A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1450-1650
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Ernistly, Ernestly, adv. Also: ernustlie, ernestlé, -lie; eirnistly, -lie, eirnestly; earn(n)estlie, airnistly, air-, ayrnestlie. [ME. ernestly, OE. eornostlíce.] Earnestly.(a) c1450-2 Howlat 274.
Thus argewe thai ernistly wounder oftsys a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 102.
He lukit wp sa ernistlye 15.. Clariodus iii. 1124.
When he thus throw the feild … did ryd, richt ernustlie 1563 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries XXIII. 59.
The said James … maist ernistlie requiryt the said Marioun to … compleit the said band of matrimonye 1594 Maxwell Mem. II. 26.
We … ernistlie requeist yow to be at ws … be aucht houris befoir none(b) 1551 Hamilton Catechism 3.
Quhen he so ernestly maid supplicatioun to thame 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 996.
In ane part he lukit ernestlie 1568 Grant Chart. 285.
I … yarnis maist ernestle to retene the auld and renew the new 1631 Black Bk. Taymouth 432.
I ernestly intritt you to send me … a couppill of good earth dogs c1650 Spalding II. 34.
The King wes said to be dealling ernestlie with the lordis of the vpper houss, that [etc.](c) a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 618.
Askis he eirnestly efter ony man? a1500 Ib. 693. 1570 Leslie 201.
Quhan it wes maid knawin … that the hoill cuntrey men wes asseilying so eirnistlie 1620 Melrose P. 363.
We … trauellit verie eirnistlie with thame in that mater(d) a1578 Pitsc. I. 31/7.
He began to considder … thairupone verie earnnestlie 1595 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 140.
It is nocht possibill to the baillies to walk all nicht, being swa airnistly occupeit in the day in thair calling 1611 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs II. 334.
His lordschip ayrnestlie requeistet to send the same to his maiestie
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"Ernistly adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/ernistly>
