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

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About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1420-1624, 1678

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Curiously, -lie, adv. Also: -lye, -iusly, -eouslie; curyously, -owsly, -wsly, -usly; couriouslie. [ME. cury-, curiously, curiouseliche (1340), f. Curious,a.

1. Carefully; with care or close attention.c1420 Wynt. vi. 1295.
He closyd this lettyr curywsly
1450-1510 Gray MS. vi. 40.
Kingis & knichtis in company Vncountit curiously vp I kest
1624 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 263.
I shall maist curiusly strive to observe these
1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii. xxi. § 2.
An inditement should be most curiously and certainly penn'd

2. With elegance of language or sound.c1420 Wynt. i. 18.
Omere and Vyrgylle … curyowsly dytyde thare storis
c1420 Ib. v. 4365.
Huchown has tretyd [this] curyowsly In Gest off Broyttys auld story
1461 Liber Pluscardensis 392.
Rycht as all stringis ar reulit in a harp In ane accord … than curiusly thai carp
1513 Doug. Æn. 909/17.
I will weill otheris can say mair curyusly, Bot I have said eftir my fantasy
15.. Clariodus ii. 1713.
On instruments menstrelles playit curiouslie
a1585 Maitland Quarto MS lxix. 6.
Quhair as the merle & maveis … thair nottis maist curiouslie did sing

3. With skill or art; elaborately, exquisitely.1456 Hay I. 64/23.
Ane ymage of him curiously corvin in marbre
c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 21.
Kemmit was thair cleir hair, and curiouslie sched Attour thair schulderis
1513 Doug. viii. iii. 165.
Ane courtly quavir ful curyusly wrocht
c1552 Lynd. Mon. 180.
Quhen fresche Flora spred furth hir tapestrie, Wrocht be dame Nature quent and curiouslie
a1578 Pitsc. I. 154/13.
He fondit ane … colledge in Sanctandrois, … quhairin he maid his lair verri cureouslie and costlie
1596 Dalr. I. 295/21.
The inner parte of this tour al of tabulet wark curiouslie caruet

4. With subtle learning or argument.1531 Bell. Boece II. 193.
Thir young men, quhen he wes reidand maist curiouslie, slew him
1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 108.
Upoun thaim quhilkis contempnandlie and curiuslie leanis to thair awin jugement

8519

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