Sc. Also 5 werre, warre, 8 warr, 8–9 waur. [f. WAR, WAUR a.] trans. To ‘worst,’ defeat in a contest or competition; to surpass, excel.
1483. Cath. Angl., 408/1. To Warre, depremere, deterere,… deteriorare, peiorare (A.).
a. 1500[?]. in Hardyng’s Chron., cxiii., note. The which [a feat of strength] He perfourmed … that neuer mai be werde.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, V. iii. 100. And now hes Pristis the fordaill, and syne, in hy, The big Centaur hir warris, and slippis by [L. nunc victam præterit ingens].
1570. Satir. Poems Reform., xii. 53. Fecht weill and war yame and wyn the ryches yair, And gif ȝe de, in deid ȝe neid na mair.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 157. Thay debeitit manfullie and wareit edwartis wangard.
a. 1585. Polwart, Flyting w. Montgomerie, 710. Grant, guiss, þat my Inventioun waris the than, with out þe quhilk þow micht haue barkit waist.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 13. Wigtoune waris the vthir 2 baith in citizenis and riches.
a. 1614. J. Melvill, Autob. & Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 154. And, on the uther part, Mr. Andro, wha warred him far in credit without the contrey … wrot unto the Kirks at lainthe.
1721. J. Kelly, Sc. Prov., 304. The Water will never warr the widdie [= ‘He that’s Born to be hang’d will never be drown’d’].
1785. Burns, Death & Dr. Hornbook, xiii. And mony a scheme in vain’s been laid, To stap or scaur me; Till ane Hornbook’s taen up the trade, And faith he’ll waur me.
1816. Scott, Antiq., ix. It was a paper of great significance to the plea, and we were to be waured for want o’t.
