v. Obs. Forms: 4 cayr(e, kayre, caire, kair(e, (? karre), 5– cair. [ME. kayre, a. ON. keyra to drive, ride, thrust, toss about.]
1. intr. A poetic word for ‘to go, proceed, make one’s way’; perh. orig. to drive, convey (oneself).
c. 1300. in Wright, Lyric P., x. 37. Ant ben y-cayred from alle that y kneowe.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 901. Cayre tid of þis kythe.
c. 1340. Alex. & Dind., 48. Þe king … wiþ his peple Kairus cofli til hem.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 5324. Þei caired ouer cuntre & come neiȝ rome.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 836. I counsell þe in kyrt, kaire to þi londe.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IX. 1240. Throu out the land to the Lennox thai cair.
2. trans. To bring.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1478. Þe candelstik bi a cost watz cayred þider sone. [But perhaps = caryed.]
3. a. trans. To push backwards and forwards, to stir about. b. intr. To rake, stir about. (mod. Sc.) ‘If ye dinna cair, ye’ll get nae thick’ (Jam.).
