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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Geve, Gewe, v. Also: geiv(e, geiwe. P.t. gave, gaive, gawe, gewe, geawe, geve, gev. P.p. gevin(e, -yn(e, -yng, gewin(e, -yn(e, -en, geivin, geyn, gein, ge'ine. [ME. geve (14th c.), ON. gefa (gaf, gáfu, gefenn). Cf. Give v. and Gif v.] To give, in various senses.

1. tr. To give, hand over (something to a person).(a) 1456 Hay I. 237/9.
That … men of kirk gevis tributis … of thair gudis to the king Ib. 300/31.
To the quhilkis to geve grete giftis is thing tynt c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 34/3.
It that ladyis wynnis vnlefully … thai may lefully geve in almous 1513 Doug. i. ii. 44.
Thou the ceptour gevis me in hand Of all this realme c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 530.
Quhair ȝe can spye ane man to geue ȝow mair, Ȝe schute thame furth 1594 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 124.
[The Council] geves to Jhonn Hog, … ten pund to be gevin to the barbouris for curing him 1608 Peebles Gleanings 31.
They haif na power to geve the teyndis thairof 1648 Peebles B. Rec. 383.
Quhasumeuer sall geve moneyis to ony sojerabsol. 1456 Hay II. 31/16.
To … hald it as heritage … , nocht gevand na restorand agayn Ib. 81/31.
He that gevis atour his power … heryis himself c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 33/13.
The first is … that thow geve blythlye and frely c1500-c1512 Dunb. xvi. 42.
Sum gevis to thame can flattir and fenȝie(b) 1509 Douglas Chart. 189.
George Dowglace, … gewis and infeftis till ws the saidis landis 1565 Hist. Carnegie 51.
Except gyf it wer … sic oder thynge … to gew to hir 1596 Misc. Spald. C. I. 91.
Thow promesit that all suld be weill, gewand thé hir draff for peyment 1636 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 97.
The prouest, baillies, and counsall … gewis and grauntis to the said Andro the samen yeirlie stipend(c) 1506 Orkn. & Shetl. Rec. 248.
To the quilk lorde I geiwe … my schipe callit the Carvell 1525 Misc. Bann. C. III. 107.
To the qwhilk lorde I geiwe and leiffis all the landis that I possessit 15.. Clar. i. 1044.
I geive ȝow heir ane ring of gold royall 1648 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 128.
To geive the ministers thair denner at M^r Patrik Gillespies entrie(b) c1420 Wynt. ii. 161.
He gewe fyrst … Teyndis, as the Bybyll sayis Ib. vi. 1991.
That bred He gawe the batwartis Ib. ix. 591.
The byschape … gave twa lang coddis of welwete c1475 Wall. ii. 171.
Barrell heryng and wattir thai him gawe 1535 Stewart 50515.
Ane greit armie king Robert … In gyding syne to James of Douglas gawe (a1570-86 Dunb.) Maitl. F. xvi./101.
The dewellis gawe thame hat leid to lape 1580 Cath. Tr. 68/35.
That same flesche he geawe ws to eatte(c) 1375 Barb. i. 317.
Quhen he herd … at his landis … War gevyn to Clifford c1420 Wynt. viii. 7105.
This wes grauntit and gevyn thare, And to this wes gevyn mare 1456 Hay I. 139/18.
Gif a knycht … had gevyn a coursour to the provost of Paris unaskit 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 27.
A gowne … the quhilk was gevin to the hereald of Inglande at the passing of the ambaxat 1507 Edinb. Chart. 192.
Gevin vnder oure priue sele at … Edinburgh 1550 Reg. Cupar A. II. 73.
Tuay acris of outfeild land … to be gevin to our forester 1562 Will Agnes Betoun 226.
The haill profeit … to be geivine to the marriage of hir said twa dochteris 1574 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 19.
The almes … sall be gevin to honest decait personis and not to commond beggaris 1617 Acts IV. 547/1.
Quhen cautioun is found thair is no warrand thairof gevin to the arreistar bot onlie a tikkett 1656 Mun. Univ. Glasg. III. 497.
Gevin to Collein Campbell for half a yeares craig maill(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxii. 633.
Thre housis that gewine ware To vphauld sancte Laurens altere Ib. xxxiv. 257.
Haf I nocht ryches gewine thé c 1400 Newbattle Chart. (Reg. H.).
The land grantit and gewin to him 1457 Peebles B. Rec. 123.
The balyais … has gewyn to the myller ij markis 1488 Lanark B. Rec. 4.
The xx crownis that was gewin to my lord of Angus 1542 Reg. Cupar A. II. 183.
