[He] was laid upon a maner of a rowe aboue the fyre

7. In (a) maner, after a fashion, in a way, so to speak; in some degree, in some way. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 49.
[He] forsakis the trew God of hevin and in maner makis a god of … his lord 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 57.
You that haif wissit me to be ane kentys man, quylk in a maner is ane centaure Id. Detect. (1727) 15.
Not anis … to do him honour nor in a maner to knaw him Ib. 63.
Being eschaipit away in maner nakit, as it wer out of his hous flamming in fyre 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 196.
This ordour of marriage indurit in ane maner an sclander to the Kirk of God 1596 Dalr. I. 195/15.
Our folkes, in a maner abaset with the force … of thair ennimies a1658 Durham Commandments 110.