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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.

Clen(e)ly, Cleyn(e)ly, adv. Also: clen(e)lie, cleinlie, clynlie. [ME. clenly, -liche, OE. clǽnlíce.]

1. In a clean, neat, or trim manner. 1375 Barb. vi. 406.
He wes arayit at poynt clenly, Outakyn that his hede wes bair c1420 Wynt. ii. 1078.
Golde, sylvyr, and wessale Clenly [C. cleynly] maide of gud metalle Ib. iv. 677.
In tyll his ost … He had sevyn hundyre thousand men, At all poynt armyd clenly a1500 Henr. III. 116/27.
I think … In court to cramp clenely in my clething a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 44.
The yettis war clenely kepit with ane castell a1500 Prestis of Peblis 878.
About ȝour heid ȝour cloke [ȝe] clenlie cast 1535 Stewart 12813.
Rycht clynlie cled of clayth of fynest gold a1568 Scott iii. 20.
Be clenely cled in ȝour abilȝementis 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii. xxxiv.
Thy cumly corps from end to end, So clenly wes inclosd

b. With neat action; adroitly, exactly. c1475 Wall. xi. 120.
This gud chyftan cleynly our lap thaim aw a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 631.
Schir Rannald raught to the renk ane rout … Clenely in the collair c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 21.
Vane organis he full clenely carvit 1513 Doug. xii. vi. 173.
Turnus … Smait of his hed clenly with hys brand

c. With moral cleanness. 1456 Hay I. 165/9.
To … pray God to help him … and lyve clenely c1460 Thewis Gud Wemen 97.
Kep biding and leif clenly

2. Completely, entirely; thoroughly. 1375 Barb. xi. 98.
Of Yngland hale the cheuelry He had thair gaderit so clenly That he left nane a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 673.
That thar tempil … Sa cleynely suld be distroit That na thing suld remayn of it c1420 Wynt. v. Prol. 36.
My purpos … [is] for to schawe And clenly to ger yhow knawe All the caus [etc.] Ib. 1773.
Ilke yhere Thai … suld be clenly schrewyn a1500 Seven S. 1211.
Bot thow thi nature purge clenly Thow sall be inflat with mesalry a1500 Doug. K. Hart 15.
He wes inclynit cleinlie to remane, And woun vnder the wyng of wantownnes 1533 Boece iii. xv. 114.
Thai suld departe clenelie fra Albion & leif the samyn fre to the inhabitantis Ib. xi. iv. 411.
Thai coverit it with stanis … sa cleynly that it was inperceptible 1548 Ayr B. Ct. 15 Oct.
That na swyne be haldyn … bot that thai be clenelie expellit the burcht c1550 Rolland C. Venus ii. 741.
For ay mirth clenlie I quitclame Id. Seven S. 3623.
It not anserris nor clenelie takis away a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxxv. 3.
Lat comfort cleinlie in thé rest