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

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

(Ȝowrself,) Ȝour-self, pron. Also: ȝour-selwyn, -sell, your-selfe, -selff, -shelf, -sell, youre-self, yhoure-selff. Pl. ȝour-self(f)is, -sells, your-selffs. [ME and e.m.E. ȝurseluen, ȝurself (both Cursor M.), ȝour-self, your-seluen (both 14th c.), ȝouwre self (Wyclif), your selfe (c1400), your selfes pl. (1523), yourself (1572).]Written as one word or two.

1. In emphatic use. a. In opposition to Ȝe pron. and Ȝow pron. or following a verb in the imperative. b. As a subject. c. As an object, chiefly following a preposition. Also ȝour awin selfis. d. After as.a. (1) sing. c1475 Wall. vi 662.
[They] tald till him … 'Raturne agayne, ye sall fynd thaim your sell' 1567 G. Ball. 195.
Preistis, thole to preiche, Sen ȝe ȝour self can preiche na thing a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1269 (Wr.).
As fast as you your selfe advance, Ye dow not wel deny itpl. 1375 Barb. vii 139.
Falowis ȝe mon all thre … All be ȝour selwyn [C. ȝour-self] [forrouth] ga 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 312.
Ȝe prelatis … Ȝe send ane sempyll freir for ȝow to preche. It is ȝour craft … Ȝour selfis, in ȝour templis, for to teche c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 560.
Judge ȝe ȝour selfis, in ȝour awin conscience Quhat is the cause of ȝour grit indigence 1570 Sat. P. xxiv 65.
Ȝe sawe ȝour selfis the Inglis men raid neir a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1323 (Wr.).
Since you yourselves submit To doe as I decreet(2) 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 406.
Goe, tak the first seye of hir yoursellb. a1500 Seven S. 1846.
Scho said wald ȝe do as ȝe say Ȝour self wald leif this mony day 1567 G. Ball. 211.
Had not ȝour self begun the weiris, Ȝour stepillis had bene standand ȝitc. (1) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6007.
On ȝour self all haill I lay the charge 1651 Baillie III 138.
I have … sent that expres to your selfe … to crave [etc.](2) 1567 G. Ball. 1.
Paule … sayis, let the word of God dwel in ȝow plenteouslie in all wisdome, teiching and exhorting ȝour awin selfis with psalmes, & hymnis and spirituall sangisd. 1572 Sat. P. xxxi 125.
Sum of thame dois euin mislyke thame, Als mekle as ȝour sells

2. In reflexive use as the object of a verb or preposition.(1) sing. c1420 Wynt. v 3932.
Scho sayd alsua tell hyr lord, Yhe suld wyth yhoure-selff record Quhat yhe have bene 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 152.
I tald him, that seing I was cum sa far, gif ȝe did not withdraw ȝour self of ȝour self, that na perswasioun nor deith itself suld mak me fail of my promeis 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 176/5.
Make not a foole of youre self in disguysing, or uearing lang youre haire or nailes quhilke are but excrementis of nature c1633–7 Innes Sketches 370.
My commendations to your shelf and to yowr wyf 1689 Melville Corr. 238.
Taik cair off your selff … Adiew, my masteruninfl. pl. ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 63.
For nichtbure tressoun amangis ȝour self … Ȝe haue halelie conqueist bene c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 571.
Gyf ȝe haue done with siclyke gudis mell, I can nocht say; judge that amangs ȝour sell a1605 Montg. Misc. P. iii 73.
Judge of ȝour self by Julius, my joyespl. 1562-3 Winȝet I 41/23.
Consider giue ȝe … heipit vp masteris to ȝour selfis 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 70.
I beseik ȝow every ane, think with ȝourselfis upon the fresche doing of the fact a1578 Pitsc. II 65/16.
And so lett ȝow haue peace amang ȝourselffis(2) sing. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5738.
Quhen ȝe ar auld and may not help ȝour sell He [sc. your son] will ȝow help a1605 Montg. Misc. P. liii 9.
Ȝe vse in hoillis to hyd ȝovr sell 1611 Crim. Trials III 209.
Dauid Donaldsoun … ȝe ar … accuset, forsamekill as ȝe, haifing ingyret ȝourself in the acquentance of Johnne Alschander … of set purpois to mak ȝour advantage, vnlauchfullie, of him, and [etc.]uninfl. pl. 1567 Sat. P. vi 41.
Quhill that, allace! ȝe begouth to neglect The gloir of God, and sa did seik ȝour sellpl. a1578 Pitsc. II 58/25.
To manefest ȝourselfis quhat men ȝe ar 1646 Old Ross-shire II 15.
We hope you … will kyth yourselffs for us