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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Us, Ws, pers. pron. Also: ous; his. [ME and e.m.E. hus (a1175), us (c1175), uss (Orm), ous (1297), OE ús. (Also in the mod. dial. as his, hiz).]

1. The objective case of We pers. pron. 1, denoting two or more persons. a. As the direct object of a verb.(a) 1375 Barb. iv 627.
God furthyr ws [C. vs] in-till our far a1400 Leg. S. ix 329.
To the quhilk blyse he ws brynge 1391 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 3.
I the forsaid Howisun and my ayris obblychis vs to [etc.] a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 364.
Thi counsale is convenabill … Forthi ws likis thi lair listin and leir a1500 Seven S. 465.
Full wa is ws scho said … Ȝour lufit grewhound ȝour son has slane a1500 Peblis to Play 128.
Ane cryit … Help ws lord vpon this erde 1513 Doug. iii v 126.
He … to hys cite hes ws led 1533 Gau 107/14.
Neyne of our varkis makis ws richtus 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4.
As ancient acts makis vs for to ken 1562-3 Winȝet I 83/14.
Quhy accuis ȝe ws of idolatrie 1577 Waus Corr. 160.
His lordship vill nocht haif ws resavane the maillis thairof 1600 Crim. Trials II 198.
Latt ws to the house(b) 1683 Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 19.
Tharfor wit you ous and we be thos presantes pases this ack [etc.]

b. With a defining term restricting the persons denoted.(a) 1375 Barb. xii 250.
And for thai wald distroy ws all Mais thaim to fycht a1500 Seven S. 1474.
Thy fader and I togiddir has bene And neuer ȝit ws twa betwene Was nevir hard sic schrewit thing c1515 Asl. MS I 193/6.
Sa remanis the ile allanerlie occupijt with ws Scottis in Scotland [etc.] ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 56.
On till ws all it is weill kend [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 65.
Weill war us wemen that evir we war fre 1522 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 7.
That John Burne sall stand content of all ws 1529–30 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 7.
For certane walstane … resavit the samyn day be the master mason and me estimat be us forsaid to xv s. 1549 Lamb Resonyng 7/2.
Ws Inglismen 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. viii 44.
Reflecting only on ws tuay(b) 1533 Gau 41/14.
He sparit notht his aune sone, bot gaiff hime for his al

c. reflex. ?1438 Alex. ii 2778.
Sall we ga slay ws for ȝone man, That reiffis ws c1420 Wynt. i 637.
Or we ws repent We mon appere in jugement c1475 Wall. i 4.
Our antecessowris … We lat ourslide … And castis ws euir till vthir besynes a1500 Seven S. 1718.
To byde and dreme schir we ws bynd 1528 Lynd. Dreme 367.
We haistit ws, rycht wounder spedalye

d. As indirect object. 1375 Barb. i 343.
Catone sayis ws, in his wryt [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. ii 61.
Jerome ws sais in his lessone, That Paule [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. i 406.
In thar bukis tellis vs [etc.] ?1438 Alex. i 839.
I can na succour sie, Gif ȝe vs failȝe to set helping 1401 MacRae Early Sc. Texts 8/17.
Send vs word 1490 Irland Mir. 21/18.
Fadere of hevin … gif ws grace to knaw Thi halynes 1506 Edinb. Chart. 190.
Merchandice that aucht ws custome in Leith c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 153 (M).
Confes ws the treuth a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 24/4.
Grant ws thy licht … To leif eftir thy lawis richt

e. As object of a preposition.(a) 1375 Barb. iv 558.
Giff he seis we land may ta … he may … mak takynnyng till ws that we [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 25.
Storysse … That as merroure ar vs to 1453 Douglas Bequest 10 June.
Nouch lefand assignys … behynd us 1474 Reg. Cupar A. I 215.
The said Willȝame has made to ws … manrent a1500 Henr. Prayer 5.
Eterne God … Haif mercy of ws 1490 Irland Mir. II 7/34.
The faute that we syn … is nocht in ws sene this knawlage … excedis our natur 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I xxxvii.
And for ws we will neuer gif your lordschipe ony thing [etc.] 1533 Gau 35/35.
We trow … that he is altyme with ws 1549 Compl. 135/16.
Mony of vs ar beggand our meit 1550 Coll. Aberd. & B. 181.
That we ne neyn of ws in non tyme bigane hes giffin our consent a1578 Pitsc. I 38/10.
Lest it sould … kindill greatter haitrent nor ewer was amangis ws 1643 Annandale Corr. 301.
The cordis of freindship … betuixtt ws(b) 1597 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 18b.
I haue payet ine the ferest for our trobell falene out betuex the engellis mene and ous iiii gudis [etc.]

2. Appar. used as the subject. 1562-3 Winȝet I 12/27.
And vtheris for not saying this ane word—'My maisteris, vs lufe ȝou and ȝour doctryne' are deposit of thair offices

3. Used by an individual, a ruler or one in high authority, of himself, chiefly in letters or documents of a formal character. a. In subject position. Cf. We pers. pron. 2. b. As the object of a preposition.a. 1388 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 12.
Be yt chnawyn til al men … vs Robert Steward eril of Fyff … haf frely grantyt til wr lufd cosyn [etc.] 1425 (1426) Reg. Great S. 11/1.
Be it kend … throwch thir present letteris ws Archebald Erle of Douglas [etc.] 1492 Breadalbane Doc. No. 26.
Be it kend … ws Archibald Erle of Ergille, … till haif maid … our derest cosing … our balȝe 1535 Renfrew Arch. Coll. I 170.
Beit kend to all men be thir present lettres ws Williame lord Simple James Coluile … to be [etc.]b. 1477 James III in Exch. R. VIII 403 n.
Landis … the quhilkis umquhile Cuthbert Colvile had of ws of before 1517 Reg. Privy S. I 457/1.
Unfremen that byis and sellis in divers placis to landwart … in gret defraud to us of our custumis 1518 Glenartney Doc.
He has the forestary of Glenarknay of ws and our derrest cousing 1585 James VI in Misc. Spald. C. I 3.
Send the samen extract attentiklie subscriuit be the shireff clerk to ws 1630 Stirling's Royal Lett. II 474.
In regard of the faythfull service done vnto ws be Johne Sandilands