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.
Ne, adv.1 [ME. and OE.] Not.Chiefly early: cf. Na adv.2
Not, in no way, by no means.Placed immediately before a verb. Cf. Na adv.2 1. Also with another negative, esp. nocht, following the verb.(1) 1375 Barb. i. 108.
That he ne suld lyff and lymmys tyne Ib. 112. Ib. 293.
In Ingland … Wes nane … that hym ne dred Ib. ii. 133. Ib. v. 371 (E).
Off thretty levyt nane, That thai ne war slayne ilkan, or tane Ib. ix. 305, 455. —Ib. xi. 505 (see Na adv.2 2(2)). — a1400 Leg. S. xxxii. 197.
That I ne durste duel Ib. xxxvi. 933.
Of the twa last spek me ne list Ib. vi. 89, etc. c1400 Troy-bk. i. 53, 168. c1420 Bute MS. 172.
Thai … ne aw bot anys kychyn on the day Ib. 174.
That he ne dyd it a1500 Lanc. 102.
Ne blamyth her Ib. 963. 1513 Doug. ii. x. 135.
To suffir exile he said that he ne couth Ib. iii. ix. 6, vi. i. 95, vii. Prol. 22, viii. Prol. 159, etc. c1590 Fowler I. 385/213.
What happs might chance me I ne knewe 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 122/155.(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxv. 391.
Na hyre purpos he chang ne mycht Nothir for prayere na for mycht ?14.. Ship Laws c. 26 (B).
The maystyr ne aw nocht to let [etc.] 1456 Hay I. 214/17. a1500 Lanc. 39.
How sche … Ne knouith not how I ame wo begone a1500 Quare Jel. 42. 1513 Doug. vi. i. 129.
I ne ask na land, nor realm Ib. viii. ix. 59.
Gyf so war now with me … Ne suld I nevir depart Ib. viii. iv. 57, xi. iv. 57.
b. Ne war(e, wor, also, ne war not, were it not, had it not been (that, for), but for.(1) 1375 Barb. ii. 424.
He … haid till erd gane fullyly Ne war he hynt him by his sted Ib. viii. 270.
Thai war all to few … Ne war thair outrageous valour Ib. 83, xiv. 375. c1420 Wynt. ii. 311.
Neware that Joseph … Hade sene remede … for it Ib. 1399. a1500 Lanc. 1176.
Ne wor his worschip Ib. 3357. 1513 Doug. vi. i. 60. (B).
Eneas … This sculptur al espyit had … Ne war Achates … Be than returnyt was [etc.] Ib. xi. xvii. 97.(2) 1513 Doug. xii. xiii. 47.
Ne war not that suld thou me se … Sustenand thus euery stres
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"Ne adv.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Nov 2023 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/ne_adv_1>
