A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1689
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Arely, Airly, adv. Also: arly, arelie; air(e)lie, ayrly, -le, ayrely, -lie, ayerlie. [Northern ME. arely, areli, ONhb. árlíce, ON. árliga, corr. to ME. ērly, ērli, ērliche, OE. ǽrlice.]
1. Early in the day.(a) 1375 Barb. v. 554 (E).
The king had in custome ay For to rys arly ilk day 1375 Ib. xi. 183 (C).
Arly he rais in ane mornyng c1420 Wynt. viii. 6203.
Thai, that bowne war well arly a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1548.
Gedeon in the morn arlye Gart fetche ane barbour 1533 Bell. Livy I. 42/2.
Romulus … met me arely on this morow 1533 Ib. II. 7/31.
Arelie on the nixt morow(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints ii. 325.
One the morne weil ayrly a1400 Ib. xxx. 442.
To-morne ayrly thu ga c1420 Wynt. vi. 1221.
On the morne rycht ayrly c1420 Ib. viii. 1797.
Ayrly on the Gud Fryday 1456 Hay I. 78/32.
The tane delytis … to ete airly 1456 Ib. II. 60/17.
Thai that had wrocht fra the morne airly c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ix. 1218.
Thai graithit thaim rycht ayrly on the morow 1513 Doug. viii. i. 89.
Into the dawyng rycht ayrly 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 14/7.
Airlie in the morning … befoir the sone rysing 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 229.
Vpoun the Sonday, ayerlie in the moirning 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 112.
Passand airlie furth of hir bed c1639 Mure Ps. v. 3.
My voice, Lord, thow shalt ayrely hear. Ile order ayrly my request 1689 Siege Edinb. C. 66.
Airly in the morning
2. Early in life. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxiv. 110.
Thai set hyme ayrly to the schule
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"Arely adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/arely_adv>
