A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375, 1450-1500, 1567-1632
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The, adv. [ME and e.m.E. þe (c1175), þæ (Layamon), the (Tindale), OE þe originally locative or instrumental case of the demonstrative and relative pronoun se, séo, þæt.]
1. Preceding a comparative adjective or adverb to form an adverbial phrase, = by so much. See adjective and adverb entries such as Better adv. 1, Les adv. and Rather adv. 2, 3, 5 for further examples.1375 Barb. xviii 36.
My brother is cummand With [fyften] thowsand men ner-hand, And war thai knyt with ȝow ȝe mycht The traystlyer abid to fycht c1450-2 Howlat 173 (A).
As I richt knew That thai war bischopis blist, I was the blythar a1500 Henr. Fab. 652.
With mischeif myngit is my mortall fait My misleuing the soner bot I mend a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1351.
Gif he lichtly forgevis thé The hardear than may thow be a1568 Bannatyne MS 135a/51.
A wound quhen it is grene Is the soner heilit a1578 Pitsc. II 35/1.
Mony of thair landis … was his natiue herietage … thairfor he was the laither to want thame 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 102.
That this tryall may goe on the better favoredlie, ye have first to understand [etc.] 1600-1610 Melvill 22.
Haiffing the pen-knyff in my right hand, I fell, and thairwithe strak my selff … wherby … I was the mair war of knyffes all my dayes 1632 Aberd. Council Lett. I 362.
This disorder is the greatter that it hath bene maid and continewith without any caus or publict necessitie
2. In correlative constructions.1375 Barb. xiv 273, 274.
He said agayne, ‘The ma thai be The mar honour all-out haff we Giff that we ber ws manlyly’ 1456 Hay II 62/15, 16.
In samekle as the ire is the mare, in samekle suld force of curage … be the starkare to ourcum the unresonable passiouns of ire c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ii 151.
The more thai bad, the mor it was in wayne ?a1500 Remembrance of the Passion 542.
O my saule, behald the sone of God maid man, tholit bitter passioun for thé the mair panfull the tenderar that he wes a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 280 (L).
The mair I wreslit with the wynd In faster stait my selff I find 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. Prov. No. 22.
Fyre, the more it is keipt doune the more it flameth wpp 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 50.
Ay the mair that my faith growes, the better grip I get of Christ Jesus 1632 Aberd. Council Lett. I 361.
It most be resolvit for the present to lose a littil and the sooner the better without respect of ony particular persons
