A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Wared, Waird, ppl. adj. [ME wared (?a1418).] Chiefly with ill-, wele-. Cf. War(e v.1 6. a. Well-deserved, justified. b. Of effort: Well-expended. c. Of time: Well (badly) spent, passed in a useful (wasteful) way. d. Of money: Well spent. —a. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 439.
O then, well-wared pained breast, and sore back … in speaking early and late to you! —b. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 216.
Christ would laugh at me, and say, ‘Well-wared! try again ere you trust’ —c. ?1661-5 M. Bruce Soul-Confirmation (1709) II.
For confirming your souls together, there is many ill waird nights, but that would be a well waird one —d. 1705 Anal. Scot. II 22.
I should look on it as weel wared money
