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

Pur(e, Puir, Por(e, Poor(e, adj.² and n. Also: pwr(e; puire, puyr(e, pwir(e; puer, puier, puyer, puiyr, puuir, pwor; peur(e; poir(e, poyr; poer; pooer, pooir, poare; (Pere). [North. ME and e.m.E. pure (Prick Consc.), pwyr (Cath. Angl.), poyr (Misyn), midl. and south. ME and e.m.E. pore (Layamon), poor(e (c1400), AN pore (c1240 in Tobler-Lommatzsch), (also mod. F. dial. pōre, pōr, etc., in Wartburg), contracted f. povre Pover adj. (Cf. also Pour(e adj. and n.²⁾The surviving form in the mod. dial.]

Poor.For numerous further references, see the Index to Acts XII s.v. Poor.

A. adj. 1. Lacking in or destitute of material possessions, in straitened circumstances, not rich, impoverished, needy, indigent.a. predic. and in non-attrib. modification. Rich and pure etc.: cf. B 1 b (2). b. attrib. c. absol. in superl.Passing into other senses, esp. 4 and 6.a. (1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2535.
My gudis … Was tynt & I left seike & pure ?1438 Alex. ii 1461.
Gif he be pure and hes bot small [F. Et qui est povres homs et a petit vaillant] c1420 Ratis R. 630.
Gyf that thow be to pwr a man c1420 Wynt. vii 2689.
To the clerkys … That thai pure and sympyll thowcht, And litill had to gyve or noucht 14.. Acts I *91/2. ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 117.
How Iesus wes borne for ws ane littill barn pure in a stabill 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1986. 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1092. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus Prol. 165.
Sum ar richt pure, and leuis in pouertie a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xcv 29.
Thai that had flesche [etc.] … Now ar sa wrakit, maid pure and nakit 1567 G. Ball. 50.
O God … How art Thow now becumit sa pure That [etc.] Ib. 74. 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 16.
Mony … had rather depart riche nor leife pure 1635 Binns P. (S.R.S.) 32.
The tenants of the toun ar so pure as they ar not able to pay … their bypast rents(b) a1578 Pitsc. II 67/10.
Bot among ws Jewis (thocht we be puire) thair ar no beggaris fund 1638 Henderson Serm. 352.
In respect of the world they were puir(c) a1500 Henr. III 126/19.
Job wox peur(d) 1456 Hay II 81/34.
Grete schame is in king or prince to be pore and nedebegane ?a1640 Copie of a Baron's Court (1821) 28.
He's not so poor as he doth peep, indeed 1671 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 11 Oct.
Attour gif they [incomer tenants] sall fall pooer or die within burgh(2) 1375 Barb. iv 606.
This Cuthbert … saw the folk … Be worthyn Ynglis, rych and pure [: discure] c1475 Wall. v 578.
Na Sotheron couth deme thaim mys, pur no rikb. (a) a1400 Leg. S. i 130.
Gyf it sa be Of the pure man as thu sais me [etc.] 1424 Acts II 8/2.
Ande gif thar be ony pure creature that for defalt of cunnyng or dispens can nocht … folow his caus 1456 Ib. 45/2.
At na pure man, na vnbodyn, be chargyt to cum to ony radis in Inglande c1460 Thewis Wysmen 389. 1474 Treas. Acc. I 72. a1500 Henr. Fab. 181 (Asl.).
Bairfut … As pur pilgryme scho passit owt of toune Ib. 1303, 2737, etc. 1478 Grey Friars II 14.
A pur body a1500 Seven S. 539. c1490 Irland Asl. MS 33/7.
Throw [quhilk] the pure and misterfull person is helpit Id. Mir. I 27/8.
A riche man … may … tak a pure man or child to his sone be adopcioune Ib. MS fol. 235b.
And you se a pure body in perell a1500 Bk. Chess 1092.
That pur barnis suld be Weddit but … drowrye 1497 Treas. Acc. I 333. 1502 Ib. II 351. 1511 Ib. IV 178. 1512 Ib. 188, etc. 1516 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 163.
Gif ony burges colloris the sailing of chepman and vther pure merchandis, nocht havand half ane last of guidis c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 11.
Off the riche mann and of pure Lazarus 1562-3 Winȝet I 5/7. a1568 Bann. MS 77a/31. 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 392 (see Lamit ppl. adj. (1)). a1605 Montg. Son. lxvi 12.(b) 1513 Doug. iii ix 51.
I am … Bot a puyr wageour 1526 Treas. Acc. V 276.
Till puyr wifis that come gretand apoun his grace for eggis taken [etc.] 1533 Gau 14/18.
Thay sine … quhilk lichtlis … thair pwir frendis for powerte or seiknes 1555 Conv. Burghs I 10.
Swa that puir travellouris, fremen, ar towistit as vnfremen 1571–2 Reg. Privy C. II 111.
Thay … as puyr travellouris in sobir and sympill maner a1578 Pitsc. II 307/7.
The grettest theives var convoyit away … and sum puir theives war tane Ib. 318/6. 1589 Waus Corr. 444.
Beand ane puir sempill creatour as your l. may persaif by him 1590 Glasgow Chart. II App. 539.
To the puir lipper folkis of the hospitall 1590 Reg. Privy C. IV 557.
Puir 1591 Edinb. B. Rec. V 38. a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. 41.
Meggye Emsly, pwir woman in Aberden 1601 Elgin Rec. II 92.
To the … use of the puir litle anis quhilk gretis throch the toun [etc.] 1603 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 26. 1617 Montgomery Mem. 265. 1624 Black Bk. Taymouth 365.
Incais it salhappin aney puir minouris to depairt this mortall lyff … throw [etc.] 1638 Henderson Serm. 373.
He is but a puir silly man 1644 Misc. Spald. C. III 196.(c) a1500 Henr. III 127/39 (BD).
Ane peure begger, with skrip and staif c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiv 62.
Sa peur tennandis, sic cursing evin and morne Ib. xvii 43.
Grit men for taking … Ar sett full famous … And peur [M. Quhair small] takaris ar hangit hie 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2018 (Bann.).(d) 1596 Dalr. II 28/25.
In the mean tyme a pore and simple man offiris him selfe(e) 1567 Peebles B. Rec. I 306.
That ane of the baillies … trawell for the poir werkmen selwer quhilk … is auhten(f) a1578 Pitsc. II 59/5.
Thair was ane poore man lyand wexit witht great infirmaties askit at him allmes 1612 Marischal Coll. Rec. I 128. 1613 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 134.
Fyve M^cgregouris … the fyft being a poore fellow and gevin … to be a threscher 1652 Burnett of Leys 70.
To be distributed … to the most misterfull, poore labourers within all my landsc. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 887.
And be the purest in his company He … rewardit rychelie 1579 Acts III 179/2.
Quhair the burs happynnis to vaik the puirest to be preferrit

