A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1380-1550, 1619-1650
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Honestly, -lie, adv. Also: -lye, honestely. [ME. honestly, honesteliche (1340).] In an honest or becoming manner, in senses of the adj.(1) 1380 Yule Collection (Reg. H.).
That we sal be helpare and consalour … in alsmikil as mai be done throch ws leiffully and honestly c1400 Troy-bk. i. 164.
It sittis ȝow notht full honestly … To manace … A kinge within hys awne lande c1420 Wynt. v. 3968.
Tharefore … suld thai Be tretyd and led honestly c1420 Ib. vi. 1590.
The Inglis men than Ethelred … restoryd honestly Till hys state 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 181/3.
The lordis of Scotland that hes brokyn ther promit & band, the quhilk vas honestly contrakkit(2) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxviii. 45.
Scho had symply hyre fud & clath, to cleth hyre honestly c1420 Wynt. iii. 743.
He buskyt hym rycht honestly c1420 Ib. ix. 3137.
Gud yomen for archery Rycht wele bodyn, and honestly 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 10.
The knyghtis in harnace, and squiares honestely arrayit c1500-c1512 Dunb. xviii. 22.
Be I ane courtman or ane knycht, Honestly cled that cumis me richt 1508 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 114.
At the sellaris thairof [sc. meat] be honestlie habilleit 1549 Protocol Book of J. Crawford 37.
The said Elesibetht … sall honestlie cleyth the said Eleyng … bayth in bed & bak 1646 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs IV. 554.
That ilk merchand be honestly abulyied(3) 1474 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 32.
The saidis craftis sall … gar bery him honestlie as thai aucht to do of det to thair brother of the craft 1513 Reg. Cupar A. I. 290.
Dauid Pullour … to lef al his gud to the said Johne, … he bryngand hym honestly to the kirk, and doand his det thairfor c1650 Spalding II. 210.
Scho … wes bureit honestlie out of hir awin native soyll(4) 1484 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 49.
That the fleschouris braik thair fische honestlie for thair fe 1517 Ib. 171.
Ane servand that sall gang honestlie throw the toun with his creill and stufe to furneis his callands with 1540 Ib. II. 104.
That thai … big and repare honestlie thair ruynous housis 1543 Reg. Cupar A. II. 28.
Thai sall haue sufficient chameris and stabling, … for to ressaue … xij or xvj hors honestlye c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 511.
The squyer … him dischargit of his speir, Honestlie lyke ane man of weir 1619 Edinburgh Testaments L. 232.
My brether hes susteinit me in hous honestlie with himselff this lang space as bedrell
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"Honestly adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/honestly>
