Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Prayer, n. Also: prayere, -ar(e, -air, -eir, -ier, praier(e, praer, praire, preyer(e, -ir, preir, prear, priar, pryer. [ME and e.m.E. praiere (Cursor M.), prayer(e (Cursor M.), praire (14th c.), preiere, preyere, preiour (Piers Plowman), prayour (1425), etc., OF preiere (MF and mod. F. prière).]

1. A prayer to God or a deity.Variously const.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xvi 372.
Thane God … Hyre prayer hard and that laydy Consawit barne ?a1500 Dewoit Exerc. 326.
O sweit Lord, I offer this pure prayer that I haue said to the honour of ȝow 1513 Doug. ix x 93.
The fader of hevin exceppit his prayer [: cler] c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts xvi 13.
Quhare praiere semyt to be 1533 Gau 82/27.
Few vordis vith ane ardent desir of the hart is ane Crissine prayer, mony vordis vith the mwtht vithout the hart is ane paganis prayier 1567 G. Ball. 44. (a1568 Henr.) Bann. MS. 24 a/heading.
Ane prayer for the pest 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 7.plur. 1456 Hay I 63/24.
To hald him in at prayeris and contemplacioun for that a day Ib. 237/5, 7. 1490 Irland Mir. I 13/17.
Quhen kyrkmen and thar prayeris are nocht hard be Jhesu c1515 Kennedy Asl. MS. II 274/57.
Thocht we brek wowis prayeris pilgrimage & hechtis 1531 Bell. Boece I xlvii.
When the pepill are gevin maist devotly to thair praers 1533 Gau 84/22.
I held mekil alsua befor of siclik praers and pardonis in my blindnes a1570-86 Maitl. F. xlv 54.
Be blyth at the meit and sad at the prayaris 1575 Reg. Privy S. VII 27/2.
The sufferage of devoit orisoun and prayerris 1584 Crim. Trials I ii 136.
In lowing and authorising in his publict prayaris of sic ministeris as ar in Ingland 1584 Gowrie P. 42.
Pryers 1660 Laing MSS. I 312.
Who, as he heard our many praires with fasting and teares for your lordship in the toure(2) 1375 Barb. xii 478.
The Scottis men … a schort prayer thair maid thai Till God till help thame c1420 Wynt. ii 482.
And devotly thai mad thare Tyll a goddes thare prayare, Tyll wyttyre thame [etc.] 1456 Hay I 249/31.
To mak prayeris and service to God before mete Ib. II 160/27.
And maid his prayeris to the grete God that [etc.] c1460 Vert. Mess 62. a1568 Henr. Bann. MS. 326 a/96.
With prayaris to him mak a1578 Pitsc. I 116/29. 1612 Fife Synod 48.
He confessit … that he … kneeled and maid his prayers 1623 Crim. Trials II 537.
Eftir prayeris maid to God to oppin hir hairt(3) 1424 Acts II 8/1.
To mak processionys and speciale prayers for the welefare … of our lorde the king [etc.] 1456 Hay II 42/20.
The squyre … thareto suld mak his speciale prayeris for all, the tyme of the messe 1554 Holyrood Chart. 294.
To dow … dywine seruice and prayaris for our nobill fader a1568 Bann. MS. 145 a/9.
This beis my prayer for that man sleyar(4) 1588 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 53.
We use na prayairis of vengeance as they do

b. A particular set form of words appointed for, or used as, a prayer.The Lordis Prayer, see Lord n. 34 c. ?a1500 Dewoit Exerc. 1.
Quha that will say thir prayeris and artickillis efter following euery Sonday 1533 Gau 84/33 (see Lord n. 34 c). 1560 Misc. Spald. C. II xxiii.
The most apt men that distinctlie can read the Common Praiers and the Scriptures 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 175/7.
The prayer of the lorde callit the ‘Pater Noster’ Ib. 177/18.
To eik sa mony oratiouns and cerimoniis [G. prayares] to the mes 1562-3 Winȝet I 6/1.
The prayar for the saulis departit 1581 Conf. Faith in Dickinson Source-bk. III 34.
We … refuse … his purgatorie prayeris for the dead

c. Applied to a witch's spell, regarded as a prayer to the Devil. 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 232.
Sche knew be hir devilisch prayer that the said lady wes nocht hable to recover Ib. 233.
Convict, of cureing, be hir wichecraft, incantatioun and saying of develisch prayaris Ib. 235.
Sche passit to the gairdene, to devyise vpoun hir prayer 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (S.T.S.) 12/32.
The conjured spirit appeares … after … long praiers, and much muttring … of the conjurers 1610 Crim. Trials III 95.
And af-taking of the same seiknes, be hir, be repeiting thryse of certain woirdis, quhilk scho termet prayeris