d. transf. to a condition, possession, quality or attribute of a person: In a state of poverty; involving, consequent on, or characterised by, material poverty; impoverished. Also fig.(1) 1406 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 64.
Bot of hir fre wil in hir pure widuhede [etc.] 1438 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 265.
For quhy that I in my pure wodwit beande has … confermyt a charter of pur sellyng of my landys c1450 Cr. Deyng (S.T.S.) 40.
To have his lyf how velthye or pure that it be, takyne in paciens c1460 Regim. Princ. 70 (Marchm.).
Euir thi crown is indigent and pure 1535 Stewart 41875.
His chalmer cheild, of simpill blude and puir [: cuir] a1568 Bann. MS 265a/3.
Luve that is peure wat mekle pyne 1562 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 6.
Gife thai be of puyr degree salbe put in cukstule 1622-6 Bisset I 33/14.
Ane man of puir lynnaige [L. obscure originis](2) c1420 Wynt. v 1510.
Ane angell … In tyll ane hyrdys pure habyt Apperyt c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 221.
The full suere man … ettis his pure met [etc.] 1513 Doug. xii ix 47.
A puyr cote hous he held, and buyr hym law 1533 Boece 630.
Disagisit in pure array 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 252.
Nocht verie riche in worldlie guddis, Save tuo pure aikers of borrow ruddis; Yit with the glaikis he was owergane(3) fig. ?1438 Alex. ii 2747.
Me think thow art of pure purches To help thy freind that mister hes [F. de povre pourchas pour aidier vos amis]

e. fig. Spiritually impoverished. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxvii 32.
Quho in warld moist covatus is In world is purast man, I-wis, And moist neidy of his intent 1611-57 Mure True Crucifixe 2587.
What meanst thou, (while in soule most pore,) Thy selfe to toile, to conquesse cankring ore?

f. Applied to a corporate body, as a country or a burgh. predic. 1456 Hay II 80/26.
Than sall bathe himself and his realm be evermare bathe pure Ib. 82/22. c1475 Wall. viii 467. 1531 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 14 June.
That the toune is pur and fer in det 1596 Aberd. Council Lett. I 65.
And al becaus the cuntray is become peur be raisson of the weris

