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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.

This, adj. (pron.). Also: thys, thiis, thus, thes, theis(s. [ME and e.m.E. þes (c1175), þiss (Orm), þus, þis (both Layamon), þys (1297), þiis (Cursor M.), this (Chaucer), thys (Lydgate), thus (a1440), thes (1477), OE þes, OFris. *this.]Cf. Thais adj. (pron.) and That adj., pron.

A. demonstr. adj. 1. Qualifying a singular noun indicating something physically present or near, something which has already been or is about to be mentioned, or referring to something as known or talked about: This. Also in contrast to that indicating one thing as distinct from another. Also immediately followed by a possess. pron.(1) 1375 Barb. i 623.
For-owtyn langer let, This letter sall I entyr heyr Befor all ȝour consaill planer a1400 Leg. S. i 11.
Criste … sad til hyme this wourd … Thu art Petir at is, oure stane 1391 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 3.
This endentour mayd at Borthwyk the xxiii day off the moneth off June ?1438 Alex. ii 2149.
He sall na chaip this maner [F. ceste manandie] c1420 Wynt. viii 285.
Off a kynryk a kyng … Noucht crownyd … bot symply set … as kyng ryngnand Is dede, but ayris … This kyng in fe and herytage That kynrik held 1475 Acts II 112/2.
The gold sal haue cours … in this wis that is to say the ros noble to xxxv s. [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. III 1/3.
This folowand cheptur declaris [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 70/32.
I haif inquyrit … For help and confort in this cace 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 163.
Thys proloug smellis new cum furth of hell 1533 Bell. Livy I 46/28.
Numa, this civil and illustar prince 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 272.
To declare forthir myne affaris I have directit this berare unto youre grace to schew my mynd at mair lenth 1549 Compl. 143/7, 9.
The preist of Peblis speris ane questione … the solutione of this questione requiris nocht ane allogoric expositione, nor ȝit ane glose, be rason that the text of this questione is nocht obscure a1578 Pitsc. II 225/20.
All this realme was devydit and raid all in jackis and speiris 1638 Protestation of General Assembly 18 Dec.
In speciall this horning against the commissioners to the Assembly cannot be respected(b) a1400 Leg. S. iii 948.
Quhen the bischope thus tale To the hend had hard hale(c) 1375 Barb. i 477.
Thys lord the Brwys I spak of ayr a1400 Leg. S. v 17.
Thys Johne … Wes ful brothir to mare Sancte Jame(d) 1568 Q. Mary in Ellis Orig. Lett. II (1824) 254.
Excus my iuel vreitin thes furst tym 1615 Highland P. III 255.
Sir James McDoneill … be traine of a craftie fellow of the contree … was broght furth be thes fellow 1622 Innes Sketches 516.
I haue reseaued … a packet of letters concerninge the takinge of this trublesum whyt hynd of yours … His maiestie is weill plesed with you for the caire you hawe hed to forder his maiesties desyr in all things concerninge this bissines of takinge theis deir(2) 1530 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 30.
Thar is diuers seruandis that hes thar masteris and hussis claithis to the walter, and be the gait takis this womanis coller and that womanis curtche and wescheis thame amangis thar maisteris 16.. Rudiments 5a.
Quhow manie simple pronounes ar there. Fifteene: I, thow, … that man, this man, this or that man, mine [etc.](3) 1576 Orkney Oppress. 91.
That thai accept this our commissioun 1588 Misc. Spald. C. II 112.
The comoun weill of this our realme

b. This anys, see Anis adv. 5. c. This ilk, see Ilk adj.¹ 1 a. d. This same, see Same adj. 4 c. This samin, see Samin adj. 1 b.

