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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.

Esily, Esely, Eisily, adv. Also: es(s)yly, esy-, esi-, easilie; esel(l)ie, easelie; eysylye, eysellie, eisilie, eiseilei, eisselie; esaly(e, -alie, easalye, easalie; aise-, asely, aeselie; eslie, -le, easlie. [ME. esyly, esily, esely, eseliche (c 1300).]

1. In an easy situation; comfortably. c1420 Wynt. iv. 1295.
Of Chawmpayne all the land Was in profytis all habowndand And esyly [C. esely] set to the se 1456 Peebles B. Rec. 116.
Tyl hym self takand that may be hys leyfyn essely a1500 Prestis of Peblis 9.
In till a preve place … Quhar that thai sat full esely and soft 1549 Compl. 91/3.
To that effect that ilk persone may lyf eysylye on his auen iust conques 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4663.
Sa in hir bed thay happit hir esilie

2. Without exertion; gently, quietly. 1456 Hay II. 120/33.
The raxing of thy membris esily … makis all thy corps in better disposicioun a1500 Doug. K. Hart. 436.
Ane auld gudlie man befoir the ȝet was sene Apone ane steid that raid full easalie Id. Æn. v. iv. 109.
The dow discendis soft and fair, Not byssy weyngyt, bot planand esyly Ib. vii. i. 12.
The flude he gan aspy Of Tybir flowand soft and esely

3. Without effort, trouble, or difficulty.(a) c1420 Wynt. v. 2311.
On hys crag … Ay hys a fut he wald set, Quhill he mycht the tothire get Essyly in hys sterype 15.. Clar. v. 2603.
At Calice thay arryvit esilie 1568 Pref. Lyndesay 3.
Seing the samin may be maist esilie and perfytelie knawin be his awin pen 1596 Dalr. I. 43/2.
The fishe esilie cumis in ouer the damis and furdes(b) c1420 Wynt. v. 2297 (C).
Qwhil he mycht the tothir [fute] get Essely [W. esely] in his sterape 1533 Bell. Livy I. 247/25.
Howbeit he mycht haue diffait thame eselie, … he persewit na forther 1574 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 19.
The allegit spulȝearis and troublaris of the said Doule … may be eselie compelit to satefie for the samyn c1650 Spalding I. 218.
Dulefull calameteis … whiche … micht haue bein wyslie and esellie supprest in the begining(c) 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. lv.
Thair breid wes maid of sic stuf as grew maist esalie on the ground Ib. 89.
We micht esaly have vincust thaim c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1268.
The Deuyll, … Quhen he persauis ane ydill man, … He gettis eaisalye entres 1562-3 Winȝet I. 83/16.
Quhilk thocht esalie may be considerit a1578 Pitsc. I. 50/30.
Thinkand that he might maist easalie beand in the castell eschew the danger(d) 1501 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 12.
To pass to the presence of the prior and convent … gyff thar presence can be eisily apprehendit 1549 Compl. 88/19.
Than kyng Darius may eysily conqueis Greice, vitht litil dommage to his cuntrey 1570 Leslie 189.
That he mycht moir eisselie recover the toun agane 1594 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 529.
Ane tow … to the suddartis to pas vp mair eysellie to the stipill 1656 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 325.
The foulnes … of the commoune calsay … wald be eisilie mendit give [etc.] 1671 Annandale Corr. 311.
Im sure yow may eiseilei gette people to come out withe yow(e) 1562-3 Winȝet II. 13/7.
Wtheris … as it war in a licht slummir easelie to be walkinnit 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 43.
This monstre … may easeliar endommage … than gif it wer moir deforme a1578 Pitsc. II. 11/4.
Thairfor thay van the toune the mair easelie(f) 1524 Acta Conc. MS. XXXIV. 42.
Ye mycht have cumin asely considering how neir I was 1568 Buch. Indict. 37.
To mowe ane actioun of diuorce aganis hym, quhilk mycht aeselie be broucht to pas 1667 Blakhall Narr. 151.
I do not so aisely change my resolutions(g) a1578 Pitsc. I. 134/26.
How honest … is the ground … of our purpois … may be easlie wnderstand 1596 Dalr. II. 466/22.
The scheipfauld eslie mycht haue bene occupiet 1680 Red Bk. Menteith II. 181.
It had gon on farr mor esle than it's likly to doe now