Nota that Andro Pereys land [is] gewin him for keiping of ouir cwnigair and parkis c 1567 Melville Corr. 232.
The quenes Majestie hes send for sum baggage to be gewyn to the kyng 1595 Orkney Rentals ii. 44.
In land mail of 1 fdg. terrae … gewen in excambion to Magnus Loutit 1606 Peebles Gleanings 25.
That [pension] thay haif gewin her fyve yeiris 1623–4 Peebles B. Rec. 412.
Gewine to Pattrik Pattersone for the depursmentis he hade depursit in Selkirk, vi li. xiiij s.(c) 1542 Reg. Cupar A. II. 19.
For certane sowmis of money geving to ws be our louitt Alexander Jaksone 1557 Peebles B. Rec. 236.
William … desyrit bakwart of the said sovme mair nor he aucht till haif geving c1615 Chron. Kings 51.
He reserwit … the dowarreis gewing for the mareage of the eldest sonis

2. To give, grant, or bestow (a benefit, power, privilege, etc.) to or upon a person.(a) 1456 Hay I. 3/35.
To geve yow corage to do in sik maner Ib. 60/34.
A consul … wald hald him at the portis, and nocht geve him entree 1466 Reg. Dunferm. 356.
Giff of casse I or my ayris … gevis ony leiffe … to mak ony drauchtis of the said Magdelan burn 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 234/1.
Gevand him power balȝe courtis … to set [etc.] 1517 Ib. 451/2.
Gevand him licence and benevolence to gif presentatioun … to the vicarage of Cluny 1562-3 Winȝet I. 9/10.
Sen God geuis vs libertie … frelie to think Ib. 99/13.
Geueand thaim pouer … to ordour wthiris 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 17.
Withoute respect tyll ony wicht, Suld kyngs geue euery man thare rycht 1567 G. Ball. 61.
I grant that I haif faultit sore, To stok and stane geuand his glore Ib. 123.
Than ioy and myrth thow sall me geue 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 49.
Lykeas it pleasit thair worships … to geue the credit of the selling thairof to the supplicant(b) c1460 Wisd. Sol. 490.
He sais god gewys to the wysman wyt and wisdome c1420 Ratis R. 29.
Thar is a makar of al thinge … That gewys to mankynd wyt & skill 1578 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 55.
Gewand … hir full power to hym to intromit and dispone thairupone 1598 Crim. Trials II. 43.
The baillerie gewis sufficient authoritie of the apprehensioun of ony suspect of pykerie 1601 Conv. Burghs II. 109.
The saidis commissioneris … gewis powir and commissioun tothe saidis brughis [etc.](b) c1420 Wynt. ii. 377.
He … gawe hym large and full powere To do that lykand tyll hym were Ib. v. 2935.
Quhen he gawe thame lewe to say All that [etc.](c) 1447 Edinb. Chart. 68.
We haue geuyn and grauntit … al rycht … and possessioun to the said landis 1456 Hay II. 37/28.
Na man … may tak honour away quhare it is anys gevin c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 66/25.
My v wittis of nature that God … has gevyne me to vse wele in his seruice 1515 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 94.
The lecence gevin to vnfremen to saill with merchandeise c1552 Lynd. Mon. 914.
The quhilk has geuin us lybertie Till eait of euery fruct [etc.] 1572 Bann. Memor. 239.
Thei meane not heirby that ony impunitie suld be gevin to sic 1614 Highland P. III. 168.
The lyk dischearge [is] to be gevin by him to the tennentes(b) a1400 Leg. S. i. 18.
To bind and lous … Plane poware is gewin thé til Ib. v. 4.
Foure prewilege hym gewyn wes 1427 Melville Chart. 245.
Schire Johne … hes gewyn and grantyt … full leue … to make a myllyn dame 1531 Prot. Bk. M. Fleming 13 b.
The forsaid balȝae … hes gewin … possession of the sayd ȝard 1588 King Cat. 33.
Sancts … to quhome is gewine … to liwe maist familiar withe Christ 1670 Urie Baron Ct. 91.
No tennant … sall presume to sell any peittes … without leaw askit and gewen

3. To give, in secondary senses varying according to the object governed by the verb.(1) 1375 Barb. ii. 122.
Tak him … As I had gevyn thar-to na reid Ib. ix. 445.
The king Had gevin thame in commandyng That [etc.] c1420 Wynt. ii. 307.
Deucalyon dyde all hale As Pyrra gawe hym to consalle Ib. v. 1512.
Ane angell … gawe bydding ay Pasce to mak apon Sownday 1478 Acta Aud. 66/2.
