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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.

Nerrar, -er, Narrar, compar. a., adv. and prep. Also: nerrare, narrer(e, narer. [ME. nerrer (c 1330), compar. of Ner a. and Ner adv. Cf. Nerar.]On editorial variation between forms in nerr- and narrwhere the original employs the abbreviation (-er or -ar), see Nerrest.

Nearer, closer, in position, relationship, association, similarity. a. adj. b. adv. Closer; more nearly, more; (const. infin.) closer to doing or achieving something; const. to or til(l. c. prep.a. 1497 Reg. Cupar A. I. 310.
Quhill the tyme we … prouide for ane nerrar place 1567 Acts III. 44/2.
That na persone offerit to pas vpoun assyis … salbe repellit quhan thai attene to the partie aduersar in the lyke or nerrar greis of that same sort of affectioun Ib.
In als neir or nerrar degreisb. (1) c1420 Wynt. viii. 516.
The fyrst get in all kyn gre Nerrare or ferrare quhethir [it] be 1513 Doug. ii. xi. 48.
The heit nerrar [R. nerrer] drew Ib. iii. viii. 49.(b) a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 932.
The bischape for rednes Durste cum na narrere 1570 Sempill Sat. P. xii. 181.
Feche Leuenox hame Ȝe haif nane narer nor he(2) c1420 Wynt. viii. 4237.
Than wes he nerrare wode than wrathe c 1500 Justiciary Rec. I. 157.
The nerrer that ane man be in perrell or mischeif he rynnis the mair hie[d]lang tharto(3) c1420 Wynt. viii. 312.
Dredles I am nerrare Than ony is to bere the crown 14.. Burgh Laws c. 98 (A).
The next of the frendis salbe nerrar to by that lande than ony other mane salbe till it c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 3026.
Bot it to win na narrar couth thai be(4) a1400 Leg. S. xlii. 321.
It stud stil ne come nerrare the ton til c1420 Wynt. viii. 470.
Gyve he be fwndyn in gre nerrare Till hym a1578 Pitsc. I. 44/13.
The narrar that ane man be to ane perrell … he rinnis the mair heidlangis thairtoc. 1398 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 38.
Gif any on … beis fondyn dwelland or gangand nerrar the marches than the boundes forsaid c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 50/9.
And the nerrar thow be him & pray with gud faith … thow art the soner herd c1515 Asl. MS. I. 264/16.
He was a degre nerrer the crovne 1537 Crim. Trials I. i. 186.
Nerrare 1572 Reg. Great S. 529/1.
For his better commoditie and easiar payment to be had narrar him selff 1590 Crail B. Ct. MS. 3 Nov.
That na wair be keipit … narrer the sey nor the eist grene or wind mylne c1650 Spalding I. 37.
The Bischop of Morray … rode besyde the Bischop of London, sumwhat narrer the King Ib. 356.
The haill papistis wes commandit … nocht to cum narer the place of parleament nor 10 myllis