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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1681
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Mer, Mar, v. Also: mere, mare, marr(e. [ME. merre, marre, mære, OE. męrran to hinder, spoil, also, to go astray; OE. also mearrian to go astray.]
1. tr. To obstruct, impede, hinder, stop, thwart. Variously const.a1400 Legends of the Saints xxv. 596.
That takine the feyndis skaris [MS. sakiris], & of thar mycht & purpos merrys c1420 Ratis Raving 789.
Bot sic motyf [may] mar thé mare c1420 Wynt. v. 662 (C). c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vi. 169.
In to gret part it marryt [him] off his sicht a1540 Freiris Berw. 204 (M).
I sall him quyt … Him that hes merrit ws on this maneir 1609 Criminal Trials II. 287.
The soner the better, or ellse ve may be marrit and frustrat 1650 Mure II. 46/433.
That not one dyat of His Church hath thence Been mar'd from meeting a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 14.
That … denomination of being mediator doth not marr us to pray to Him a1658 Ib. 38.
His … glory doth not marr nor hinder Him in the application of His offices a1658 Ib. 85.
To haue marred and hindered her preaching a1658 Ib. 347.
Mens corruptions begin to be restrained and their liberty in sinning marred
2. With obj. a thing (material or non-material): To impair, spoil; to damage; to ruin; to defile.a1400 Legends of the Saints xii. 284.
Al his guttis … Owt thai ruschit … & in til his mowthe differryt … That sa fullely suld nocht be marryt For Cristis awne mowthe he can kyse a1500 Golagros and Gawane 965.
Mony mailye and plait war marrit on the mold a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 20 (Asl.).
The sone the mone & sternis … Ar … Merrit [Harl. marit] with myrknes quhilk sumtyme blomyt brycht 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 14.
Musing marris our myrth c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. lxxxi. 45.
And gif he dois weill say I dar It marris his ryale maiestie c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 603.
Gyf that this idoll [covatice] rax, it will all mer 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. v.
The ingratious discord in the eare of the least string will mar al the mirth 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 456.
My Lord Jesus will not mar nor spill my sufferings 1644 Shetland Witch Trial in Hibbert Shetland Islands 594.
You did thereby marr and undo twa whole makings of the same bear 1658 Lamont Diary 138.
The waters marred divers pairts of the high way 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1751) 101.
When several critics … By mending lines, did mar them all
3. a. With personal obj.: To hurt, harm, injure. Also absol.1375 Barb. i. 272.
Quhill a thryll his lyff may leid, It merrys him, body and banys 1375 Ib. xvii. 930.
Bot dede that vachis ay to mar … vorthy a1400 Legends of the Saints x. 84.
Quhame that thai had euir marryte In thare wittis or differryte a1400 Ib. xi. 296.
Thai mycht mere tham in na thinge a1400 Ib. xii. 28.
Be thi tale I cane wele trev, That wech-crafte merrys thé now a1400 Ib. xiii. 75. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2262.
Dredand my men suld be Merrit with thar [Sirens] sle fantasye a1500 Henr. III. 90/13.
Quhat hes marrit thé in thy mude, Makyne, to me thow schaw? c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vi. 602.
Feill Sotheroun folk was marryt in thair mycht, Slayne be the gait as thair king fled away c1475 Ib. x. 724. a1500 Golagros and Gawane 96.
Quhy has thow marrit my man, with maistri to mene? a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow i. 192. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. xix. 15.. Christis Kirk 71 (B).
Be ane akerbraid it [an arrow] come nocht neir him, I can nocht tell quhat mard him 1600-1610 Melvill 498.
Sic greivous pean tormented me and mard That I could skarslie keip me but offenceabsol. a1400 Legends of the Saints iii. 211.
The juge … Gert … put hym in a sek to mere … And kest hym fer in the flud a1500 Golagros and Gawane 1013.
Thai mellit on with malice, … Mankit throu mailyeis, and maid thame to mer
b. To harm, ruin, destroy (morally, in one's fortunes, etc.); also, to spoil (a child). Also absol.a1400 Legends of the Saints xxx. 501.
Thu has ne scham … That … Has lefit thi housband sc[h]amfully & cumis here to mere me ?1438 Alex. i. 301.
For I sie nathing now that may Mar vs sa mekill as cowardis a1500 Henr. Fab. 959 (Bann.).
This suddane semblay … Is maid to mar sic misdoaris as me 1588 King Catechism 140.
Maisters and scolmaisters … be ouer mekle … indulgence in bringing vp thay mar thame quha ar committit to thair chairge c1600 Montg. Suppl. vii. 62.
It war to far to mar me but offenceabsol. 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 219.
Venus can nouther mar or mak
c. To confuse, lead astray; to confound, astonish, affright.a1400 Legends of the Saints vi. 354.
He that liffand it [alms-giving] deferris Is lyk a man that merknes merryse c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxx. 7.
Lyk to ane man that with a gaist wes marrit
4. intr. To go astray, to become confused, perplexed or lost.a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 22.
Amang thay myrk montanis sa madlie thay mer … That ilk ane tuik ane seir way a1500 King Hart 104.
All that couth attene the castell neir It [a fortified bridge] maid thame for to mer amis and mang
