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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Thair(e, Thar(e, possess. adj. Also: thayr(e, thayire, thaer, ther(e, their(e, theyr, theare, theer(e, thir(e. Pl. thairz. [ME and e.m.E. þeȝȝre (Orm), þar, þair(e (all Cursor M.), þeyr (Manning), thaire, their (both c1440), thare (1460), theyr (1533), thir (1671), ON þeir(r)a gen. pl. of simple demonstr. sá, sú, þat, cf. OE þǽra, late form of þára gen. pl. of þá those.]The word was freq. used in one of its abbreviated forms in MSS, especially in the earlier period, and many spellings represent editorial expansions.

1. Of, belonging to or connected with them.(a) 1312 Facs. Nat. MSS II xix.
[The said Edmund … and the heirs … shall come with all kinds of grain … ] that thai sal grind for thair fode 1375 Barb. i 22.
Thai suld weill hawe prys That in thar tyme war wycht and wys a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 150.
Heire I will thare namys schaw 1398 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 5.
The four ma[r]kys worth of land of Jargburach … with all thair rychtwyse pertina[n]ce 1407 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 66.
Thaer c1420 Wynt. iv 918.
Temystocles … off thaire schyppys wonnyn had 14.. Acts I 342/1.
Thir ar the actionis that pertenis to be inquirit at the dittay be the justice clerkis … All takaris of thiftbute … ridaris of vther menis hors thar vnwitting c1450-2 Howlat 62 (A).
All thir fowlis for my filth has me at feid That be I seyne in thar sicht 1495 Reg. Episc. Brechin. II 317.
The saidis prouost bailȝeis [etc.] … grantis … to the said George and hys wyf … thar larys in the quer of the said kirk a1500 Peblis to Play 8.
It wes thair feist day 1501 Buchan Cl. II 122.
Thayr 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 279.
Thai gaif thair exact deligence to instruct thair pepill in plesand and civill maneris 1574 Hist. Kinloss A. 95.
For thair fyir, buttir, candill, spice, and lentrun meitt, xij li. 1612 Reg. Privy C. IX 313.
[They] being efter supper betuix nyne and ten of the clok going furth at the Nethir Bow poirt to thair beddis c1650 Spalding II 435.
The toune of Abirdene … ar chargit … to declair the availl of thair goodis plunderit be the Irishis(b) 1375 Barb. xii 393 (C).
Thai … mak reddy ther [E. thar] apparale Agane the morne for the battale a1400 Leg. S. v 377.
Al ther kyne Thru baptisme forsuk thar syne 1398 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 40.
Theire a1500 Henr. Fab. 195.
Thus thay fure quhill soberit wes their mude 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 19 (Davidson).
Fragrant flouris blomand in theyr seis 1549 Compl. 82/4.
There rasons that thai allege aperis to them to be inuincibil a1561 Norvell Meroure 52b.
The lake of faith, is cause of all theare errours 1587 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 135.
The gret amyte … betwene there majestes c1590 Fowler I 174/3.
Theer c1590 Fowler II 74/10.
Men changeth very willinglye there lords and maisters hoping to better there conditioun 1636 Urie Baron Ct. 81.
The haill tennentis … ar … ordeneit to pay ther haill keains, customes and vther dewties 1611-57 Mure Psalmes cvi 18.
For there mutinie, Midst flames the wicked did expire 1676 Craven Ch. in Orkney 65.
[They] subscribed his lo. electione with theere hands 1698 Kingarth Par. Rec. 197.
This is ther minde and judgment(c) c1590 Fowler II 151/5.
Quho otherwyse proceideth … ather dois he by the subornings of flatterers hastelye orthraw him self, or be thir varietie of opinions changes his determinations als oft 1649 Brechin Presb. 9.
The Commission of the Generall Assembly … ordaines Mr. George Symer, minister at Fearn, to intimat this thire sentencepl. 1454 Southesk MSS 720/2.
The elderis of Wat of Carnegy held the landis of Kynnard and Litill Carcary with thairz pertinents

b. With awyn which emphasises the possessive or limits possession to a particular person or group. Also = their own people. See Awin adj. and Owin(e adj. for further examples. c. With bathe = of both of them, see Bathe adj. and adv. for further examples. d. With alayn, see Allane adj. and adv. and Lane adj. for examples.b. (1) 1375 Barb. iii 752.
Thai as lord suld him ken Bot at thar possessioune suld be For all his men thar awyn fre 1387 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 11.
The forsayde communite sal gyf to the forsayd masounys ay xl libras befor hand forto mak thayre awne werk with 1428 Wemyss Chart. 56.
Gyf the said Robert or Dauid lykis to ger mak … a salt pan of thaire awne 1603 Moysie 124.
The leivingis of Huntlie and Errol wer given to the diuk, and he maid theare awin ladeyis and wyfes intromettouris thairwithe 1657 Johnston Diary III 84.
They had by this vote layd a foundation … and if thy maid not good use of it the blayme should lye at their awen doore(2) a1400 Leg. S. xviii 114.
Few come thare for thayire awnec. 15.. Wyf Awcht. 80 (B).
That straik dang baith thair harnis owt c1590 Fowler I 16.
The barbar grosnes of boyth thair translationis

e. Used in relation to a singular noun after ilk, euerie, etc. or when gender is inclusive. Also with implicit singular referent.(1) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 491.
Ilk ane thay tuke ane diuers dait, And promeist be thair awin consait Mair large nor thay wald do 1562-3 Winȝet I 110/15.
A man or woman being lang absent fra thair party 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 6.
Euerie brutall is maist infectand … to thair awin kynd c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 182, 184.
As the faithfull … Hes now in Heauin … Ilk ane thair awin preparit roum and place, So hes the wekit … Ilk ane thair awin appoyntit rowmes in Hell 1625 Dumfries Test. I^A 124b.
Williame Jonsoun … ordanes ilk ane of his four bairnes to ken thair awin part of geir 1653 Peebles B. Rec. II 15.
That no indwelling burges … put scheepe … to the said landes, except they be their awne propper goodes(2) 15.. Wyf Awcht 91 (B).
The diuill cutt of thair [sc. the wife's] handis quod he That fild ȝow all sa fow this strene

2. Substituted for the possessive inflection. Cf. He pers. pron. 3 c. 1456 Liber Aberbr. II 89.
The sowthe syde of the myre sal ly in commoun pasture to the said tua lordis, thar tennandis and thar gudis 1541 Renfrew Arch. Coll. I 196.
Jhone Merschell being personaly present and the said venerable fader his convent thair ballie a1649 Drummond Wks. (1711) 193.
An answer to the parliament of England their declaration 1658 Aberd. Council Lett. III 334.
The clerk to report … to the Kirk Sessioun of Campheir the presbiterie of Edinburgh thair advyce anent [etc.] ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. I 120.
The number of lay voices … must exceed the number of the ministers ther voices