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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Regard, -gaird, n. Also: -garde, -gairde, -gair; -garid; -guard, -guaird, -gwaird; -gaurd. [ME and e.m.E. regard (Rolle), F. regard (OF also regars, -guard, etc.), vbl. n., f. regarder Regard v.]

I. 1. Thare is (grete or mare) regarde, there is (much, or more) to be taken into consideration. 1456 Hay I 192/24.
Touchand the quhilk debate thare is grete regarde and avis Ib. 253/16.
As of oure realme of Nappleis, thare is mare regarde; for … the realme of Napples is haldin properly of the pape

2. Attention or weight given to a consideration, or heed given to a person or thing, when taking a decision or carrying out a course of action; respect for or deference to an authority, principle, etc.To have … regarde to (till, unto, of), to tak … regarde (of), to mak regarde (for, of), to set store by, to accord respect to.Also to have na regarde, to take no account of, to disregard. Const. cl. compl.(1) 1456 Hay I 191/4.
For the law has regarde to the grete tendernes that nature gevis to the ta brothir to defend the tothir a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 140/18.
Gif regard var hed to fals and vickit applicacione of scriptouris, than [etc.] 1562 Edinb. B. Rec. III 141.
Officeris, nocht having … detfull regaird to thair conscience 1562-3 Winȝet I 11/10.
Of the quhilk we haue lytle regarde in respect of the diuine veritie a1568 Pedder C. title.
Of Peder Coffeis having na regaird till honestie in thair vocatioun 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 86/11.
The uorthines of thaire antecessouris crauis a reuerende regairde to be hadd unto thaime — 1562-3 Winȝet I 76/1.
To think it sufficient to bable thair belief and to haif na regaird quhou thai leue(2) c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1454.
Of money he tuik na regaird 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 45.
The foirnemit personis … takand na regard nor feir of our said horning … execute aganes thame — a1568 Scott Bann. MS 289a/33.
Ȝe mak regaird for grace Quhair nevir grace ȝit grew a1599 Rollock Wks. I 405.
For this disestimation of him is fra that licht account and regaird that they made of him and of the gospell quhilk he teached(3) 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 622.
The veritie … thay sulde declare, Without regarde to fauour or to fede 1533 Boece 273b.
Saxouns … without regarde to honoure … gaif the bak Ib. 329b.
His appetite was euer reddy without regarde to tyme or place, to … drynk inebriative 1564 Reg. Privy C. I 298.
Committis incest, without regaird of the propinctie of bluid a1578 Pitsc. I 123/21.
Nether spairing auld nor ȝoung withtout regaird to wyffis … or ȝoung infantis 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 308.
Bot Reguard to roust or rest [: best](4) 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (S.T.S.) 402.
The lytill regard of all persones to the commoun weilth 1626 Justiciary Cases I 53.
Schaiking of all … reuerance or regaird to the lawis of this kingdome 1686 Inverness Rec. II 341.
That Finlay Fraser … , laying aside … due respect and reguard to Christian nighbourhead [etc.](5) 1672 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 159.
And casting by all regaurd of authoritie

3. Estimation, repute. b. ? Well-being.In the Lauder quot., quasi-adv. = e.m.E. of … regard, of … importance or value. 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 316.
Thocht thay ryde on mulis or hors, Itt is bot small regarde or fors 1626 Garden Worthies 82.
To thé … Must needs renoun and great regaird aryseb. 1570 Conv. Burghs I 19.
Caus the same [letters] be execute … as thai will the regarid of thair commoun weillis

4. An active interest or concern in bringing about a result or consequence, or in doing something.Variously const., also without const.(1) 1456 Hay I 100/24.
For quhy bataill is … gude thing and vertuous for resoun of nature it has nane othir regarde, bot … [to] ger discensioun turne in pes a1568 Bann. MS 253b/34.
My lady … On me to rew … hes no regard 1630 Peebles B. Rec. I 370.
That they suld haif ane speciall regaird for mitigatioun to be grantit to the parochineris of Ettilstoun [etc.] — 1603 Moysie 91.
The king … wes murmured aganis … for not haffing sick regaird to the punischment of that murthour as become(2) 1564–5 Reg. Privy C. I 320.
Hir hienes and hir counsall mon tak ee and regard … that na kyndlie tennent … be removit … without caus(3) a1578 Pitsc. I 57/2.
Money gentillmen … seing thair was no regaird be the king … , contenned thame self … withtin strong fortrassis

