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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Perfit(e)-, Perfyt(e)ly, -lie, adv. Also: -fytlye, -fyttly, -lie. [ME. and e.m.E. perfitly (Rolle), -fitely (c 1400).] Perfectly.

1. a. Completely, thoroughly, fully. b. Faultlessly, to perfection. c. Clearly, unmistakeably.In some instances passing into d and e.(1) 1456 Hay I. 297/32.
For all kingis that ar perfytely feft [etc.] Ib. II. 101/9.
Ordanyt to be sa wele and perfytely that better may nocht be devisit 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 329.
By hym [Aeneas] perfytely blasons he [Virgil] All wirschip manhed and nobilite Id. Exclam. 23.
Quha mycht perfytely all hys hie termys luge In barbar langage or thame dewly expon c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4840.
And geve to thame spirituall auctorite Quhilk culde perfytlie schaw the verite 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (S.T.S.) 397.
Seing the samin may be maist esilie & perfytelie knawin be his awin pen 1615 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 322.
Thay fand ane merche stane perfytelie merkit with the signe of the sauser Ib. 323.
The remanent merches … ar not yet perfytelie riddin or knawin(b) c1420 Wynt. ii. 109.
Off Babylone … Scho made gude reformatyoune And kyrnalyt it perfytly [W. perfitly] And baytaylyd it rycht propyrly Ib. 159.
He kend the Caldeys perfytly [W. perfitly] The scyens off astronomy Ib. iii. 624.
The Tretis off Barbere Mad in tyll a genealogy Rycht wele and mare perfytly Than I can [etc.] Ib. iv. 292; Ib. v. 2357. c1475 Wall. ix. 395.
The king … Perfytly knew that it was Longaweill a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 410 (Harl.).
It may be callit ane blindnes rycht bestly Quhare men in syn dar perfytlie perseuere Ib. 1099 (Asl.). a1500 Seven S. 1069.
He … fenȝeit slepe … Richt sa he did sa perfytlye [etc.] c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 34/13.
To the deliuering of a persone perfytlye fra syn 1498 Acta Conc. II. 220.
That the sadis persons … had nocht ansuerit perfytlye til ilk punct 15.. Dunb. App. iii. 31.
Bot quha perfytly wald imprent Sowld fynd his luve moist permanent 1518–19 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 134.
Sen it is perfytlie knawin to all the said lordis regentis [etc.] … that [etc.] 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 38. 1549 Compl. 3/5. 1551 Reg. Cupar A. II. 68. 15.. Clar. iii. 889.
And that scho did so weill and perfytlie With fair effeir … That [etc.] 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 160/23.
To vndirstandmair perfytlie how [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet II. 48/23. Ib. I. 106/12.
That al his writtingis may nocht onlie nocht be perfytlie red bot na wayis may be found 1570 Sat. P. xviii. 29.
And in ȝour harts perfytlie do it prent [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I. 18/3.
Perfytlie Ib. 31/4.
Perfyttlie 1580 Skeyne Descr. Well 4.
Perfytlie cuiris nephritick dolouris 1582 Conv. Burghs I. 147. 1583 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 313.
Quhilk wes syllowrit with wanescott perfyttly c1590 Fowler I. 66/220.
The more perfytlie for to vew that … rowt a1605 Montg. Son. viii. 10.
Ȝour laurell leivis with palmis perfytly plet Ib. xv. 14.
I pingle thame all perfytlie in that parte c1610 Melville Mem. 365.
My brother … culd perfytly speak the Latin [etc.] 1611 Crim. Trials III. 154.
Auld Auchindrane at the verrie first sicht of his letter red the samyn so ryplie and perfytlie as gif he had it perquier 1617 Old Kirk Chron. 36.
Seing now bothe the draife and harvest are perfytlie endit 1611-57 Mure Psalmes cxxxix. 21.
Such perfytlie I hate(c) c 1522 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I. p. cx.
Quhilk is verray vnlefull and schewis perfitelie his governament 1533 Bell. Livy I. 20/5.
He knewe al maist perfitelie Remus Ib. 162/23; Ib. II. 96/36. 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 93. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 290.
Thai that ar gud pastouris watchis perfitely 1560 Rolland Seven S. 859.
The maisteris seuin concludit perfitelie All that he said was … trew Ib. 2507, etc. 1580 Hume Promine 129.
Thow Salomon facund in sapience … Perfitelie pleneist with all abstinence(d) 1490 Irland Mir. II. 6/11.
Thar is nocht … sa haly a persoune that may perfitlie eschap … all thir synnis Ib. I. 61/11; Ib. II. 151/31. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1596.
Nane of thame him perfitlie knew 1533 Gau 19/4.
That ane man sinnis notht … bot giff he determe that perfitlie with his hart Ib. 24/21.
And thow sal mortifi the ewil desiris of thy hart bot this cane noth be perfitlie in this mortal liff Ib. 26/6. a1538 Abell 120 a.
Ydolis of thare fathiris & mothiris at ar nocht perfitlie conuertit thir barnis … bringis faithfullie to our bredir 1535 Stewart 26742.
Marling … Culd tell perfitlie baith of peax and weir Ib. 50342.
Thair bed Perfitlie maid wnspilt … As nane thairin had lyne 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 210. 1558-9 Godlie Exhort. in Misc. Bann. C. III. 317.
Wytt ȝe perfitlie … that [etc.] 1600 Conf. Faith in Knox II. 123. 1568 St. A. Kirk S. 306.
That sche kennis perfitlie that Jonet Calland buir ane madin bairn 1575 Reg. Soltre 228.
The hospitularis … sall leir and haue perfitlie the ten commandimentis — 1528 Douglas Corr. 130.
Sua that … na thing may be perfitliar done nor the mater mair profundlie wayit(2) 1531 Vaus (1531) .
Preterito perfecto tyme perfitely bygane amaui

d. With precision or accuracy; exactly. a1500 Bk. Chess 1672.
With arsmetrik suld he perfytlye The mynut compt 1525 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. 63.
The sayis to be tane of the said gold and silver … sa that the fynes tharof may be perfitelie knawin 1600 Crim. Trials II. 287.
The carecter of euerie letter … resemblis perfytlie the said vmquhile Robertis hand wryit euerie way 16.. Abercrummie in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. i.
The coast turns perfytely south

e. In a morally or religiously perfect manner, righteously, holily. c1420 Wynt. v. 1672.
And lyvyt thare religyowsly And dyde thare office perfytely 1490 Irland Mir. II. 117/11.
All vthir dois thar operacioun perfytlie without faute as God has ordand & commandit thaim 1581 Bann. Memor. 338.
How the erle had diet so perfytlie and with sic kynd of speich as give he had died with the grittest provisione that ever man died Ib.
I hoip in God the fyft sall die mair perfytlie and declair the leivis deidis with his own mouth makand his repentence at the gallouse fute

2. Modifying an adjectival or adverbial, passing into mere intensive use: Entirely, very. 1456 Hay I. 188/9.
That we knaw perfitely wele thir fals Jowis 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III. 69.
The quhilkis he … causit tobe rede perfitlie weill 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 53.
That it can neuir aganis the nature of it turne perfytelie quhyte 1596 Dalr. I. 116/23.
Quhais beginning being obskure or nocht perfytlie and cleir anuich notified