2. a. Qualifying words for people in general, as bodyis, folk, men, pepill, personis. = B 1.See Body n. 3, Folk n. 1 b (2), Pepil(l n. 4 (2), for further examples, and see also Pure-ane.(1) 1522–3 Fife Sheriff Ct. 276.
Thai being pure bodys & hes na takkis … of thar awine 1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 49.
Thai gaif hir ludging and almes as thai do vther puir bodies c1650 Spalding II 401.
Ane dreill maister to lerne oure poor bodeis to handle thair armes, who had moir neid to hald the pleuche and wyn thair leivingis(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxiv 94.
Of pure folk fusyt burdis thre 14.. Acts I 12/2.
Of the kyngis proteccioun to pur folk and waik 1456 Hay II 54/2.
Pore c1460 Regim. Princ. 158 (Maitl.). 1463 Peebles B. Rec. I 150. 1511–12 Treas. Acc. IV 184.
To ane pur wyff and otheris pure folk 1557 Inverness Rec. I 14.
Herroand puyr fok 1574 Acts III 88/1.(3) 1456 Hay II 27/32.
Till derub … the pore folk 1498 Treas. Acc. I 386.
[To] the pur folk, seke folk and grangor in Lithqw 1532 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 6 Feb.
That the belman sall … keip the pwr folk furth of the kyrk, and the doggs 1604 Elgin Rec. II 122 (see B 1 b (4) (b)).(4) 1578–9 Haddington Treas. Acc.
Tua windeinscheittis to tua pure folk(5) a1500 Henr. III 173/36.
The pure folkis ar all ourprest 1488 Treas. Acc. I 90.
In awmus to pure folkis 1502–3 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 97.
That thair sall be made a certane leidin taiknis to be gevin to the pure failyeit folks [etc.] 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 117.
To the pur folkis at the port of Strivelin 1528 Aberd. B. Rec. I 121. 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 200.
To Maister Johnne Williamsone advocat for the pure folkis x li. 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 297.
The Spangya[r]ttis is awand … mony … to the pur wyfis in this toun for ther expenssis … that the pur folkis ma furneis na mar wyth out tha geit payment 1561–2 Peebles B. Rec. I 276.
Pure 1565 Edinb. Univ. MS La. iii 388a fol. 1b.
And on Fryday to call the quenis materis, strangearis, the puir folkis 1626 Reliq. Antiq. Sc. 149.
To be 26 gownes to 26 pure folkis 1645 Peebles Gleanings 232.
Pure 1675 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 20 Oct.
Robert Gordon boater is discharged … for … bringing over of poor folks(6) possess. 1503 Treas. Acc. II 366.
For carying of the pur folkis clathis c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix 124.
But rewth of peure folkis neiding 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. II 232.
To ressaif the pure folkis bred and siluer thairof 1586–7 St. A. Kirk S. 585. 1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 68a.
I reseuet of the por folkis seluer ine the schepes botis liii s. 1595 St. A. Kirk S. 810.
Quha soevir beis warnit to pas with the puir folkis broddis to collect the puir folkis almois(7) a1400 Leg. S. ii 973.
To princis lordis & pure men Ib. vi 365.
A congregacione … Of puyre & riche men elyke Ib. xii 256, xvi 80, etc. c1420 Ratis R. 45.
Pwre 1456 Hay II 151/22. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 754.
Men seis oft … pure and simpill men to lordschip draw a1500 Henr. Fab. (O.U.P.) 1268, etc.
And dytis all the pure men vp on land 1502 Treas. Acc. II 78.
Blew claith to be gownis to xxx pur men c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxix 38.
Quha … vpoun peur men gadderis sowmis c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. lxxxi 29.
To play with puiyr men disaccordis Vnto thi princelie maiestie 1580–1 Crim. Trials I ii 95.
And that thay wer bot puir men, vnmeit to pas vpoun lairdis assyssis c1650 Spalding I 92.
Thay … causit deall the wyne in the beid houss amongis the poor men 1657 Nicoll Diary 201.
Fyve pure Scottis misterfull menpossess. 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 181b.
That he … pay ten ss of monye to the puirmenis box(8) 1456 Hay I 241/24.
The clamour of the pure peple quhilkis deis of hunger Ib. II 63/37.
With … lychtlying … of Goddis pure peple 1462 Peebles B. Rec. I 147.
In name of pur pepylle 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3819 (Ch.).
Quhair throch puir peopil bein supprisit 1551 Hamilton Cat. 69.
Puir 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV ii 69.
Puir 1574 Acts III 87/1.
Aigit and impotent puyr people a1578 Pitsc. I 42/15.
Suffer nocht the poore simpill pepill to be … reft Ib. 88/18. 1579 Acts III 141/1.
That then the provest [etc.] … mak a catholog of the names of the saidis puyr people 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 123.
The victuall quhairupoun the puir pepill of the contrie man leiff 1609 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 118.
To haue pitie … vpon ws ȝour maiesties obedient subjectis and remanent pwire pepille quha sufferis 1611 Peterkin Orkney & Zetl. App. 87.
That there was houndit out the most pure, miserable, and deboichtit people of the country 1622-6 Bisset II 181/2.
The voce of the puir commoun peopillis cryes [etc.] 1680 Soc. Ant. XLV 244.
Against their sending doun the Hilland Host to pillage … the poor people of God(9) 1456 Hay I 241/34.
The pore laboureris, wommen, and men of kirk, wedowis [etc.] … and all pore and peceable and miserable persons 1522 Cart. S. Giles 215.
Honest pure personis that hes maist myster 1565 Edinb. Univ. MS La. iii 388a fol. 27a.
Widowis, pupillis or siclyke pure or miserable persones 1595 Culross I 134.
All puir, aged, and deabilitat persons 1620 Dumbarton B. Rec. App. i 1.
And none but the por personnis to sit in it