Ilk baroun and freehaldare that … geve voce with the said dome is … in amerciament 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2251.
Quha geuis ȝow this counsell 1558-66 Knox II. 357.
The response which his wyffis wyttches had gevin 1570 Sat. P. xiii. 159.
All thay [that] geuis consultatioun, … salbe haldin pertakeris of this act 1583 Ib. xlv. 1066.
Gewing him charges to obey 1606 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 17.
This day beand assignit to him to eik to his former defences gevein(2) 1375 Barb. xvi. 130.
To schir Colyne sic dusche he gave [E. gewe] ?1438 Alex. i. 2454.
The enforce of Grece he saw Geuand and takand mony rout c1475 Wall. i. 407.
With the sweird awkwart he him gawe Wndyr the hat a1500 Rauf C. 858.
He gaue ane braid with his brand to the beirne by 1544 Bk. Carlaverock II. 29.
I am content to rassayff the mast wylld deid that may be geyn me 1558-66 Knox II. 59.
Thair was gevin upone thame ane charge be sum horsmen 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 138.
The day after the defait was gevin thame 1585 James VI Ess. 42.
The dyuers falls, that Fortune geuis to men 1615 Highland P. III. 185.
Sum of the luiftenants men … did geive them a woille of shoat 1642 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 292.
Geweing hir many bla strakis(3) c1420 Wynt. i. 31.
Set tyll this I gawe my wylle Ib. v. 1001.
To that sone he gawe assent Ib. vii. 1489.
The byschapys … Gawe hym. blyssyn hale 1456 Hay I. 243/33.
He aw to geve compt to the hiest juge of thair … mysdedis Ib. 285/30.
The prince suld … understand all the mater before … he geve his consent 1490 Irland Mir. I. 8/12.
To … geve his laubour and study to wisdome 1513 Doug. iii. Prol. 28.
I ȝow beseik to gevin advertens Ib. xi. Prol. 42.
Of tyme nor ressoun gevis he na cuyr 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xlii.
Gevand his mind … to serche the verite of thir … dowtis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 41/2.
The Empreour to sic wordis gaue audience 1567 G. Ball. 159.
Quhen Antichrist wald thé blind, That thow suld geue him na eir 1637 Baillie I. App. 429.
Wherin our greatest Prelate gewis ane accompt to the B. of Canterburry(4) a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 31.
Fra the tyme of his ȝouthede That he to God al gevine vas c1400 Troy-bk. i. 450.
Men that eilde hade ourdrevyne, That war fra delitis gevyne 1456 Hay I. 3/30.
My curage has gevin me to mak sum newing [etc.] a1500 Henr. III. 164/60.
Thay ar gevin sa planly to oppressioun 1533 Bell. Livy I. 193/3.
Ȝoure playis … to quhais sicht sal the pepill be maist ernistfully gevin 1562-3 Winȝet I. 6/13.
Albeit it chance … that he … be gevin to pastyme a1570-86 Maitl. F. xcix. 5.
All haill thair hartis to covatice ar gewin a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxv. 20.
The gayest and best gein 1600-1610 Melvill 117.
Partlie for gean [= gain], wharto he was gein 1609 Gardyne Garden 5.
I should more largely notefie it now How much t' augment thy greatnes I am ge'ine(5) 1427 Melville Chart. 245.
This fredome to kepe … aythire of the partis has gewin gude faith 1456 Hay I. 87/12 (see Faith n. 4 (2)). 1472 Lennox Mun. 92.
[They haue] gewyn thar bodely athis 1558-66 Knox II. 270.
A cumpany of the most honest … geve thair salutationis at hir chalmer wyndo 1617 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 353.
[They] being sworne … gawe their aythis in maner following 1632 Peebles B. Rec. 372.
[The jailor] hes gevin his grit aith of fidelitie thairintill(6) c 1456 Edinb. B. Rec. MS. (Reg. H.) 2 (see Dome n. 1 b (2)). 1479 Acta Conc. 21/1.
The deliuerance and sentence gevin … be the grete assise in Aberdene 1490 Acta Aud. 139/2.
The saidis lordis haid gevin a decrett contrare him 1550 Reg. Privy C. I. 103.
That ane declaratour be gevin be my Lord Governour … thairupoun 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10709.
According to sentence … Geuin and pronouncit be that awful juge 1639 Hamilton P. 80.
The day befor the expayering of the 8 gevene in your Ma^tis last proclamatione(7) 1480 Acta Conc. 76/1.
The avale and price of the said gold as it gevis in Flanderis 1485 Ib. *109/1.
The avale of the said salmonde as salmonde gevis now in Aberdene a1578 Pitsc. II. 317/7.
