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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Allane, Alane, a. and adv. Also: allan, alan; alaine, allain(e, allayn(e; all-, alean(e, alen(e, elane. [Northern ME. alān, al ān, from al All adv. and ān Ane num., corr. to southern ME. alōn, aloon: see Alone. The form alen(e, used by Gau, is north-eastern Sc. Nisbet writes al-, allaan after aloon of his English original.]

A. adj. 1. Alone, solitary, unaccompanied or unattended. Sometimes intensified by all. (See also Birdalane; Jupe (sense c); Sark (sense 1 c). a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 588.
I ȝed alane in the kyrk-ȝard Ib. xxvii. 217.
Scho of the barne had dout, To lewe it in the house alane 1456 Hay II. 5/32.
He was walkand a day in ane herbare allane c1475 Wall. xi. 660.
Tyll a chyftane, thai held it fantasy To walk allayn 1492 Myll Spect. 290/25.
The schiref behuffit allan to walk in the fyrst nycht c1500-c1512 Dunb. iv. 94.
Sen he has all my brether tane, He will naught lat me lif alane 1513 Doug. ii. viii. 33.
Quharat was wont alane Andromocha To entir oft Ib. iv. i. 36.
Sen my first luf is gane, By deth dissoverit, and left me alane 15.. Clar. iv. 2611.
All alleane he hes discendit To hir c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 222.
For I hald lufe ane A perse allane 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 223.
Sche and he allan and the dur steakit upon tham a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxii. 4.
Lat seruell menbris smert And bound allane [Q. alaine] remaine 1600-1610 Melvill 24; etc.
The Lord … … maid me atteans, being alean, to fall on gruiff to the ground 1604-31 Craig ii. 138/18.
Then had I brook'd faire Ismene allaine

b. Without assistance. c1420 Wynt. viii. 5241.
Alysawndyr than … owt can aras The trownsown, that thare stekand was. He rase allane, fra it wes owte

2. Preceded by pronouns as him, thaim, etc. (Orig. in the dative case.) 1375 Barb. ii. 146.
All him alane the way he tais a1400 Leg. S. ii. 979.
He was hym allane A commowne man till euerilkane Ib. v. 627.
[Thou] nocht ellis had to gyf hym til Thane, for that thu ves thé alane c1420 Wynt. i. 1478.
Qwhare before wes oysid nane Bot Hebrew langage it allane Ib. viii. 725.
Hys douchtyr … sall … hald hys herytage hyr allane 1456 Hay I. 59/7.
Julius Cesar fled him allane with few in company c1450-2 Howlat 516.
Thow sall nocht de thé allane, quod the Dowglas c1475 Wall. ii. 142.
Thus gud Wallace with Inglismen was tane, In falt of helpe, for he was him allayne c1500-c1512 Dunb. xv. 29.
Nocht sped but diligence we se; For nathing it allane will cum 1533 Bell. Livy II. 9/28.
Thus stude Virginea hir allane 15.. Clar. ii. 252.
They saw stand ane fair horse it alleane 1596 Dalr. I. 215/14.
He was nocht able, him selfe alane, the hale ennimies to resist 1597 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 129.
That na eldar … suffir ane singill woman … to dwell hir allane in ane hous

b. With possessive pron., as mine, his allane. 1513 Doug. ix. viii. 55.
Quhou myght thou be sa cruell … As me to leif alyve, thus myne allane? 1569 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 87.
Being within the same [hous] his alane, the said Ihonne … lokit the dur thairof 1570 Leslie 245.
The Governour remanit almost his allaine in Edinburgh a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 77.
As I mussit myne allane, I saw an river rin 1600 Acts IV. 209/1.
I saw the kingis maiestie and … my lordis brother gang furth at the hall dure … thair allanes

c. The allane, by itself. 1590 Bruce Serm. O viij b (J).
Ane sinne will draw on another, for there is neuer a sin the allane

3. In the phr. to lat, or leve, allane, to let alone, leave undisturbed. 1513 Doug. ii. x. 11.
Al war thai fled full wery, left me alane Ib. 144.
So, so, hald on, leif this ded body alane 1533 Gau 4/21.
That thay … lat thayme alen and hald thayme noth of valour a1540 Freiris Berw. 436.
Quhat evir thay say, scho lute thaim all alane 1570 Sat. P. xxi. 112.
Ga speik of Eger and Schir Gryme and lat the Lordis alaine a1570-86 Maitland M. Fol. clxxix. 2.
Ces, hart, … And lat alan all penseiffnes

4. Without addition; singly, solely, exclusively, only. (Passing into adverbial use.) a1400 Leg. S. l. 776.
Met I had nan Throu warldis man bot Criste allan c1420 Wynt. iv. 378.
Thar-off the certane Is nane can telle bot He alane Ib. v. 420; etc.
In Ytaly pere till it wes nane, To sawff off Rome the towne allane 1456 Hay I. 157/2.
Suppos thai have na soverane … bot anerly God allane 1490 Irland Mir. I. 32/1.
He is allane ferme and stable c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxv. 26.
Saif ȝow allane Na leid I luiffit all this owk 1533 Gau 54/7.
Neyn sal trou or pwt thair hop in neyne bot in god alene 1567 G. Ball. 54.
Intill his fauour we are taine Throw Faith in Jesus Christ allaine a1578 Pitsc. II. 93/36.
Thir fyue persouns allane ressawit the wryttingis 1596 Dalr. II. 283/21.
The Capitane … thinkis … that he aucht mair to his cuntrie alaine than to al his freindes

B. As adv. Only, exclusively. 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 417.
Wenyng allane Ené to haue reprevit 1567 G. Ball. 48.
Thow sall haif victorie Gif thow allane on me depend