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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MYSEL, pron. Also mysell (Sc. 1726 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. I. 179; Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 93; Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality v.); mysal (Abd. 1894 J. A. Jackson Old Stories 92); masel(l) (Edb. 1895 J. Tweeddale Moff 168; Uls. 1897 A. McIlroy Lint in the Bell ix.; Gsw. 1898 D. Willox Poems & Sk. 30); mesel(l) (Ork. 1905 W. T. Dennison Ork. Weddings 25; Sh. 1918 T. Manson Peat. Comm. 73); misel(l) (Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 4; Abd. 1914 J. Leatham Daavit 34);  massel, mahsel, maself.  Sc. forms and usages of Eng. myself (Ayr. 1786 Burns To the Deil vii., Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck iii.). See P.L.D. § 70.3, and cf. My, Hersel, Himsel. [mə′sɛl; I.Sc. mi′sɛl] Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 37:
"I dinno see whit wey I shid sterve mesel cheust tae seut Tam," she said sullenly. "If he disno want me thir's plenty whar dis." Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie in Neil R. MacCallum Lallans 51 (1998) 5:
"A'm kindowey i the same boat mesel. If his wisno for ee thing mair than anither I wad come wae thee. ... " Dmf. 1979 Ron Butlin in Joy Hendry Chapman 23-4 (1985) 35:
An yince I keeked intae anither's saul
an seen massel, an I kent fine weel
I'd seen the warld wi anither's een: wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 9:
Ah'm no' happy in masel'
Until Ah ken that a' the faimly's well. wm.Sc. 1986 Robert McLellan in Joy Hendry Chapman 43-4 20:
What was it?
Something no cannie. I wad watch mysell wi her, mither. Gsw. 1990 John and Willy Maley From the Calton to Catalonia 3:
Can ye no jist let me hiv a look through it maself, then? Sh. 1993 New Shetlander Sep 29:
Dey laekly lippened a lecture
But I stöd an I minded mesell
Younger as her, but dan, on a croft -
You come tae reality younger. Abd. 1998 Sheena Blackhall The Bonsai Grower 14:
But I've tae think o mysel, Trish says. I mustna think aboot the baby. Gsw. 1999 Paul Foy in Moira Burgess and Donny O'Rourke New Writing Scotland 17: Friends and Kangaroos 46:
But A'm no enjoyin mahsel cuz aw these punters urr lookin at me funny ...