Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
THRIVE, v.1, n. Also I.Sc. trive, tryve. Sc. forms and usages:
I. v. A. Forms. Pa.t. thrave (Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 86; Rnf. 1807 R. Tannahill Poems (1900) 222; Bwk. 1863 A. Steel Poems 225; Ayr. 1879 J. Service Dr. Duguid 124; Kcb. 1901 R. Trotter Gall. Gossip 312; Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai; Cai., m. and s.Sc. 1972) [θre:v], trave (Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 32); threeve (Abd. 1826 D. Anderson Poems 51, 1909 C. Murray Hamewith 25, Abd. 1972), †throove (Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 13) [θri:v]; ¶thruve (Abd. 1916 G. Abel Wylins 52). Pa.p. thriven (Gen.Sc.), triven, triv(ve)n, -an (I.Sc.); †threin (Sc. 1873 D.S.C.S. 208), thryne (Gall. 1905 E.D.D.), †three'n (s.Sc. 1912 N.E.D.). [θrɪvn; †θrɛin]
B. Usages: 1. As in Eng. Sc. combs., derivs. and phr.: ¶(1) gerss-thrivn, grass-fed; (2) ill-t(h)riven, badly-nourished, not well-developed, lean, scraggy (Sc. 1908 Jak. (1928)). Gen.Sc. See (8); (3) ill-tryvin, bad-luck, ill-success, used imprecatively in quot. = the devil, the mischief (I.Sc. 1972). (4) sae hae me trivan, sae micht I trive, used in strong asseverations, = upon my word, as I live, etc. (Ork. 1972); ¶(5) thrivance, prosperity, success; (6) thriver, one who thrives, a prosperous person. Obs. in Eng.; (7) thrivy, prosperous, thriving; (8) weel-t(h)riven, well-grown, well-developed, fat, plump (Sh. 1972). Compar. better thriven.(1) Sc. 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms cvi. 20:
The gerss-thriv'n knowte.(2) Sc. 1806 R. Forsyth Beauties Scot. IV. 58:
Short, ill-thriven furze.Sh. 1901 Shetland News (1 June):
Drink dy mylk, doo ill-triven lipper.Sh. 1937 J. Nicolson Restin' Chair Yarns 23:
Instead of the ‘ill-triven' child, he saw a well-built young man.(3) Sh. 1815 Sh. Advertiser (6 Jan. 1862):
Goanie boy, what ill-tryvin kam o' dee yisterday, efter doo wis gotten dee hedd klippit.(4) Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 8:
That wus his vero words, sae micht I trive.Ork. 1904 Dennison Sketches 6:
An', sae hae me trivan! some o' the men wur no' muckle better.(5) Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ ii. ix.:
I' my thrivance I said, I sal never be steer'd.(6) Edb. 1720 A. Pennecuik Helicon 82:
Let us who stay at hame, study to be Thrivers.Sc. 1825 Jam. s.v. Reeze:
A farting bairn is ay a thriver.(7) Abd. 1917 Rymour Club Misc. II. 203:
Huntly is a borough toon, a kirk without a steeple; A midden stance at mony a door, and very thrivy people.(8) Gall. 1905 E.D.D.:
“A weel-thryne beast” is one reflecting credit on the breeder.Rxb. 1955 Abd. Univ. Review (Aut.) 140:
His lambs weel-got, nane better thriven.
†2. To grow larger or bulkier, to swell. Hence thriving, of a woman: pregnant.Dmf. 1822 Scots Mag. (March) 362:
Weel ken I what's gude for a thriving wife.
II. n. Prosperity, thriving state, a boom. Hence phrs. aff or on the thrive, in a poor or prosperous state, (un)prospering, in a declining or flourishing condition (sm.Sc. 1972).Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail iv.:
Howsever, cousin, ne'er fash your thumb, Glasgow's on the thrive.Ayr. 1836 Galt in Tait's Mag. (June) 393:
When the thrive of the late war began to sprout.
