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.
Quotation dates: 1399-1560
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Alther, All-thair, a. Also: althir(e, aldyr, althar, althair; allther, -thir, -thar(e; all the. [ME. alther, althir, alder (14th c.; e.m.E. alder in 16–17th c.), for earlier aller, alre, OE. allra, eallra, genitive plural of all, eall All a. Freq. written as two words.] Of all; esp. in alther-best, -last, -maste.(1) a1400 Legends of the Saints iii. 1073.
Anis ȝet we wil assay, And the thred tyme al-thire-beste c1420 Wynt. viii. 6106.
Bot qwhen thai trayst hyr all thair [C. althir] best, … Scho owrtyrwys it suddanly c1460 Thewis Wysmen 471.
Quhen thai wen to stand althir best, Thar fortone failȝeis as tempest a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 109.
The last he clepith althir best of two 1533 Gau 8/30.
To traist … guid of hime as of thair maist tender fader and al thair best friend a1540 Freiris Berw. 20 (M).
Most fair, most gudlie, and all thair best besene 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 99/21.
Ȝe ar scho that I lufe all the best(2) a1400 Legends of the Saints xiv. 45.
Bot of oure lady al-thire-maste, … He gat maste part infowrmy[n]ge a1400 Ib. xxv. 594.
For althir-mast That takine the feyndis sckiris c1450-2 Howlat 452.
Bot now it movis all ther maist, That ȝour hart nobillast To me is closit and cast, Throw ȝour command a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 2427.
He ete litill meit or nane Bot on hir merwalit al ther maist c 1515 Douglas Corr. 67.
My mynd was set to the fulfilling of the samen … , and now aldyrmaist be caus I se ȝour guyd grace traistyd me(3) a1400 Legends of the Saints v. 569.
I lowe the now, Of thi discipulis althire-laste [= leste] That me this callis to thi feste a1400 Ib. x. 570.
Mathow, that tollare was, … of the four wes al-thire fyrste ?1438 Alex. ii. 2267.
Ane vthir grant heir mak I thé … That I sall lufe thé all-thir first c1450-2 Howlat 967.
Quhen I was hewit as heir all thir hieast, Fra rule, ressoun and richt redless I ran c1420 Ratis Raving 1020.
Serue a mychty man, … And althir erest serf a kinge c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 138.
I haue conditioun of a curche of kersp allther fynest 1513 Doug. v. iv. 71.
Bot gret lak war to return althar last 1541–2 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS. XVIII. 155.
And all thir last maister James Spens protested
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"Alther adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 22 Apr 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/alther>
