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.
Evinly, Ewinly, adv. Also: evynly, -lie, eyvynly, evingly, evin-, eavenlie; ewynly, -lie, ewinely, ewinlie. [ME. evynly, evenlye (c 1325), f. Even a.]
1. Exactly; precisely.1375 Barb. x. 228.
Bwnnok … Gert call the wayn … , And quhen it wes set evinly [E. ewynly] Betuix the chekys of the ȝet [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 855.
The nynt kalendir of Maij ewinly Fra Crist tuk flesch of oure body c1420 Wynt. iv. 1094 (C).
Four hundyr wyntyr and fourty And twa, to rekkyn ewynly, Befor the blest Natywite 1570 Lanark B. Rec. 52.
To send yow our principall stain wecht, quhairthrow [ye may haif] your wechtes evingly mesurit thairwith
2. Directly; in a direct line.a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 784.
Scho … fand a derne sted … & yddir ewinely can hyr mark c1420 Wynt. ii. 128.
Efftyre hym … Succedyt to that herytage Fourteyne ayrys … Be lyne descendand evynly
3. a. Equally; to an equal extent.1375 Barb. vii. 103.
I trow he suld be hard to sla, And he war bodyn all evynly [C. ewynly] c1420 Wynt. ii. 1148 (C).
For bathe to frende and fa sulde be Fayth ewynly kepit in leaute 14.. Acts I. 332/2.
Syne efter salbe … chalangit all the bedalis … at thai tak nocht euinly the wakis [L. vigilias] alswell of rich as of pur
b. In equal parts or portions.a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 63.
The possessione, That fel thame be successione, Ewinly thai delte amang tham al 1388 Bamff Chart. 22.
The quhilke foure layd the lande wyth lyne and departit tham ewynly in tua 1445 Peebles B. Rec. 10.
A pund of wax … to be departyt evinly be the balyheis and the vicar 1482 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 35.
The costis and the expensis … to be ewinly … diuidit betuix bayth the said lords 1500 Dunferm. B. Rec. 112.
The syd hegis … to be devidit be the linaris evinly and to be partit betvene thaim 1529 Rep. Milne Home MSS. 36.
Gif ony deis in Crammecruk … at ar tennandis, the corse present and heriald to be partit betuix me … and the said Alexander ewinly
c. Equitably, impartially.c 1400 Wemyss Chart. 37.
Schir Williame of Dalyhel … and Williame of Fentoun sworn to delyuer and ordane evinly for bath the partis 1424 Acts II. 8/2.
Gif the juge refusis to do the law evinly, the party compleinand sall haf recours to the King a1500 Bernardus 128.
Se thow be sobyr ande ber thé … ewynli To thi nychbour 1499 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 429.
We … ovirmen ewynlie chosin and sworn betwix the abbot and convent of Dere [etc.] 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 258/2.
Be way of justice to be evinly ministerit 1522 Fife Sheriff Ct. 264.
That ȝe proceid & minister iustice evinly in the said mater
4. Uniformly; without variation.a1400 Leg. S. xli. 159.
Scho wes cled mare ewinely With hare thane with hire clathis in hy 1513 Doug. iv. v. 44.
Heir first Mercur, with evynly schynand weyngis, Gan him arest 1533 Boece xii. v. 462.
He had euer ane stout corage, and bare him evinlie
5. In an even or level position.a1500 Henr. III. 140/15.
Than sould ane lord the ballance evinly hald c1475 Wall. vi. 53.
Luff … so ewynly held be fauour the ballance c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxi. 102.
Thocht I hald him evinlie the ballance, … Ȝett will he … gar it suey c1552 Lynd. Mon. 77.
Causyng iustice hauld ewinlye the ballance
6. In an even and gentle manner.1456 Hay II. 120/32.
Quhen thou rysis in the mornyng, thou suld … strek and rak thy membris suetely and softly and evinly
