Obs. exc. dial. [A worn-down form of that, perhaps from ON. at (used in precisely the same senses), perh. independently developed in the northern dialect, in which it was very common in 14–15th c.; rare, even in Scottish writers, after 1500; but still in regular use in northern dialect speech.]
A. adv. or conj. = ‘that.’
c. 1325. Metr. Hom., 73. Sainte Makary hard say, At thai wald come.
c. 1425. Seven Sag. (P.), 1909. I graunt wel at hit so be.
a. 1440. Sir Degrev., 1210. Loke at thou come at that tyme.
c. 1480. Plumpton Corr., Introd. 65. For so much as I, Thomas Lord Clifford and of Westmerland am enformed at a nisi prius is like to pas.
1513. Douglas, Æneis (1710), IV. Prol. 139. Willing at thou and thay may haue the sicht Of heuynnys blys.
1657. Brome, Queene’s Exch., II. i. 477. And at we find you we’l our selves bestir. [North dial. I sed ’at I wad, and I did.]
b. Formerly blended with ne into atten, attyn, ‘that not, but that.’ (= L. quin.)
c. 1340. Cursor M., 1440 (Fairf.). Ne muȝt ham help no halihede, attyn to hel þai most nede. Ibid., 6130. Was na hous … attyn þer was dede mon in liggande.
B. rel. pron. That; who, which; what.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter xxx. 16. Outtake me … at ere filyhand me fra þa.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 3248 (Fairf.). Al atte [other MSS. þat] camels ten muȝt bere.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 417. Þo freris were served of þat at þei craven.
1429. Earl Salisb., in Wills & Inv. N. C., 69, note. Grete costages and expences at I haue hadd now of late.
c. 1480. Ld. Clifford, in Plumpton Corr., Introd. 65. All other Christen men att this writing sall here or see.
c. 1500. Carpenter’s Tools, in Halliwell, Nugæ Poeticæ, 15. That at I sey it shall be sure.
1879. G. Macdonald, Sir Gibbie, II. xvii. 290. ‘To onything ’at’s richt, Gibbie wants nae perswaudin’.’
