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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FORGIE, v. Gen.Sc. form of Eng. forgive. Also firgee (Sh.), forgae (Ork.). See P.L.D. § 70.1. Pa.t. forgae, forgied (Gen.Sc.), ‡forgya (Abd.); pa.p. forgien, forgeen.

Hence forgieness, n. The curtailed form forgimme, forgive me, is still found. [fər′gi:, fər′gɪ-]Sc. 1718 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 75:
But what aft fristed's ['s] no forgeen.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 60:
Forgimme, lass, says Nory, it may be, That I am wrang, but fouk to guess are free.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xxviii.:
We maun forgie others, as we pray to be forgien.Abd. 1916 G. Abel Wylins 121:
The creditor forgya them baith.Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 88:
The custom was to say, “Him 'at's awa' noo,” or, “Shu 'at was ta'en”; and if the Christian name were expressed, it was followed by “Lord, forgae me for spakin o' the dead.”Abd. 1928 J. Baxter A' Ae 'Oo' 19:
Fine upo' the farmhoose sill Tae taste forgi'eness and gweedwill.Sh. 1931 Shetland Times (21 March) 7:
Da Lord firgee wir witless wirds.wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 38:
Forgi'e him, forgi'e him! If Ah've tae grovel
in a midden
And beg on ma hauns and knees till ...