A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1500-1641
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Over-, Owerga, v. Also: ovir-, ov'r-; p.t. -ȝede, -ȝeid; -went; p.p. -gane, -gean. [ME. overga(n (latterly north.), -go(n, p.t. -yod(e, -ȝede, -went, p.p. (north.) -gan (Cursor M.), -go(n, e.m.E. overgo(e, OE. ofergán, p.t. -éode. Cf. Ourga, -go and Overgo(e.]
1. tr. a. To overflow, overrun, infest. = Ourga 2.(b) 1558–9 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 287.
To the warkmen that leit furth the louche quhen it overȝeid the land(c) 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 20/32.
For al the grond … is ouer-gane vitht gyrse and vild scroggis 1572 Satirical Poems xxxi. 28.
Pure Scotland … is ouirgane with a flude Of murther and of saikles blude 1600-1610 Melvill 214.
Seing your new erected paprie … is altogidder festered and owergean with tham [sc. corruptions] 1641 Sc. Hist. Rev. IX. 363.
That prelats and pick-thanks this land had ov'rgane
b. To spread over so as to cover, to cover. 1596 Dalr. ii. 319/26.
For al was ouergane with mirknes and blaknes of the nycht
2. To overcome, get the better of; also ? to surpass, to exceed. = Ourga 3. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxv. 12.
As with the glaikis he wer ouirgane 1583 Sempill Warning vi.
Thair sorrow schoirtlie will ovirga ȝour seill 1584 Id. Sat. P. xlv. 253.
Owergane a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 852.
The shots overgaes the ald swine
3. intr. To pass away. = Ourga 4. c1550 Rolland Court of Venus i. 202.
Fra me allone sic pastance is ouirgane 15.. Clariodus v. 2484.
The night ower went and cuming was the day
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"Owerga v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/owerga>