b. As a more or less conventional qualification of the designations of members of certain social groups.Espec. commonis (see Commounis n. pl. 1 for further examples), labourar (see Labourar n. 1 (c) and 1 b for further examples), lege, tennent (cf. also c below), and the designation of a friar (frere, brother), also appar. of a priest.(1) 1456 Acts II 46/2.
That pure commonys ar gretumly … opprest be the kingis schirefis … in tymis of faris c1460 Bk. Gude Counsale 177.
Puer 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 112.
Puyr 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 11.
Quha did great skaith to mony puir commounis 1584 Aberd. B. Rec. II 54.
That the pure commounis of this burght ar misservit(2) 1456 Hay I 160/7.
The pure labouraris of Ingland Ib. 160/22. 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 75.
Puyr lauboraris and bissy husband men 1522 Fife Sheriff Ct. 244.
Thai ar pure lauboraris & can get na landit men to be souerte for thaim Ib. 275.
Be our pure liegis … pure coyttaris & lauboraris of the grond 1576–7 Reg. Privy C. II 589.
Puyr(3) 1521–2 Fife Sheriff Ct. 243.
It is humilie menyt … be our pure liegis … That [etc.] 1552 Reg. Privy C. I 127. 1556 Facs. Nat. MSS III xxviii.
To frustrar our pure lege(4) 1456–70 Liber Aberbr. II 105.
Part of ewyl myndit personis … tribulis ws and our pwr tenentis in peciable possessioun [etc.] 1490 Acta Conc. I 154/2.
The gudis ky and oxing takin fra the pure tennentis of the saidis landis 1497–8 Ib. II 120. 1501 Ib. III 60.
The gudis takin be thaim fra thir sadis puretennandis c1500-c1512 Dunb. xvii 11 (B).
Fra the tennentis peure 1521 Aberd. B. Rec. I xxxv. 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 162. 1567 Sat. P. vi 115.
The greit penuritie Off laubouraris, and of your tennentis pure [: cure] 1570 Black Bk. Taymouth 429.
Quhow the Clangregour hes tain vp your geir and your puir tenentis geir 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 142.
Puir 1612 Aberd. Council Lett. I 114.
That the pore tennendis and fermoreris be maid frie [sc. exempt from tax](5) c1450-2 Howlat 192 (A).
Cryand crawis … War pure freris forthward 1540 Lynd. Sat. 745 (B).
Peur freiris ar fre at every fest — 1510 Breadalbane Doc. No. 38.
Johne Campbell of Laweris pure broder Schir Robert M^cNair vicar a1538 Abell 120b.
Heir endis the rute or quheill of tyme be ane pure brothir Ib. 9*b.
Puyr brethir inpungnand ar condempnit be papal cursyn — 1549 Soc. Ant. XI 92.
Takkin out of sanctuarii all the pwir preist of Farris insycht [etc.] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4665.
The pure preist thynkis he gettis no rycht Be he nocht stylit lyke ane knycht(6) 1570 Misc. Bann. C. I 48*.
Bayth for the honour of God, the comfort of the puir [v.r. poure] bretherin, and [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. II 223/14.
[Regent Moray] was the mentiner and … defender of the puire serwandis of God

c. Pure men, the tenant-farmers of a rural landlord or of a rural estate. = Pure tennentis, b (4) prec. 1456 Hay I 167/21, 24.
Bot gif thai war his [a baron's] pure mennis gudis … that he gert him [a knight] be quyte of his pure mennis clame 1469 Acts II 96/2.
The gudis … of the pure menis inhabitaris of the ground ar takin … for the lordis dettis 1456–70 Liber Aberbr. II 106.
In defraude of ws and of owr pwr men tenentis of the said twa townis 1497–8 Acta Conc. II 120.
In eschewing of the skaithis sustenit be the tennandis, being pure men inhabitantis the sadis landis c1517 Ib. MS XXIX 211.
With all our puer men kyn and frendis 1532 Exch. R. XVI 551.
To the purmen of the Ester Cass of aitis, j chalder 1550 Reg. Cupar A. II 94.
Thai sall kepe to the pure men at ar tenentis now thair … malyngis c1557 Corr. M. Lorraine 410.
That my lord cumtrollar hes gevin letters … to put my poyr tennentis of Bonetoun and Blaknes to the horne [etc.] … , that your grace henes wilbe sa gude to me as to writ to the comtrollar to swparseid the poyr men till yowill 1570 Black Bk. Taymouth 429.
And gif the puir men [supra puir tenentis] that wantis geir duellinge onder yow be trew to yow [etc.]

