Chiefly Sc. and north. Also speir, spier. Forms: α. 1 spyrian, 4 spury-, spur-, 5–6 spure, spur, 6–7 spurre; 1 spirian, 4–5 spire, 4–6 spyre, 4–5, 9 spir, 5 spyr, spirr, spyrr, 5–6 spyrre, 5, 7 spirre. β. 4 speriȝe, 5 speryn, 4–6, 9 sper, 5 speore, 5– speir, 6 speire, 6–8 spear, 8– spier, 5– speer; 5 Sc. spar, 7 north. sparre. [Common Teut.: OE. spyrian, = OS. *spurian (cf. the sbs. spuringa, spuriđa), OHG. spurigen, spurien (MHG. spüren, spürn, G. spüren, dial. spieren, spiren), ON. (Icel. and Norw.) spyrja (Sw. spörja, Da. spørge, † spørje); cf. also MDu. spören (Du. speuren), LG. spören, sporen (hence Da. spore, Sw. spåra), obs. G. spören, speuren, spuren. For the relationship of the stem spur-, spor- see SPOOR sb.
In OE. the original senses of ‘to make or follow a track,’ ‘to go in search of,’ ‘to seek after,’ are fully represented.]
I. intr. 1. To put a question or questions; to make inquiries; to ask. Also with advs. as about, in.
α. c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxvi. § 2. ʓenoh ryhte þu spyrast; swa hit is swa þu seʓst.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11475. ‘Gais,’ he said, ‘and spirs well gern.’
13[?]. Seuyn Sages (W.), 3832. The seriantes … spird obowt als he tham bad.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, III. 486. And on sic maner spyryt he, That he knew that it wes the king.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 4297. I will tell … How sprittis in hom spake to qwho þat spirre wold.
c. 1475. Babees Bk., 37. Yf there be eny worde That yee kenne nouhte, spyrre whils yee yt ken.
1530. Palsgr., 731/1. I spurre, I aske a questyon.
1659. Somner, Dict. Sax. Lat.-Angl., s.v. Spyrian, Lanc. to spirre.
β. c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxx. (Theodera), 228. Þane mad þe kerlyng sum dangere, wittand scho suld þe ȝarnare spere.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 6820. He that was the maryner Went aboute fast to spere; Of this mariage he herd tel.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 51. Sen thow speiris, I the tell All the suith hale.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., I. 75. Exploratouris than haif tha send … That was expert, to speir about.
1774. Fergusson, Leith Races, Poems (1845), 30. Where do ye win? if ane may speir.
a. 1780. Burns, Tarbolton Lasses, v. And should ye ride by yon hill-side, Speer in for bonie Bessie.
1808. Mayne, Siller Gun, III. xix. ‘It sets ye weel, indeed, to speer,’ The sutor answer’d.
b. Const. about or anent, after, for, into, of (= concerning).
α. a. 1300. Cursor M., 11444. Þai toke þair gesting in þe tun, And spird him efter vp and dun. Ibid., 13628. Quar-for spir yee o þat gom?
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 112. Þe kyng in þat forest A moneth lay, to spire for wod & wilde beste.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 12429. The kynges into councell callit hir þan, To spir of hor spede.
c. 1440. Alph. Tales, 122. Þai went into þis clerkis howse & spirrid after þer maister & þis suster.
β. 1375. Barbour, Bruce, IV. 494. Heir I saw the men, That ȝhe speir eftir, mak luging. Ibid., XVI. 21. And he … sperit or his brotheris fair.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 300. He wendes forthe … Of þis nouelry to sper.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xxvii. 573. Whan he founde not his mayster in the chirche he … spered after him.
a. 1550[?]. Freiris of Berwik, 59, in Dunbar’s Poems (1893), 287. Freir Robert sperit eftir the gud man.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 258. [He] come … cryand and speirand for the king.
a. 1700. ? Sempill, Maggie Lauder, v. Gin ye should come to Anster Fair, Spier ye for Maggie Lauder.
1717. Ramsay, Elegy Lucky Wood, xii. And after ages bairns will spear ’Bout thee and me.
1795. Burns, Braw Wooer, vii. I speered for my cousin … Gin she had recovered her hearin’.
1815. Scott, Guy M., i. Troth, I kenna, unless ye like to … speer for quarters at the Place. Ibid. (1824), Redgauntlet, let. xi. Speer as little about him as he does about you.
