Obs. exc. dial. Also 4 varinge, 5 waryn(e, varin, 6 wayring. [f. WARE v.2 + -ING1.]
1. The action of the verb; spending, investing (of money). † At the waring of: at the cost of (one’s life).
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, v. (Johannes), 125. [God] þat wald þat men mad sic varinge As for almus to sel þare thinge.
1494. Halyburton, Ledger, 37. Som off this waryne of this syd, 119 li. 10 s. 7 g. Ibid. (1494), 63. Som of my varin is, 59 li. 13 s. 8 g. Ibid. (1497), 59. Item for my seruis sellin and waryn sen my last cont, 10 li.
a. 1572. Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. 1846, I. 273. We shall … defend thame, the haill congregatioun of Christ … at our haill poweris and waring of our lyves, against Sathan.
1586–7. Burgh Rec. Edin. (1882), IV. 487. Gevis power … to Jhonn Robertsoun … to tak the aythis of the merchants vpoun the quantities of thair wayrings and guids schippet.
1752. Scotland’s Glory & Shame (1786), 65. And sure I am, that never a man had loss by such a wareing.
† 2. Payment of a price. Obs.
c. 1315. E. E. Psalter xliii. [xliv.] 13. Þou salde þi folk with out waring [Vulg. sine pretio].
