| 释义 |
▪ I. gif, conj. Sc. and north. dial.|gɪf|
Forms: 5–6 giff(e, gyf(fe, (5 gyve, 6 geif, geve, gewe, giwe), 6 giue, 5– gif.
[An alteration of ME. ᵹif, if.
It has not been certainly traced beyond the 15th c. (the MSS. of Barbour having been written in 1487–9). Probably it was due to the influence of give, in which a form with a guttural similarly took the place of an earlier form with a palatal. Cf. gin conj.]
1. Introducing a condition: = if. Also gif that. Now rare.
1375Barbour Bruce i. 12, I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill. c1425Wyntoun Cron. viii. v. 107 Gyve þai couth, þai suld declere Of þat gret dystans þe matere. c1470Henry Wallace i. 391 Gentill men gif ȝe be, Leiff ws sum part, we pray for cheryte. 1556Lauder Tractate 89 Geue that thare ony places be More creuell than vthers in degre [etc.]. 1563–83Foxe A. & M. 4/2 And giue he were so holy, yet [etc.]. 1588A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 15 b, Giue nothinge be iugit mair sueit and plaisant thane þis lyfe..how mekil [etc.]. c1620A. Hume Brit. Tongue (1865) 21 Gif they speak not soe, I wald understand quhy they wryte not as they speak. 1786C. Keith Har'st Rig 47 Gif like your tongue were your twa hands, Nae help you'd need. 1826J. Wilson Noct. Ambr. Wks. 1855 I. 354 Gif it was the last word I was ever to speak in this world, it was God's truth. 1858M. Porteous Souter Johnny 29 Gif bless'd wi' freedom, ye can flee Wi' angel haste Through heaven's starr'd empire ye will be A prying ghaist. 1876Mid Yorksh. Gloss., Gif, if. A casual form, mostly heard in Nidderdale.
†2. Introducing an object clause: = whether. Also gif that. Obs.
1535Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 206, I can nocht tell gif that he wes his bruther. 1567in Tytler Hist. Scotl. (1864) III. 247 [Bothwell] is minded to..bring her [the queen] to Dunbar. Judge you gif it be with her will or no?
▪ II. gif(e, giff
obs. forms of gif, give. |