1866. H. Kingsley, Leighton Court, xxxiii. Of whom were ye speiring?
c. Const. at (also † of) a person. Cf. 4.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 15899. Gladli wald he spek and sper, Bot at quam he ne wate.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, V. 39. The King … sperit at hym how he had done.
1441. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), p. lvi. Sir William Plompton … spirred of the said tenants … of the governance & rule that night.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XXI. viii. 852. Syr Launcelot spyrred of men of douer where was kyng Arthur become.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xc. 33. Gif … he be blinde, and can nocht at the speir.
1585. Jas. I., Ess. Poesie (Arb.), 48. I speared at him … What word of Phœnix which was flown away?
a. 1724. in Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc. (1733), I. 28. He first speer’d at the guidman.
1792. Burns, ‘An’ O for ane-and-twenty,’ ii. At kith or kin I need na spier.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., x. What needs ye be aye speering then at folk?
1903. Pilot, 22 Aug., 169/1. These things can only be ascertained by ‘speiring’ at the Colonies themselves.
† 2. To inquire one’s way; to make one’s way, proceed or go, to a place, etc. Obs.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 6166. Be hir tellyng men wer steryd, And diuers to þe saynt speryd, and come in pilgrimage.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, II. vi. 52. To quhilk other forthres sall we speir? Ibid., VI. v. 147. Speir to the portis quhilkis Velinos hait.
1615. Brathwait, Strappado (1878), 131. Heere stood I musing … Till Iockie wha dost thinke speard vp to me.
II. trans. 3. With objective clause: To inquire or ask how, what, who, etc.
α. c. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., xvii. (1722), 499. Hi ða spyredan hwæt and hwonan he wæs.
13[?]. K. Alis., 2569 (W.). He … spirred whider Darie is went.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 327. He spired as he ȝede, who did suilk trespas.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 198. This lord to spire Began, fro whenne that sche cam.
c. 1440. Alph. Tales, 264. Þan þis duke besoght þaim to spur who did þis trispas.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 77/1. Therfore spyre and aske how thou maist goo to hym.
β. c. 1325. Metr. Hom., 95. The king … sperid in quat time, and quat cyte, That Goddes sun suld born be.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, X. 522. Tharfor preuely sperit he Gif ony man mycht fundin be [etc.].
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 1. He speris quhat thing is bataill.
a. 1470. Harding, Chron., CXVII. viii. Buryed he was, but where no man durste spere.
1549. Compl. Scot., xi. 100. His sone pontius sperit quhou he suld vse hym contrar the romans.
a. 1572. Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. 1846, I. 241. ‘What sayis thow of the Messe?’ spearis the Erle of Huntley.
1637. Rutherford, Lett. (1862), I. lxxix. 202. Rouse … your soul, and speer how Christ and your soul met together.
1686. G. Stuart, Joco-Ser. Disc., 13. I speer’d what news in this gude town.
c. 1770. Beattie, To A. Ross, vi. Naebody car’d For anes to speer how Scota far’d.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xviii. And is ’t the way to Glasgow ye were speering if I ken’d?
1871. C. Gibbon, Lack of Gold, xiv. You needna’ speir how I ken.
4. To make inquiries concerning, to ask questions regarding (a thing or fact). Also const. at or of (a person).
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1606. Alle þat he spured hym … he expowned clene.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, ii. (Paul), 229. At þame spere but mare Þe cause quhy I gert ȝou cum þare.
14[?]. King & Barker, 13, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 4. Howr kyng bad hes men abeyde, And he welde sper of hem the wey.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 2622. When many thinges sho had speryd.
c. 1500. Lancelot, 1169. At qwhome ful sone than gan scho to Inquere, And al the maner of the ostis till spere.
1549. Compl. Scot., Prol. 15. Gyf ony persone vald speir at me the maneir of the gouernyng of ane battel.
1646. Row, Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.), p. xxxiii. To informe of thingis that I sall speir at him.
1686. G. Stuart, Joco-Ser. Disc., 14. Ye speer the Gate ye kenn right weel.
1830. Galt, Lawrie T., IX. viii. (1849), 434. Oh, no great sum; ye needna speer that.
1858–61. E. B. Ramsay, Remin., ii. (1870), 21. It’s no the day to be speering sic things.
b. With special objects, as tidings, price, etc.