e. Qualifying a plural noun: These; those. Also in the mod. dial.The examples in (2) may belong in 1 (1) above.(1) a1400 Leg. S. l 75.
Knaw thi malyes & with-draw now Sic seruice fra this goddis fals 1407 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 65.
And this thynges to fulfill & to kepe in all poyntes as is before writyn 1420 (1430) Reg. Great S. 30/1.
The forsaid lord has grantyt … the keping of hys Castell of Louchmabane for al the terme of hys lyf wyth this feis, that is to say iiii^xx of ponddis of gud and usuale mone of Scotland ilk yheir 1456 Hay I 155/1.
I … metis … a thef, the quhilk wald reve me the hors that I ryde on, and myn othir gere … and I defend me sa agayne that thef that I … takis fra him it that he wald have tane fra me … Than is this the questioun: quhethir I may lefully hald this gudis that I tak fra him that wald have reft me a1500 Rauf C. 648.
Quhair is Wymond the day? I pray thé, bring him gif thow may, Out of this wanis [: anis] 1523 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 131.
To consider James Bagbe jak … And gef it ganes nocht for James, we ordand James Tailyour to mak hyme ane meit jak efter the seycht of this [pr. thir] craftismen 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 271.
I purpos … to do my dewite of service unto your grace, by the quhilk I think to accomplies your graces mynd in thiis thingis as may gudelie stand with my powar 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 39.
We thocht guid to advertise you of sic occurrences as hes fallen furtht heir sen ȝour departing … quhen he [sc. the Master of Glamis] cummis to court he will peradventure schow his maiestie this unhonest procedingis ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 74.
Thair is ane mile braid of sandis … callit … in Inglis the great sandis of Baray. This sandis is all full of great cockles 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I 339.
Our mylns being destitute of water a gryt parte of the yeir to wit in the drouthe of summer and frost of winter ar not abill to dispatche and grind the cornis that wald cum to the same … The onlye waye that we can find out to help this wantis is [etc.](b) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 823.
That thu in this cunctre duell still, Goddis wangel for to preche till Thus Pechtis, at are lath to trew(2) 1375 Barb. xv 142.
Quhen Nele Flemyng gan thaim se He … said to thaim that war him by … Now ber ȝow weill, for sekyrly With all this [C. thir, 1571 ȝone] mengne fecht will I 1375 Barb. xix 47.
A parlement set tharfor thar was And brocht thidder this [C. thir, 1571 that] mengne war

2. In various constructions with expressions of time. a. With reference to the present time, the time under discussion.specif. (1) The period of time in which the action, etc. is occurring, also this (present) lyfe, earthly life. (2) In collocation with day in various phrases, esp. this day, = at this time, on this occasion, today, also to this day, = up to this present time, this day fourtein, etc. dayes, = fourteen days from today, this Tuesday, today which is Tuesday. Also with pl. noun.(1) 1375 Barb. ix 677.
In all this tyme James of Dowglas In the forest trawaland was 1401 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 8.
For the quilk request he has delyuerit thaim frely at this tym 1466 Acta Aud. 6/1.
To the producing of the quhilk prufe the lordis assignis him the xxvj day of this instant monethe of Octobere a1500 Seven S. 11.
The empryce … Throw det of natur this lyf left As all that levis mon leif heir eft 1533 Boece 63.
About this ilk tyme Chryne king of Pichtis to King Mayne directit ambassiatouris 1549 Compl. 74/25.
The practic of this present tyme makkis it manifest a1570-86 Maitl. F. 422/96.
But blot and blamis is ȝour bluid And ay hes bein in honour to this hour 1602 Misc. Spald. C. II 287.
Being sa longe lingared be noble men off our rank and abowe befoir this tyme — 1567 G. Ball. 31.
Quha will nocht haill to Christ him giue, Quhill in this present lyfe he liue … sall die in hell(2) c1420 Wynt. ii 374.
In tyll Egypte yhit thai say That lawch is kepyt to this day 1475 Acts II 112/2.
That al siluer money haue sic lyk cours in tyme to cum as it has this day a1500 Henr. Praise of Age 28.
This day a king, to morne na gude to spend 1560 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 171.
This day is Sanctmartynis day quhilk is ane feriat day a1570-86 J. Maitland in Maitl. F. 436/83.
Mark and mynt at the honour laud and prays … Off sick as hes done doihtelie in this dayis To keipe this realme from thraldome a1585 Maitl. Q. 47/11.
Behauld the instabilitie Of this fals warld … This day ane man set vp on hie To morne set doun amang his fais 1600 Crim. Trials II 198.
It wes ane evill halff leaff and ane drynk ȝe gaiff ws this day 1623 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 204.
This day collect at the kirk doore, for George Davidsone, being to depairt, 50 s. 8 d. 1624 Moray Synod 6.
The bretheren of the presbyterie … sall meit with my L.B. this day fourtein dayes at Keith 1664 Cramond Kirk S. II 31 July.
James Lees … is appoynted to enter this day fyfteen days to give signs of repentance before the congregatione, in regarde he is to be necessarlye absent this day eight days — 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 41.
To oure weillbeloued nychtbouris … from Aberdene this Tuesday at ten howres befoir nowne the second of Aprile be youris awin nychtbour Alexander Chalmer of Cultis

