Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An obsolete form of sphere.
  • See speer.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • intransitive verb To ask. See spere.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • But sair ye'll greet, nou naebody'll speir onie nicht for ye, limmer.

    languagehat.com: BRAW AND WITTY. 2004

  • So they puzzled each other, until at last Angus said: "I'll tell you whit way it is, Donald, we'll juist awa 'ben the Hotel and speir if ony o' they English visitors is missing."

    Dominion of Canada Day Luncheon 1983

  • ‘Well, speir at the gentleman will he lend me his dressing-gown, then.’

    My Bones Will Keep Mitchell, Gladys, 1901-1983 1977

  • Here a 'em, thinking aye that ye was riding no far ahint us, and when a hears a gallopin' an 'turns roond, ye've santed, an' here's a pack o 'thae bluidy dragoons that wad blast ye black in the face an' speir the inside oot o 'a wheelbarra.

    Stories of the Border Marches Jeanie Lang

  • My neebours aften speir, why fa's the hidden tear?

    The Modern Scottish Minstrel , Volume I. The Songs of Scotland of the past half century Various

  • Wher with his thretty he chargit vpon threscore of ther horsmen with culuerins, not folowed with seuen of his nomber; wha in our sicht straik v of them fra ther horse with his speir, before it brak; then he drew his swerd and ran in amang them, not caring ther continuell schutting, to the admiration of the behalders.

    The Works of John Knox, Vol. 1 (of 6) John Knox

  • But a 'the day I speir what news kind neibour bodies bring;

    The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume III The Songs of Scotland of the Past Half Century Various

  • Upoun the nixt morne, my Lord Cardinall caused his servandis to address thame selves in thare most warlyk array, with jack, knapscall, splent, speir, and axe, more semyng for the war, then for the preaching of the trew word of God.

    The Works of John Knox, Vol. 1 (of 6) John Knox

  • Scotland, and when the candidate for office had addressed the audience and completed his speech, the Chairman, a real Scot, said, "Is there any person present would like to speir a question of the candidate?"

    Salubrities I Have Met 1920

  • And so if he doesna answer certain questions we have to speir at him, before morning he'll hang as high as Haman.

    The Atlantic Book of Modern Plays Eugene O'Neill 1920

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