v. north. dial. [a. OFr. afer-ir, affer-ir, to belong, pertain; impers. afiert it belongs, behoves; (Pr. afferir):—late L. *afferīre, f. ad to + ferīre to strike, fig. to reach, affect. Though common in Anglo-Fr., aferir seems to have been adopted only in north. Eng. and Sc., where it is retained, esp. in Sc. law, to the present day, and usually spelt EFFEIR.] impers. To fall by right, appertain, become, be proper or meet.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 162. I sall … Hald It, as It afferis to king.
c. 1450. Merlin, 225. And dide hym grete honour as affiered to so high a man.
1470. Harding, Chron., xciij. As to suche a prince of nature should affere.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, V. iii. 54. To turn agane, as thaim afferis.
1552. Lyndesay, Dreme (1866), 279. Sum swyft, sum slaw, as to thare kynde afferis.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 21. He salbe punissed conforme to the maner & quantitie of the crime, as affeires of Law.