3. Impoverished, lacking or in want of (also in) material possessions. ?1438 Alex. i 539.
Pure of all gudis he was a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 27.
Mair pure of gude than wes Diogynus 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 51.
To consume at the lang the regent quhilk thai knew to be p[uir] of substance and liberall of courage — c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxiii 22.
Be riche in patience, gif thow in gudis be pure

b. Appar., deficient, failing, in (of) (the performance of a (religious) duty), in (a spiritual quality). c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) vi 95 (B).
Off sex petitionis in pater noster pure [: natour, salviour, sure] Arundel MS 249/326.
Howbeit I am pure in vertu, allace, ȝit, marcifull Lord, behald me being heir befor thé, pure and naikit

4. Of inferior quality or condition; deficient in the proper quality; of little worth; worthless. a. Of persons, animals or their attributes or productions: Wretched, ‘sorry’, ‘pitiful’, mean. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. (O.U.P.) 170.
Thy pure pynit thrott, peilit and owt of ply Ib. 185.
Thow pure pynhippit ugly averill Ib. ix 24.
Ontill my lady, I dar lay, Ȝe be to pure a presoneir 1528 Lynd. Dreme 893.
Quho wyll go sers amang sic heirdis scheip May habyll fynd mony pure scabbit crok 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 65.
Nothing, at all … Different … Than bene the purest creature That euir wes formit of nature a1585 Polwart Flyt. 747 (T).
Thy pikkillit, puir paremeonis but skill 1611-57 Mure Sonnets (1 Ser.) xii 1.
Puir, perjurd palliard 1653 Binning Wks. 596.
He that hath poorest naturals, most extracted from the dregs of the multitude

b. Paltry, trashy. a1568 Scott xxxii 11.
Lufe is … Ane pure tressour without mesour 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 103.
With sum dispensand, for pure pakkis, That thay may brek ȝour prencelie actis

c. Of a military force: Of inadequate size or strength. 1535 Stewart 27297.
Schir Modred, his power wes so puir, Into the feild no langar micht induir Ib. 18729, 49846.

d. ? Wretched in health, ill. a1500 K. Hart 892.
Becaus he saw the king wourd waik and pure [: dure, dure, thesaure]

e. Morally wretched, mean. 1528 Lynd. Dreme 483.
His intoxicat dispositioun … Peruest and pure, baith fals and inuyous

f. Of little competence or ability. 1580 Inverness Rec. I 280.
Ye ar bot puir theiffis ye dar do na thing for quhen I was in serwice as ye ar I wald haif my pairt of sic stuff as was in that hous

5. Spiritually humble or modest.But perh. merely Pur(e adj.¹ 4. 1533 Gau 22/11.
This command requiris ane puir spreit that we suld knaw … that we cane noth du na thynk na guid of our selff Ib. 23/25.
Thow sal be pwir spiritualie in thy hart and desir noth … the thing quhilk pertenis to thy nichtbur

6. So circumstanced as to call forth pity, unfortunate, hapless, piteous, wretched.Only attrib., unless 4 d is an example.(1) c1450-2 Howlat 850 (A).
The pure howlatis appele completly was planyt c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 210.
Pwre innocentis … gretand … for the mony gret iniuris done to thaim a1500 Colk. Sow i 115.
The pure pig gaif a rore Him to kill quhen thay pynit Ib. ii 215.
Pure Adria wes Ȝoung faderles leuit Arundel MS 252/399.
That … thou, gud Lord, will haue me, pure synnar, in rememberance c1552 Lynd. Mon. 251.
That heuinlye Muse … The quhilk … of pure Peter maid ane prudent precheour 1568 Mary in Ellis Orig. Lett. 1 Ser. II (1824) 253.
Schu wald a bin weilcom to a pur strenger 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 544.
The pure man nominat juge being diuers tymes minascit of his liff 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 25.
Quhilk pure saulis standing in dout quhidder [etc.] Ib. 45. 1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. 20/36. c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxv 8. 1609 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 69.
In preassing twyce … to cast the said James … off the ledder thairby hazarding the pure manis lyff 1686 Dunlop P. III 29.
To be a min to bring thes pur creturs to Crist(b) 1513 Doug. vi i 125.
Lesum it is … now to spair the puyr pepil Troiane 1560 Edinb. B. Rec. III 80.
Ye haue ane puir fallow of myne … in your tolbuth 1571 Sat. P. xxix 45.
The puire scheip ȝe misgyde 1572–3 Reg. Privy C. II 183.
Puyr a1585 Polwart Flyt. 727 (T).
Allace! puir man! he may ly doun and die 1588 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 531.
The puir schipbrokkin Spayngyerts 1588 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 53. 1603 Philotus 457.
Puir I with luif opprest(c) a1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvii 82.
At tha peure winschis ȝe wranguslie suspect For sklenting bowttis(d) ?1665 M. Bruce Six Dreadful Alarms 16.
What aills thee then poor body?(e) 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 278.
For your … kyndnes to my poore kin and frendes in tyme of there gretest trouble and in speciall to that poare boy my sone(2) 1456 Hay I 28/21.
Bot for the … covatis of the warldis gude the quhilk is the blude of the pure warld, that [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxx 29.
Help this pure realme, in partyis all devydit 1522–3 Edinb. B. Rec. I 212.
And now laitlie thai haue bocht ane pur prys of Ingland taken be Franchemen as thai war wont to do 1567 Sat. P. vii 174.
That this puire natioun Greit mister had of reformatioun 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xli 1.
Thow pure contempnit Kirk of God 1590 Conv. Burghs I 313.
Quhairby this pure burch is alradeye impouaragit 1628 Aberd. Council Lett. I 293.
Ane puir distressit peapill not abill … to contest with yowe

b. Of a cry: Piteous, lamentable. c1450-2 Howlat 41 (A).
I herd ane petuos appele with ane pure mane Solpit in sorowe