b. With reference to the immediate past or future. This Monday, etc. referring to a day which is past in the present week. Also with pl. noun.(1) c1475 Wall. i 262.
Der sone, this lang quhar has thow beyne? c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 172.
He wes as flurising fresche within this few ȝeris, Bot he is falȝeid full far 1513 Doug. iv vi 76.
For thé I haue beyn hatyt this mony a day 1513 Doug. ix v 107 (Ruddim.).
How proud armoure wele gilt and burnist bryght That Turnus bare this ȝister nycht 1529 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 4.
In hors corne spendit this olk … summa xxxii s. 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 249.
Few Inglis has sleppit this last xxiiij houris in speciall 1567 G. Ball. 186.
We sall blait on our beir, Fatheris of haly Kirk, this xv hunder ȝeir 1613 Fraserburgh Kirk S. I 18 (16 June).
To answer for thair non-cohabitatioun this ȝeiris bygane 1638 Baillie I 88.
I have receaved no answer, I heard of your letters, I think within this twelve moneth 1640 Dunferm. Kirk S. 8.
To Mr. John Hodge doctor of the gramer school his fee of 8 lib. 6 s. 8 d. for this last Mairtymas 1684 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. XXXVI 162.
Mary Mcadam … depones that this two yeire she hes not been in the church but once 1695 D. Warrand Culloden Papers (1923) I 244.
I doe admire he has lived so long with being confynd now this fyv years — 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I 40.
David Cairill … quhome they haif slain … and was burreit theis Mononday befoir nowne(2) 1526 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 86.
Scho was awand at the last comp … iii lib. xl d., and grantit, this nixt Martinmes beand rown, awand thre termes 1541 Maxwell Mem. I 285.
[Grace] quhill this nyxt Mertimes 1612 Maxwell Mem. II 60.
St. Androwis is lukit for this ny[x]te weke 1650 Tyninghame Kirk S. in Andrews Bygone Ch. Life 186.
The watch to be well observed this twa nichts to come 1670 Soc. Ant. XXX 20.
This Mertnemes being the first terme of payment of the said soume

3. This present(is) (letters), the present document. Cf. Thir adj. (pron.) A 2. See Present n.² 1 for further examples.(1) c1379 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 1.
Be it kennyt till al men throch this presens 1398 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 5.
Be it knoyen till all men by this present letters that I [etc.] 1507–8 Rec. Earld. Orkney 80.
The forsaidis … has howng thare awne selis to this present letters, and the saidis Schir David Lochmill [etc.] … for cause thay had na selis of thare awne present, thay haffe … procurit the sele of … Frederick Newfare, notare public, to be howng for thame all to this letters 1606 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II 117.
The saids curatours in respect of the present minoritie of the saids bairnis obligis thame to caus thame the tyme of thair perfyit aig and maioritie to consent heirto and ratifie this presentis(2) 1400 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 7.
Til al men this writ to her or se me Jon of the Wemys … for to haf gyfyn grantit & throu this my present charter to haf confermit [etc.]

