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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quhareas, Quhairas, adv. and conj. Also: quharas; quhayras; qwhare-, qwareas, whairas, wuhairas. [Sc. form corresp. to ME and e.m.E. whereas: see Quher(e)as. Variously written as one or two words.]

1. As a compound relative. a. In indefinite use: In any or every place in or to which, where- or whithersoever. 1397 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 33.
And al my landys in al schirefdomes qwhare [v.r. qware] as thai be witht in the kinryk of Scotland 1513 Doug. vi iii 8.
Talkand and carpand oft quhar as tha go

b. In definite use: In the place or places in or to which. 1513 Doug. x v 60.
Evandrus horsmen … Thai placis now, quhar as thou gaue command, Can occupy a1585 Maitl. Q. lxix 25.
Into my dreame behauld quhairas I lay Ib. 65.
Thir ladyis bricht on lenthe quhair as thay sat Begouthe ane sang [etc.]

2. As simple relative with antecedent denoting a place or the like: In, on or to which (place). a1500 Quare Jel. 20.
Vnto a bonk quhare as a small ryuere Makith his course Ib. 35.
Myn eye estward … I cast, Quhare as I saugh among the levis grene A lady 1513 Doug. vi xvi 23.
Hard on burd the bra, Quhar as the ryche Sonnys douchter, Circe, Thai schawis … Cawsys allway forto resound [etc.] Ib. vii xiii 49. 1570 Sat. P. xx 185.
From Cail Mercat, quhair as I sat, Thir wordis I did indyte a1585 Maitl. Q. lxix 5.
Quhair as a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxx 16.
They clam the buluark, soft and fair, Quharas the hart maid residence

3. As a conj. = Quhare B 3. a. It being the case that, in the case, situation or circumstance in which, given that. b. Adversatively: = while on the one hand, albeit, while on the contrary.a. 1482 Edinb. Chart. 146.
Quhair as it wes commonid and aggreit … that [etc.] 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 379. c1590 Fowler I 285/98.
Whair God in pardoning all Hes punisht all, and quhair as we be debt be all in thrall [etc.] Ib. II 127/21.
That quhair as the conspyrer suld be terrefyed and afr[a]yed before the executioun, so in sic a cace he must be strekken in feare euen efter the attempt 1626 Justiciary Cases I 42.
Quhairas criminall lettres ar direct at the instance of the kin and freindis [etc.] 1629 Ib. 126. 1651 Red Bk. Menteith II 69.
Wuhairas 1651 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 124.
Mackand mentioun that whairas he was informed [etc.]b. 1571 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 62.
Quhayras of reason thai aucht to have preast him 1585 James VI Ess. 55.
Quhair as, gif Nature be cheif … , reulis will be ane help and staff to Nature 1588 King Cat. Sig. h. iii.
Quhairas c1590 Fowler II 129/24.
Whair as 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 50.
Quhairas the other course hes not … any definit course or certane tyme