7. Depreciatively, espec. said of oneself, one's performance, things belonging to or offered by one, in modest or apologetic statements, in one or more preceding senses: ‘Humble’, ‘modest’, ‘insignificant’, ‘unpretentious’.(1) c1400 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 51.
That he walde kepe us as we that ar his pure legis unwrangyt in oure lyfis 1484 Misc. Spald. C. V 28.
[He has] soacht in all this your pur toune to haf gottin ten lastis of salmond a1500 Lanc. 1687.
Thi … gret baronis, Thi pur knychtis and thi bachleris 1523 St. P. Henry VIII IV 16.
With the hand of your lordeship hummel servant to his poire power 1526 Douglas Corr. 342.
To pardonne me to schaw my pure apponȝonne 1527 Ib. 343.
As to my pwor and simpil discrition apperis 1533–4 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 419.
[Duncan Dawsoun,] maister colȝear [to the King for 50 years … who never had more than his] pur fee 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 239.
My pwre leyffyng wes possest with my compeditour 1548 Cal. Sc. P. I 141.
Hes in ane recompence of my good … service loiss and daingerris sence I come to his service … I may have the [? rest] of my pure pentioun sence Januarij … to pay my dettis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 100.
Go hence, pure buke 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5387. 1572 Sempill Sat. P. xxx 3. c1590 Fowler I 37/28.
My pwir estate will not permit that thow me know these dayes 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 219.
Bott only for saiftie of my avin puir lyfe Ib. 277.
So lang as [etc.] … ȝour l. sall be assured of the poare service I … can be able to do 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xx 11.
Puir(2) 1400 Facs. Nat. MSS II No. 53.
I as ane of yhour poer kyn … requeris yhow of help a1568 Bann. MS 28b/29.
Making a maid of our pure kin For to be callit Mater Christi 1633 Glasgow B. Rec. II 16.
For … intertenying of bursouris … of his poor kine Ib. 17.
Seing thair is na scollar of his awin pur kin in sut thairof

8. In proverbial or aphoristic utterances, chiefly in sense 1. c1450-2 Howlat 983 (A).
We cum pure we gang pure baith king & commoun c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 564.
It is bettir a pur wys barne na an auld fule kinge a1568 Bann. MS 134b/11.
He that can nocht gang hame Is a pure man Ib. 135b/65.
A man weill luvit He is nocht pure a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 23.
A proud heart in a poore breast, hes meikle dollour to dree a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 172.
A poor man gets a poor mariag a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 692.
He is sa pure in purse he may not fie a porter Ib. No. 1541.
There was never a pure wower nor a rich deid man Ib. No. 1683.
Wo is them that thow may over, and that is puir I Ib. Nos. 903, 1356, 1633.

B. absol. or as noun. 1. absol. in sense A 1. = A 2 a. a. In pl. sense: Poor persons. a1500 Henr. Fab. 659.
We theifis … For euer we steill and euer ar lyke pure [: auenture, indure] 1665 Irvine Mun. II 93.
For tua poore that sould have bein outriked furth of the said burght