B. pronoun. 1. Referring to something physically near or which has already been or is about to be mentioned. Cf. Thir adj. (pron.) B.Also in contrast to Ȝon(e pron.(1) a1400 Leg. S. ii 213.
Paule tham prechit be the way Of Criste … And of the panis … That thai sall hawe that ar in hell. And this he has thai knychttis taucht 1399 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 6.
This is the cunand made betwex the comownys of Abirden … and Jon Lambynton & Crawfurd mason ?1438 Alex. ii 2285.
Bot this I say: In lyfe ocht lang leif gif I may, Clarus sall by his barganyng And in this countre his cuming c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 182.
Quhat nedis me … To writt all this? a1500 Henr. Fab. 429.
Chantecleir … wes flowen fra his nest. Lowrence this saw and [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. I 27/32.
Attoure all this, oure lord Jhesus has oblist ws to conserue and keip in oure mynd the haly spreit c1515 Asl. MS I 268/3.
Efter the deid of this Dauid his sister son Robert Stewart was crowned … This renewit the band of Fraunce and had gret victoris apon Ynglismen c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 165/4.
Me thocht Sanct Francis did to me appeir With ane religious abbeit in his hand, And said, In this go cleith thé my servand 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1966.
I will pas now to the Halie Land … & thairto end my life, This vowit this knicht a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 33/53.
Ane sayis this ane vther sayis nay That we wait nocht quham to we suld adheir c1610 Jok Uplandis Newis 1a.
Quhat think ye hes the wyte of all this? … Nothing hes the wyte of this bot pryde, invy & follie 1652 Peebles B. Rec. II 3.
They discharge the said Thomas … and declares him to be ane unfreman, and this to be intimat at the croce upon Tuesday nixt(b) ?1438 Alex. ii 9619.
Eme … now the dede that spared nene Hes thé in his handis tane! Quhen thus was said, he lukit him by And saw thirlit sheildis and dede men ly(c) 1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 52a.
Thes is the count that the temermene hes reseuit 1697 Witchcraft Proven in Cardross Ch. 62.
We shall … give you some vive and shrewd marks, … whereby a witch, … may be decenered from all others. The first … is the insensible or dead nip of a blew colour … no … such mark as theiss … is to be found with any others but themselves(2) a1500 K. Hart 121.
Blis and Blythnes, Plesance and pure Pietie. This war the staitis worthyest and ding, With mony mo that servit to this quene(3) 1635 Dickson Wr. 161.
They must have leave to plod and plea about the getting of worldly commodities … how to get this, and yon

2. ellipt. a. This time, this day, now. Freq. fra this furth. b. This place, here. Also in the mod. dial.a. 1335 Rot. Sc. II 73/2.
Betwix this & the first day of July next for to cum 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 169.
The sade Alexander sal prouid betuyn this and Lammes … item [etc.] 1482–3 Acta Aud. in Acta Conc. II cxiv.
Johne sal pay … the some of xx^ti … betwix this and the terme of Witsonday nixt tocum 1521 Selkirk B. Ct. MS 88b.
xx^ti lib. … to be payit upone Mertymes daye nixt to cum quhill the daye lestis, or betuix this and than 1540 Aberd. B. Rec. I 168.
The bailȝeis charged George Faw, Egiptian, and his brother, to remoif thameself, their cumpany, and gudis of this toun, betuix this and Sonday nixt cummis 1565–8 Q. Mary in Facs. Nat. MSS III lvii.
Bi nocht so langsum fre thes furth 1571–2 Reg. Privy C. II 130.
Frome theis furth I sall and will beare fayth and trew allegance to his majestie c1612 Skene Memorabilia 32.
The lordis declaris that fra this furth ony execution of summonis … beis acceptit be the procuratourisb. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2191 (B).
All haill the wyvis will kis and kneill Betuix this and Dumbartane 1687 Rothesay B. Rec. 430.
Debursed bee him for carying the old bell from this to Edinburgh ane pund nyntein shillings four penyes