5. Care (of), or protective attention to, a person, also one's body.(1) 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1012.
Prencis, … be no more abusit, To verteous men hauyng so small regarde 1607 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 103.
That cairfull regaird which ȝour majestie hes evir had of all ȝour servandis(2) 1533 Bell. Livy I 151/7.
The how small regarde my cumpanȝeouns takis of thare miserabill bodyis, in compare of the interminabil honoure that thai seik

b. The task of taking care of; ‘cure’. — 1596 Dalr. I 106 marg.
Preistes haueng the regarde of the saules

6. A look, glance or gaze. c1590 J. Stewart 15/16.
Thay craw The douce regard of hir celestiall ie

7. ? A payment. [Cf. med. L. rigardum reward, payment (1492 in Latham), also, e.m.E. (once, 1591).] c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1552.
Without rewaird for his expensis, Without regaird or recompencis a1568 Scott xxvi 62.
But gwerdoun, genȝeild, or regaird

8. Of doubtful application: cf. 2, 3, 6 and 7 above. a1568 Scott xxii 23.
I seik the watter hett In vndir the cauld yce, Quhair na regaird I gett 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xix 2.
Must I wnpittied still remain, But regaird, Or rewaird

II. In adv. phrases, introduced by a preposition.

9. In (the) regarde of. a. In comparison with. a1400 Leg. S. xxxii 319.
Rycht grete is the mede, & the trawale smal but drede In regarde of that lestand blis 1456 Hay I 70/9.
And sik jugis ar bot bastardis, in regarde of gude faithfull lordis Ib. 198/3.
We wald count it lytill in the regarde of the perpetuale payne of the tothir warld 1490 Irland Mir. II 105/34.
And I am nocht in the regard of him [sc. St. Paul] 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 167.
Vnderstanding Auchindoun his small forces in regaird of theirs

b. On account of, by reason of; ? out of consideration for. 1609 Crim. Trials III 16.
Thatt I obscuirid my intencioun of braiking ward fra your lo. in regair of our luif and familiarite 1614 Lag Chart. 36.
In regard of his loveing kyndnes in setting of the said landis in few to me 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 189.
It behouethe me in regaird of bodilie infirmitie to craue pardone 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I 211.
The merchands not daring to buy it in regaird of this intendit restraint 1625 Justiciary Cases I 24.
Also in regaird of the grit charges … thay … hes sustenit in cuming sa far 1635 Dumbarton B. Rec. 48.
In regaird of the bruit and rumor of the plaig of pestilence [etc.] 1645 Dunkeld Presb. II 372.
In regaird whereof their persons and lyfes ar sought and layed awaite for by the enemy

c. In respect of, with reference to.Also in my regard, with reference to me. 1633 Lithgow Poet. Remains 93.
Then let an Act bee made, in my regard, That [etc.] 1661 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 653.
He desyred the benefite off the lait act of Parliament anent debitor and creditor; in regwaird quherof thir presents ar to serve in place of letters of suspensione 1669 Corshill Baron Ct. 86.
In reguaird of ther inchristian cariage in flyting and scolding, banning and swearing, found the pairties both in wronge 1680 Edinb. B. Rec. X 397.
Extraordinary expenss … in regaird of the … laying of the walks … with … marbell

10. To the regard of, in comparison with. 1494 Loutfut MS 8b.
Quhilk is litill to the regard of othir casis 1533 Reg. Great S. 286/2.
The brethir … ar bot a few nomer to the regarde of uthir greit craftis

11. At or in regard, in comparison, comparatively. a1500 Rauf C. 652.
Thay countit not the coilȝear almaist at regaird a1500 Seven S. 1496.
The prest is better in regard

12. In the conjunctive phrase in regard, considering that; in so far as; since, because.Sometimes written as one word.Also, in regard that.(1) a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 9.
We oft finde the Scots called Irishes … in regard they speak the Irish language 1655 Douglas Chart. 340.
In reguaird he cannot wryt himself be reassone of his present … seiknes 1671 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II 56.
Sett at liberty … in regard none compeared to inform against them 1675 Peebles B. Rec. II 91.
To pay to the thesaurer [five merkes] for filling his putch full of Thomas Williamsones bear, in regaird he confessed the samen 1675 Stirlings of Keir 507. 1694 Rothesay Par. Rec. 101.
Jonet … compeired not in reguard she is lying in childbed(2) 1647 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 75.
Inregaird that the clerk … is laitlie deceased 1679 Dunkeld Presb. II 12.
In reguard that he passed his trials