b. coll. The poor as a class; also, those on public assistance, the paupers (of a parish etc.).Except in early verse or when coupled with riche, chiefly with the.Riche and pure, pure and riche, all people, without exception.(1) 1375 Barb. i 276.
Thus-gat levyt thai … Bath pur and thai off hey parag a1400 Leg. S. xxii 86.
Pure c1420 Wynt. vii 3601 (C).
Ȝomen, pure, riche and knayf c1460 Thewis Wysmen 243.
Wysmen with pwre has neuir debait c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 984.
Thay say thow helpis all pure and desolat 15.. Dunb. App. ii 51.
Do almous deidis to peure always a1605 Montg. Son. xx 9.
For he [the Lord] respects no princes more then pure [: cure, sure, conjure] 1596 Dalr. II 397/2.
Quha steirit vpe the rude peple, vnlearned pure, and blind, with thair … preichings 1626 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II 1 Nov.
That nane … reset hir … wnder sik pain as is anent stranger puir 1698 Banff Ann. I 168.
The magistrats and counsell appoynt bages for such poor as is thought convenient to beg through the towne(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2195.
Boith pure & ryke Resaued tham in thar kynryke c1420 Wynt. v 3971. 14.. Acts I 332/2.
Alswell of rich as of pur Ib. 107/2. c1460 Consail Vys Man 134.
Dryve neuir pwre na riche to scorne a1500 Henr. III 135/26 (BD).
That ȝung & auld, riche & pur, man de a1500 Prestis of Peblis 760.
Of all the realme … Of lawit and leirit, riche, pure, vp and doun c1500-c1512 Dunb. lviii 17.
Riche befoir puir spreidis ay thair nett 1513 Prestwick B. Rec. 44.
To mynystir justice equaly bath to puyr & ryche 1532 Acts Sederunt i 4.
Alsweill to pure as riche 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 101. 1566 Peebles B. Rec. I 302.
And vthir gud seruice batht to poir and riche a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. clxxiv 3. a1578 Pitsc. II 13/3.
That thay distroyit the haill cornis … bayth of pure and rich … ane myll round about c1650 Spalding I 363.
Pure(3) c1450-2 Howlat 972 (A).
Ȝe princis … That pullis the pure ay c1460 Regim. Princ. 177 (Marchm.).
Justice wald haif a general president, Ane auditour of complayntis of the pure [: dure, valour] a1500 Henr. Fab. 1309, etc. a1500 Quare Jel. 368.
Or all thair gudis gyvith to the pure [: chapture] c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 473.
Pur c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1540. 1562 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 22.
As for the very indigent and pure, … they are so despysed, that [etc.] 1562 Treas. Acc. XI 197. 1562-3 Winȝet I 8/4. c1563 Reg. Panmure I xxxvi.
Almousful to the pwre and nedie 1564–5 Edinb. B. Rec. III 194.
[To] await at the kirk dur for stopping of the clamour of the pure 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 3.
Seand the pure of Christ inlaik, without assistance … in bodie c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 426.
Ane hundreth of the pure [: dure] That gois nakit 1570 Sat. P. x 374.
The pure durst leif thair bestiall on the grene a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxix 14.
Bayth the riche and the pure [: sure, nature] Ar all … of Adamis kyn 1572 Edinb. Test. XXIV 213.
To the pure that ar … seik, waik and infirme persounis 1581 in Melvill 102.
The patrimonie of the kirk and pure(b) a1400 Leg. S. xvi 281.
Puyre a1500 Prestis of Peblis 622. 1533 Gau 93/31.
Stark ydil beggers the quhilk ar blwid suppers of the pwir 1551 Reg. Privy C. I 115.
Quhairthrow the puir ar in poynt to peris a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 113/28.
Ȝe sal haf the puyr [v.r. 121/8, pwire] with ȝow for euer 1565 Aberd. B. Rec. I 358.
The puir being deuydit in four rankis a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. lvi 7. 1594 St. A. Kirk S. 785.
Or ellis to pay xl li. to the puir 1621 Maxwell Mem. 327. 1626 Edinb. Test. LIII 343 (see Misterful(l adj. 2 absol.).
Puire(c) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xx 45 (B).
Be no wayis dispytfull to the peure(d) 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 109.
That the dene of gild … tak of ewerieman that keipis nocht this ordour half ane merk, to be applyit to the puier(e) 1575 6th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 658/1.
To the poir passing on to the abbay(f) 1570 Peebles B. Rec. I 323.
That ilk meill [seller] sell to the poor of ilk laid ij pekkis meill a1578 Pitsc. I 172/1.
Quhen thir lamentatiouns … of the poore come befoir the king 1623 Elgin Rec. II 178.(4) c1500-c1512 Dunb. lviii 24.
Thay pans nocht off the parrochin pure 1578 Acts III 98/2. 1604 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 2. 1636 Dumbarton B. Rec. 49.
The pure of this burgh(b) 1573 Grey Friars II 147.
Maister of the scuill and puir of the said burgh 1584–5 St. A. Kirk S. 552.
That ane commoun box be for custodie of the silver collectit to the puir 1587 Acts III 500/1. 1591 Edinb. B. Rec. V 39. 1598 St. A. Kirk S. 879.
For intertyneing of the eageit and decayed puir of craft in the hospitall 1604 Elgin Rec. II 122.
The stranger puirfolk to be removit be the sound off the hand bell and the townis puir to hald them owt 1626 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II 1 Nov.
That sche be dischargit to be ane of the ordinar puir of this paroche(c) 1617 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 170.
For intertynnement of the poore 1624 Moray Synod 8.
Evrie brother is ordined to tak ordour with the pooir in the congregation 1632 Lanark B. Rec. 326.
Poore 1635 Dundonald Par. Rec. 398.
Dischairgis the said poor to wander or seik almous 1659 Cramond Kirk S. 13 Nov.
That all collections at mariages shall be put into the box for the poors use 1661 Elgin Rec. II 293.
That the poor sall wear ther tokens 1676 Alford Rec. 257.
Anent the supplie of their owne poor within their owne parochines 1677 Conv. Burghs IV 6.
With the money belonging to the Scotts poore at Campheer 1689 Cramond Kirk S. III 6 Dec.
Collections … wer distribut among the ordinar poore … and to other poore … besides what was given to stranger poore 1691 Cullen Kirk S. 18 Jan.
For Thomas Gregories wife ane of the poor 1699 Cramond Kirk S. IV 13 Nov.
The poores dwelling houses

