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Examples
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No matter what the boy had stolen, it was no concern of Jamie's-save for the promise of the earbsachd.
The Fiery Cross Gabaldon, Diana 2001
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Most likely, Josiah himself had no idea of the importance of the earbsachd-of what had been promised and accepted on both sides.
The Fiery Cross Gabaldon, Diana 2001
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That he hadn't meant that he perceived some higher law in operation-though whether that was friendship, pity, the claim of his earbsachd, or something else, I didn't know.
The Fiery Cross Gabaldon, Diana 2001
chained_bear commented on the word earbsachd
"'Ah, well.' He was silent for a moment, evidently marshaling his words. 'It means a word of honor, rather than just an oath,' he said carefully. 'Earbsachd'—he pronounced it YARB-sochk—'was once said to be the distinguishing characteristic of the MacCrimmons of Skye, and meant basically that their word once given must unfailingly be acted upon at no matter what cost. If a MacCrimmon said he would do something'—he paused and drew breath—'he would do it, though he should burn to death in the doing.'"
—Diana Gabaldon, The Fiery Cross (NY: Bantam Dell, 2001), 232
January 19, 2010