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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Instantly, adv. Also: -lye, -lie, -lé. [Late ME. instantly (c 1477).]

1. Urgently, with urgency; pressingly, insistently, importunately. 1513 Doug. ii. iv. 81.
Intil our blynd fury … instantly we wirk Ib. viii. 91.
Instantly Pyrrus assailȝeis with al his mycht 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 35.
The quhilk vengeance … honour craivis of hir sa instantlie c1590 Fowler I. 42/146.
I pray thé now maist instantlye that thow wold me abyde 1631 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 62.
Pray instantly for this king

2. At that very time, at once, forthwith, immediately, promptly. 1522 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 209.
Till heir and se the saidis persones sworne till apprys the saidis landis instantlie 1546 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 229.
The committer of sic recent crimes … wes instantly, but postposition, causit ansuir for his offensis 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots 547.
The maist part … louked assuredlie to haue sene the mater then instantlie tryit a1578 Pitsc. I. 379/7.
Quhilk caussit ane great clude come out of the heavins … and oppin in two haiffis instantlie 1592 St. A. Baxter Bks. 48.
The said Androw to pas instantlie to the place 1622-6 Bisset II. 134/16.
The … kirkman gatt seasing instantlie than in iudgement … without passing to the ground of the landis 1669 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 56.
Which soume … the counsell ordains to be instantlie delyvered 1692 Kingarth Par. Rec. 161.
He did get a testimoniel from Jonat Ncbirdie, who was instantly to be his mother in law

3. At the present time, at present, currently. Freq. now instantly. Also, then instantly, at that very time, then.(1) 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 96.
Goddis, quhilkis gaif the impire of erd to sindry naciouns, sum tyme to the Assirianis, … bot now instantlye to the Romanis 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 217.
He is now instantlie nother in office nor on the counsale a1578 Pitsc. I. 223/15.
I beseiche ȝow … that ȝe will remember that now instantlie is ȝour time 1595 Reg. Great S. 90/2.
Quhilk fauld is now instantlie jonit to the foirsaidis landis(2) 1676 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 227.
Being then instantly about some work therin [the mill] ... the said Robert ... fell upon me(3) 1542–3 Hamilton P. I. 383.
Weir standing betuix the twa realmis, as it dois instantlie 1551 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 161.
All sic parsonis that hes red … lyand on the hiegait … , that ar nocht bygand instantlie 1569 Inverness Rec. I. 175.
The feyr this towne standis in instantle 1599 Ib. 35.
Quhilk of the saidis personis hes instantle onne [= any] … leddyr ?1549 Monro W. Isles (Sibbald) ii.
[Rum] obeyis to M^cGillane of Doward instantlie

b. Now, just now, just then. 1542 Acts II. 415/2.
[He] schew that thare was ane act instantlie red in faice of parliament that the haly write may be vsit in our vulgare toung c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1357.
The propheit Esayas, … Sayand, the bairne is tyll ws borne, … As he had bene borne instantlye 1596 Dalr. II. 138/17.
Our quene is instantlie lychter of a bony barne 1632 Lithgow Trav. ix. 396.
I encountered with [some Englishmen] who instantly were both come from Malta