2. noun. A poor person, a pauper.(1) 1456 Hay II 104/13.
Thou watis nocht quhen God may mak of a pore rich a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 480.
Thoucht now I stand dispitit as a pure [: cure] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9749.
Quod he, Ane pure with ȝow sum erand wald 1567 G. Ball. 40.
Thair was alswa a pure hecht Lazarus [etc.] 1623 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II 23 July.
For thrie puiris buriallis, 6 s.(2) 1574 Edinb. Kirk S. 15 April.
The kirk hes ressauit … James Foresyth as ordiner puir during his seiknes

3. pl. = 1 above. 1528 Lynd. Dreme 205.
The third part, to be gewin to the puris [: huris, curis] 1537 Treas. Acc. VI 357.
To Maister Thome Williamsone procuratour for the puris 1546 Stirling B. Rec. I 44.
And sustentatioun of puris c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5982.
That tyme quhen ȝe refusit the puris Quhilkis neidfull cryit at ȝour duris Ib. 4294. 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 474.
The causis of all creaturis, Boith of the ryche and of the puris 1562 Inverness Rec. I 93.
That the almes may be … distribute … to the natyve puyeris of this burgh 1564–5 Edinb. B. Rec. III 193.
Sua that the gude toun nor nane resortand thairto salbe trublit with thair [sc. the crafts'] purys 1558-66 Knox I 459.
The Frenche … tooke some spuilȝie from the poores of the Cannogait c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 490. 1568 Reg. Privy S. VI 66.
To the sustentatioun of the reidaris, puris and uthiris guid ussis 1570 St. A. Kirk S. 340.
That the deaknis … mak na distributioun of the almis to na puris, bot to theis that frequentis … sermoundis 1590 Edinb. Test. XXII 56.
To the puiris of the hospitall … x lib. 1595 Strong Sc. Second. Educ. 70.
Puirs c1600 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I 97.
Puiris 1692 Cramond Kirk S. III 1 Dec.
And that money of the poores in his hand

4. possess. and attrib. in more or less special collocations: Of or for the poor; chiefly, of or for the paupers of a parish etc.(1) 1571–2 St. A. Kirk S. 363.
To the collectour of the puiris almes — 1567 (c1650) Dundee B. Laws 33.
That … the poors box be presentit for collecting therof 1600 Stirling Kirk S. in Misc. Maitl. C. I 136.
The puiris box to be keipit be James Duncansone 1633 Stirling B. Rec. I 169.
Furth of thair pures box 1671 Writers Signet lxxxvii.
To the poores box 1682 Fountainhall Decis. I 200.
And malversations with the poors-box 1683 Dunblane Synod 202. 1683 Conv. Burghs IV 38. 1684 Bonckle Kirk S. 76. 1690 Acts Sederunt ii 187. — 1591–2 Elgin Rec. II 20.
Accusit for refuising of the puiris bred 1600 Ib. 83.
William Dunbar to be poyndit for refusing the puiris bredd — 1650 Elgin Rec. II 271.
For making a broad for gathering the poors money at the kirk door 1665 Cullen Kirk S. 9 April.
Borrowed out of the poors money because ther was no common good in the box 1675 Strathblane Par. 332. 1693 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 2.
For streat mony and poors mony — 1676 Cramond Kirk S. II 29 May.
Ja. Stewart put out of the poores roll 1686 Acts Sederunt ii 174.
Any petitiones … by persones craveing the benefite of the poors roll 1690 Cramond Kirk S. III 12 June.
Poores row(2) 1573 St. A. Kirk S. 378.
To be deliverit to the collectour of the puuir almes 1598 Ib. 883. — 1597 Elgin Rec. II 54.
Thomas Hepburne accusit for denying almes to the puir bred — 1623 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 148b (19 March).
The said day the puir siluer distributtit as followis 1637 Alyth Kirk S. in Sc. N. & Q. 1 Ser. XII 44.
Borrowit from the puir siluer — 1580 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 162.
To … sett furth the rolles for sustening of the pure of this burgh conforme to the act of parliament [marg. pure rolles] — 1660 Dunkeld Presb. II 129.
The poor-stock remains as at last visitation 1683 Lorimer St. Cuthbert's 216.
In case he can prevail with the town of Edr. to take the poore stock in their hand [etc.]

5. absol. a. in sense A 6. b. fig. (cf. A 1, etc.). Impoverished, destitute (of intelligence). coll. c1450-2 Howlat 92 (A).
Befor the pape quhen the pur present him had … on kneis he fell 1562-3 Winȝet II 55/33.
Bot scho callis the puir of witt, sayng [etc.]