2. The action or practice of praying to a deity or saint.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xli 168.
The bordale wes … The place of haly prayer mad Sa fere that [etc.] 1399 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 42.
Doand na nother thing … bot prayere & a chanon singand [etc.] c1450-2 Howlat 662 (A).
With haly sermonis seire Pardoun and prayere [B. prayeir] 1490 Irland Mir. I 23/21.
For in our prayere we honour thame [sc. angels] 1513 Doug. iii iv 99.
Devot prayer [: requer] c1520-c1535 Nisbet Mark xii 40.
Vndire colour of lang prayere 1551 Hamilton Cat. 8.
Prayar 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 156/39.
Of the sacrifice of oratioun, prayer, and almous deid Ib. 178/7 (G).
The tyme off prayair and oratione 1562-3 Winȝet I 129/14.
As quhen Petir and Iohne ascendit to the temple at the nynte hour of prayar a1568 Bann. MS. I p. 18/11.
The tyme of penitence and of preyir [: seir] Ib. 24/5.
Prayair Ib./heading, 1, 7; etc.
Prayar 1600-1610 Melvill 468.
For thie my praer hes aydant bein Ib. 495.
Thus, efter praer, I panset a whyle on deathe 1643 Baillie II 45.
After prayer, the moderator leited Mr. R. Dowglas, Mr. J. Boner [etc.] 1644 Hist. Fragm. I 67.
Praire Ib.
Praiers 1680 S. Ronaldshay 64.
My Lord Bischope closed the meeting with preyer(2) a1400 Leg. S. i 493.
Petir … Stud on far, and praier made, And cryit on hicht [etc.] Ib. xl 1287.
This a nycht with meknes To s: Niniane makis prayere That he will mak ȝow haile & fere c1420 Wynt. iv 1207.
He till his goddis mad prayere [: manere] To gyff hym wyt [etc.] Ib. v 1904.
Sa in the tempyll off Jupytere, As scho was makand hyr prayere a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 456.
War nocht the peple maid sa grete prayere [: stere, yere, cler; M. prayar] a1578 Pitsc. II 79/20.
And makand his prayer and devotioun to allmightie God(3) a1400 Leg. S. xviii 337.
Thru God prayere Thai far al wele ȝe eftyre sper c1450-2 Howlat 76 (A). 1490 Irland Mir. II 42/15.
Sche thocht of his haly resurreccioun and was in gret and deuot prayer c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii 687.
Remeidit all throw guid prayer and deid c1650 Spalding II 32.
Then kneilling doun by the block, he went to prayer agane himself(4) a1400 Leg. S. vi 447.
Threv his prayer sa wrocht he That [etc.] Ib. xxvi 881.
At quhais prayere God hym lent Lynt & space hyme to repent Ib. xxxvi 880.
As scho lay sa in the kirke At hire prayere c1420 Wynt. iii Prol. 39.
Be prayere off the Madyn fre Ib. v 5207.
Prayer 1456 Hay I 233/21. a1570-86 Henr. Maitl. F. cliv 61.
Prayar 1549 Compl. 133/20.
Conformand to the prayer of Sanct Dauid in the 108 Psalme a1568 Bann. MS. I p. 6/5.
Scho being in hir preir [: yfeir, deir] Asking of God [etc.] Ib. 77 b/91.
Gif to the pure to win thair daylie prayeir [: heir]

3. a. The act of public prayer, chiefly as a separate service of the Scottish Reformed Kirk. Chiefly plur.Cf. Winȝet in previous sense (1).sing. 1574 Knox VI 416.
That … the people (especiallie that dwell a landwart) may best attend upone prayer 1700 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 331.
In tyme of prayer that each decurio goe to the factione under his inspectioneplur. 1560 Edinb. B. Rec. III 67.
The tyme of the sermoun and prayarris within the kirk 1561 Ib. 107.
For compelling of the … abstinat inimeis to the treuth to cum to the prayerris and preiching of the worde of God 1571–2 Canongate Ct. Bk. 350.
In Leith Kirk at the prayaris 1573 Red Bk. Menteith II 315.
In tyme of sermone or publist prearis in the parroche kirk 1575 Reg. Soltre 228. 1583 St. A. Kirk S. 504.
Thay and ilk ane of thame suld … keip the prayaris ilk day and the sermone every preaching 1597 Elgin Rec. II 59.
Katecheising to begin on Monunday at ewin nixt the tyme of prayeris 1600 Crim. Trials II 246.
That the fyft day of August sould be keipit as ane soleme day, with preiching and pryer, and thankisgiveing 1608 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 60.
That scho keip the kirk at preiching and prayeris at all occasiones 1622 Ib. 98. 1629 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 230.
Lykeas, the said Mr. George obleises him … to reid in the kirk the prayers 1637 Aberd. B. Rec. III 121.
At morning and evening prayeris, the said Thomas is injoyned to putt … lightis in … the … hearssis 1646 Alyth Kirk S. in Sc. N. & Q. 1 Ser. XII 60.
No preaching nor prayeres be reason of the enimie c1650 Spalding II 297.
Thir lectour lessones wes brocht in be Mr. Androw Cant, vpone Wednisday and Frydday weiklie, in place of the evning prayeris 1678 Robertson Cullen Ch. Ann. 56.
Mr. Archibald Mair schoolmaster … said the morning prayers, and took up the psalm

