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.
Never-mar(e, -mair, adv. Also: nevir-, newir-. [North. ME. never-mar(e (Cursor M.), early ME. naveremare (Layamon), midl. and south. never(e)-mor(e (Bestiary): cf. Never-Mor(e.Written either as one word or as two.]
1. Nevermore, never again, at no subsequent time. 1375 Barb. i. 166.
The tothir … swar That he suld have it neuirmar a1400 Leg. S. l. 596.
Fra His luf I neuirmare sall Be departyt 14.. Burgh Laws c. 90 (B).
He sal neuermare eftyrward be herd 1453 Stirlings of Keir 226. c1475 Wall. ix. 1804. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 222.
I saw hir nevir mare 1535 Stewart 27169.
Ilkane for to be sworne Britis agane neuir mair till persew 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4574.
Sen my mother me bair Blude vpon me was lattin neuer mair a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxii. 67.
Keip ws … that neuer mair we cum To sic errour
b. ? Punningly or ? erron. for ever mair, for ever. — 1590–1 Crim. Trials I. ii. 234.
And syne to ryis in flesch and bane The lyffe that newir mair hes gane
2. In no circumstances, in no way, not at all. 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 50.
Bot neuermar may man sone hafande an ayr til his sone bastard ony part of his heretagis gif Ib. c. 78.
Neuermar forsuth the keping of the heretagis pertenis to hym of quham is hade suspicoune
3. Neuer mar sa, = never sa (Never adv. 4). c1460 Thewis Gud Women 130
Hant nocht with men our-anerly All be thai neuir mar sa worthi
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"Never-mar adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 26 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/never_mare>