At this tyme. the boll of quhyt gave viij markis c 1627 Bk. Carlaverock II. 608.
They could not haue moneyes for any thinge … for wictuall heir geives noe pryse

b. In miscellaneous uses. (See also Bak n.¹ 3 a.) c1420 Wynt. v. 1420.
For thi that name wes gevyn hym tille 1456 Hay I. 88/1.
To geve otheris exempil in tyme to cum, he suld be punyst Ib. 202/30.
He beand redy to geve the sacrament, thai strike on him 1490 Irland Mir. I. 6/10.
Gevand doctrine and exampill to princis 1498 Acta Conc. II. 102.
The nychtbouris … sal incontinent geve the cry and tak the sade trespassour 1533 Bell. Livy I. 18/12.
This wolf … gevand thame souke with hir pappis 1533 Boece ii. viii. 72.
The feild quhare the batell was gevin Ib. v. ii. 166 b.
The place quhare the feild was gevyn 15.. Clar. v. 2560.
On the morn as Phebus gave the light 1573 Bk. Old Edinb. C. VI. 60.
The samyn prenteis … gevand his assay quhen it pleissis him c1616 Hume Orthog. 8.
We geve it alwaies ane sound beath befoer and behind the consonant 1619 Misc. Abbotsford C. 83.
Scho gaiue fiue or six lytle groanes 1626 Kinghorn Kirk S. 30.
Wald ȝe not have gewin hir ane amends of me?

c. With complementary additions. 1375 Barb. xx. 102.
I trow that lang quhill no lady To hous wes gevin so richly c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1624.
Thir two sonnes … War gevin in tutory … To king Teuteus 1486 Bk. Carlaverock II. 447.
The name thairof beand gevin to him in write 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 259/2.
His grace quite clamys and dischargis him thairof and gevis thaim quyte be thir lettrez 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 350.
Geuand the saulis … To blynd pastouris … to keip 1562-3 Winȝet I. 31/14.
That God … had geuin the king and the preiste to be despysit 1570 Reg. Episc. Brechin II. 307.
[To] execut his office … to the comfort of the floke gewin in his cwir 1584 Edinb. Test. XIV. 70 b.
My bukes als thay ar gevin in roll in the cathalog 1613 Highland P. III. 134.
Being a poore man and gevin be the landislordis to be a threscher in a barne

4. With adverbs as doun, furth, in, our, out, up.(1) c1420 Wynt. ii. 207.
Esaw … Gawe wpe all hale hys herytage 1456 Hay II. 81/35.
A man that gevis him self up cowartly in the handis of his fais 1567 G. Ball. 30.
He … geuis vp the gaist 1635 Peebles B. Rec. 372.
To convene the haill persones … gevin up in roll(2) 1483 Acta Conc. II. p. cxxxiii.
The said Jonet … had gevin our the samyn [terce] 1513 Doug. vii. ix. 127.
He … Of all sik thingis gaue our the cure and charge 1516 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 159.
[The] provest … hes frelie gevin over … the bigging that he hes maid 1552 Breadalbane Coll. (Reg. H.) No. 84.
The saidis … hes ranunsyt, left, & gewin our thair cheyff, the lard M‘Gregour 1571 Sat. P. xxvi. 43.
Down was geuin ouir, for feir of weir assay 1614 Melrose P. 182.
I … smellit that he wald neuir geiv over that hous to be torterit(3) 1484 Exch. R. IX. 605.
Entres of courtis of all termes bigain … to mak be gevin in 1540 Edinb. Chart. 210.
Anent the supplicatioun gevin in be Thomas Richartsoun 1563 Reg. Cupar A. II. 274.
Ane rentale gevin in … be the erle of Argile 1574 Reg. Privy C. II. 346.
He is gevin in … be the collectouris of Abirdene as at the horn 1580 Dundee Shipping L. 198.
The persones mentionat in ane doket gewine in to the dene of gild 1606 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 17.
His former defences gevein in against the libell of removing 1640 Spalding I. 276.
The articles underwrittin, propouit and gewin in ȝisternicht to the magistratts of this burghe(4) 1493 Acta Conc. 316/2.
The said deliuerance to be gevin out betuix this and the last day of the Justice are of Lanark 1625 Bk. Carlaverock II. 71.
Lettiris of captioun [are] gevin out aganis ws — 1632 Lanark B. Rec. 326.
The … frierlandis … gevin furthe of the landis of the said burgh(5) 1584 Edinb. Test. XIV. 176 b.
I … leue my said smyddie graith to … my sone, he defalkand & gevand doun ten merkis of his portioun thairfore