b. Appar., a prayer (perh. for the reformation or repentance of a culprit or putative culprit) as part of the proceedings in a kirk session or other church court. 1622 Fraserburgh Kirk S. I 5 June.
Adam Sympsone to gett the 2 prayer 1626 Ib. II 12 July.
The sessioun thinkis it nocht meit that the minister proceid aganis Wm. Bell & Androw Fraser to the prayer 1649 Moray Synod 96.
The process against Ladie Grant is brought to the second prayer

c. Attrib. and comb. (also in the plur. form): Of or for prayer.Also Prayer-bell, prayer-buik. 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xix.
Vpon the dittay of making prayers house a caue of knaues 1657 Peebles B. Rec. II 43.
To and fra the back doore … of the chaipell or prayer hous — 1562–3 Peebles B. Rec. I 288.
Ordanis all parochinaris … to compere and mak thair obedience at prayer tyme and vtheris without ony rangald in tymes cuming — 1590 Chron. Perth 60.
To make an ladder to the prayer-tolling, for an merk

4. An appeal, supplication or entreaty by one person to another, or the action of appealing to or entreating another.(1) 1375 Barb. ii 538 (C).
With three hundreth in cumpany That throw the kingis prayer assailyt ?1438 Alex. ii 1307.
I hope thare fallis to luffaris fyne Fare prayer and douchty deid Ib. 7765.
The fare prayere [: heir] c1400 Troy-bk. ii 632.
Ande thocht Pryame to thar askyng Ne thar prayer [C. preyere] mayd answeryng c1420 Wynt. iii 458.
The boy … He requiryt wyth fayre prayare To thole hym … Tyll a pyllare leyne hym thare Ib. vi 218.
This Charlys wald … To schamful dede have put thame thare, Na ware the papys thra prayare Ib. vii 2860.
For-thi the kyng than wald noucht here Thare instawns off this, na thare prayere Ib. 1415. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 422.
Gif pament or praier mught mak that purchese 1533 Bell. Livy I 301/20.
C. Claudius … began to speik to his said nevo, erare in maner of prayer than ony displesere 1533 Boece 47.
Quhen he had schewin his entent thare wyfis … brist out in prayer and teris 1535 Stewart 29815.
Throw his prayer he mesit hes his yre 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 46.
Quhen thai could not brek the quenis obstinat mynd of thair distructioun be prayer and sollicitacioun of freindis(2) ?1438 Alex. i 719.
A beauscheir … Ȝe sould nocht make me prayer [: but weir] c1420 Wynt. v 3040.
And maid hym prayere mony wys To cum wytht thaime Ib. 3793.
That he wald lows hym off hys syne … He made hym stedfast prayere [: manere] Ib. vi 919.
Fayre prayare [: fayre] Ib. 1265.
Prayere [: bere] Ib. vii 840.
That he wald wyth hevy chere Mak for this man swa gret prayere As he had bene his curature(3) a1400 Leg. S. xxii 77.
Al the emperouris mene Be foce [? read price] & prayere [L. prece et pretio] wane he thane a1500 Henr. Fab. 1220 (C).
For prayer, or price, trow ȝe that thay wald fald? Ib. 2725 (Bann.).
For preyer pryce, for he no law estait, Of fals querrell se thow mak no defens Ib. 2745. 1492 Reg. Episc. Morav. 249.
And that thai sall not be price prayer nor terrour solisit ony of the saidis assisouris 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 973.
Ane aduocait, That expertlie but prayer, price or coist Obtenit had my friwoll actioun a1538 Abell 36 b.
Bot the Pichtis with prayar and price cesit newir quhill thai had thame banist … owt of the realme 1540 Aberd. B. Rec. I 171.
Noyther for fauour, priar, nor price a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 263.
He who is conduced be prayer or pryce [may not act as witness] a 1700 J. Colston Edinb. Guildry 47.
Without price, preyer, or reward — 1444–5 Peebles Chart. I 11.
For meide, prayer, cusynage or alya a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 422.
Gif pament or praier might mak that purchese(4) plur. ?1438 Alex. ii 2176.
Thare was demandis and fare answeris, Enquestis, greting and prayers c1400 Troy-bk. ii 605.
And with humble and meke prayeres To thame maid in-to gud maneres Commended hyr that [etc.] 1456 Hay II 107/7.
And gif thai wryte to thé, or makis thé ony request, here thaire prayeris and [etc.] a1500 Henr. Fab. 34 (Bann.).
Bot be requeist and prayeris of a lord 1554 Corr. M. Lorraine 393.
Madame, eftyr maist hwmyll commendatione with serveis and prayarris, your grace plais wit that [etc.]