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

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As, adv. and conj. Also: ays, has, es, hes, is, hais. [Reduced form of Als. Also in ME. from 13th c.]

1. Introducing explanatory or confirmatory clauses, e.g. as sal be said.Freq. in phrases, as accordis, as afferis or efferis, as becumis, as law will, as the use is, as said is: for further illustration see these words.1375 Barb. i. 525 (as Dares wrate).1385 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. 410/1 (as the law askys).1398 Acts I. 574 (as is befor sayd). c1450-2 Howlat 146 (as efferis).1456 Hay I. 78/3 (as said is). 1457 Peebles B. Rec. 118.
John sal supple tharto has he is esposit1482 Acts Lords of Council II. cxxvii (as law will). 1488 Dunferm. B. Rec. 1.
Has law of burgh schawisa1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 46 (as I weill wait). 1507 Dunferm. Reg. 361.
In forme … and affek has eftir followis 1521 Maxwell Mem. 248.
Hais he … thynkis maist expedient 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 14.
I sall labour in that behallf is your grace wyll adverteis me1549 Complaynte of Scotland 15 (as Plutarque rehersis). 1550 Reg. Cupar A. II. 67 (as is allegit). 1555 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I. 12 (as becumis). a1585 Maitland M. Q. xvi. 56 (as may be sein). 1600 Dunblane Test. 25 b (as accordis of the law).

b. With temporal force: When, while.a1400 Legends of the Saints xxvii. 545 (as he com in that land). c1420 Wynt. ii. 1621 (as Eneas slepand lay). c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace iv. 223 (as it was mydnycht). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlvi. 1 (as Aurora did vpspring). 1568 Lanark B. Rec. 41.
That thai sall walk [the toun] hes it cumis abowt nychtlie

c. With complementary clause. 1375 Barb. xi. 568.
And as he bad thame, thai haf done a1400 Legends of the Saints Prol. 127.
As he did, sa sulde thai do a1400 Ib. xxvi. 301.
Has he bad, sa haf thai done a1400 Ib. xl. 173.
Has he thocht, sa he dide c1450 Craft of Deyng 252.
As he forgewys, he sall be forgewyne a1500 Henr. III. 159.
As we ly thus, so sall ȝe ly ilk ane

2. Before nouns: In the manner of, like.1375 Barb. ii. 493 (as wtelauys). a1400 Legends of the Saints xvii. 339 (as a quhyt dow). a1500 Golagros and Gawane 770 (wraith as the wynd). c1500-c1512 Dunb. iii. 29 (as new spynist rose). a1578 Pitsc. I. 266 (as ane man wnconsalable). a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xcviii. 14 (as ȝour mortall fa).

b. Before adjectives. c 1553 Corr. M. Lorraine 379.
Thai sall be halden hes partecepant of the said cryme

c. In phrases all as ane, ane as bathe, etc. 1387 Edinb. Chart. 35.
The forsaidys … , al as ane, and ane as all 1456 Peebles B. Rec. 114.
The sayd Dic Gybsoun and Jonet hys wyf, an has bath and bath has an, has ressygnit [etc.] 1550 Coll. Aberd. & B. 182.
We … renuncis … the saidis letteris … now as than and than as now

3. a. As if.a1400 Legends of the Saints vi. 660; ix. 14 (as he a pilgrime ware). a1500 Henr. Fab. 2243 (as he wer king). 1490 Acts Lords Auditors 142/1 (as this compromes haid neuer bene maid). 1531 Bell. Boece I. 63 (as he wald have brocht, etc.). a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xviii. 13 (as na man war that carit).

b. As that. a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 2.
The Queyne … was so heighlie commovit … as she tuik na repose

c. How. 1571 Satirical Poems xxvi. 69.
Sen ȝe se as it standis 1583 Ib. xlv. 918.
Considering as he sett him furth

4. As of, as to, as regards, in respect or consideration of. Also without prep.See also Now, Quhare, Than, Ȝit.(1) 1375 Barb. v. 493.
A man of mekill mycht, As of the men of that cuntre c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace i. 249.
He … span full conandly, As of his tym c1475 Ib. iv. 204.
As off rychess he held na propyrte 1491 Acts Lords Auditors 159/1.
Johne of Wemis deit last … sesit of the saidis landis as of fee 1476 Ayr Friars Pr. Chart. 55.
To kepe the priour … Skaithles … as of closyne of it(2) 1456 Hay II. 116.
Playntis … as to merchandis c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii. 401.
He is no lord as to the worthines c 1570 Maxwell Mem. II. 138.
Is to ane pyk tuith [pr. tuich], I vill promeis ȝow, I nader haif ane, nor culd fynd ane to by for selleir(3) c1420 Wynt. iv. 660.
Darius … echapyd as that day c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace i. 313.
As this tid … with him he wald nocht bide

5. Answering to als, as, like, sa, swilk.See also these words, and Far, Sone, Wele advs. 1375 Barb. ix. 401.
A knycht, sa richt vorthy As this is 1386 Rotuli Sc. II. 85/2.
As far forth as thay trespasse 1386 Ib.
As sone as it may be 1439 Edinb. Chart. 65.
Payand yerly til vs … swylk like annuales as thai dede to … Schir Robert a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 161.
As ane speir als lang c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 59.
Als fresch as flouris 1513 Doug. ix. viii. 133.
Sa lang as thai sammyn … war 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 14/2.
I sau neuyr sa grite ane fule … as is thy philosophour a1605 Birrel Diary 42.
He being as abill a lyke man as wes living

b. Such as; which, that. 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 326/1.
Except beneficis as ar at the gift of Sanctandris 1567 Satirical Poems vi. 70.
He … vsit meanis as God did not allow

6. Than. 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 71/11.
Ther can nocht be ane mair vehement perplexite as quhen [etc.] 1581 Burne Disput. 19.
My truble … is hauiar as the sand of the sea 1596 Dalr. I. 209/28.
Nocht ȝounger as xviii ȝeiris … nor elder as xxx 1650 Kirkcaldy Presb. 371.
Lyklier … to dye as lyve