To speer (one’s) price, to ask one’s terms, to ask in marriage.
(a) a. 1300. Cursor M., 5682. Moyses … sett him þar a wel biside, Tiþand for to spir and bide.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XIX. 599. Ilkane at othir sperit tithing.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 237. And þar [she] hire spakid with his speche & spird of him wordis.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, III. ii. 155. My fadir exhortis ws … Apollois ansueir speir.
a. 1585. Montgomerie, Cherry & Slae, 946. Ȝe culd not luck … That all opinions sperit.
(b) 1583. Leg. Bp. St. Androis, 794. For a pair of schone he ast. Bot or he sperit the price to pay them [etc.].
1785. Burns, Scotch Drink, xiv. Monie … hardly, in a winter season, E’er spier her price.
1823. Galt, Entail, II. xxviii. 268. I was past thirty before man speer’t my price.
1837. Lockhart, Scott, vi. I. 186. We’ve stood here an hour by the Tron, hinny, and de’il a ane has speered our price.
c. To request the return of (money); to ask back.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xlix. This siller binds me to naething, and can never be speered back again.
d. To ask for (advice); to beg (leave).
1734. in Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc. (1733), I. 101. Love speers nae advice Of parents o’er wise.
a. 1835. Child Maurice, xii. in Child, Ball., II. 268/1. She maun cum to the merrie green-wud, And speir the leive o nane.
1866. J. Young, Life J. Welsh, 403. ‘It’s right like, Sir,’ said she; ‘for we never speired his advice.’
1895. Crockett, Men of Moss-Hags, xxxv. 253. Dinna bide to speer her leave.
5. To trace or find out by inquiry. Usu. with out.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, vi. (Thomas), 10. Bisily fore to spere a man, þat sic palace can make.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 324. He bad his man to gon and spire A place wher sche myhte abyde.
1562. Turner, Herbal, II. (1568), 39. Perchance som of vs … myght spere it out and fynd it by that name.
1637. Rutherford, Lett. (1862), I. 434. Oh that people would speer out Christ!
1648. Burgh Rec. Glasgow (1881), II. 157. To speir out men fitting to be employet for the Manufactorie.
c. 1746. J. Collier (Tim Bobbin), View Lanc. Dial. (1775), 41. I soyn sperr’d the Gentlemon’s Hoah eawt.
1863. S. S. Jones, Northumbld., 64/1. Tryin’ tae speer oot his station an’ character.
1854. Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., s.v., Speer it out if you can. With us it is almost obs.
6. With cognate object (see also 7): To ask (a question).
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xxx. 206. Whi spir ye not, sir, no questyons?
1549. Compl. Scot., xvi. 143. The preist of peblis speris ane questione in ane beuk that he conpilit.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 56. But you begyn here to … spurre questions at me on all sides.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., xxxvii. I hae had sae mony questions speered at me in my day.
1889. Barrie, Window in Thrums, 168. Ye shouldna spier sic annoyin’ queistions.
7. To question or interrogate (a person). Usually with const., as of, interrogative clause, or cognate object (cf. 6).
Still in Sc. use; also spec. to propose marriage to (a woman).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3826. He spird þaim queþen þai ware.
c. 1400. Anturs of Arth., xx. Of thies sperituale thynges spyre me na mare.
1484. in Cely Papers (Camden), 153. He speryd me noo oder questyans.
1568. trans. Montanus’ Inquisit., 22 b. He shall ride the racke, and there be spurred certeyne questions.
1594. Lyly, Mother Bombie, IV. ii. Ile be so bolde as spurre her, what might a bodie call her name?
1600. Holland, Livy, XXIII. xii. 481 b. Seeing a Senatour bluntly spurreth me the question.
† b. To call upon or demand formally. Obs.–1
1493. Festivall (W. de W., 1515), 193. All those … that haue ben spyred thryse in holy chyrche themselfe wyttynge.
c. To invite.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., ix. Just that ye suld speer ony gentleman hame to dinner.
Hence Speerer, an inquirer. rare–1.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxvii. (Machor), 1140. Þarfor lewe forthir to spere…; for sperer of his maieste fra his Joy sall donne thrungine be.
