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.
Lesumly, adv. Also: lesumily, lesumlie,. -lé, lesom(e)-, leisum-, leasumlie. [f. Lesum,a. Cf. Lef(e)sumlie.]The greater number of the later examples (all after c 1600) in our collections are from the north-east.
Permissibly, lawfully, rightfully, properly.(a) 1515 Fife Sheriff Ct. 16.
For the quhilk ignorance he mycht lesumily be the law refuse to gif his aith tharone 1551 Hamilton Cat. 21/2.
We may lesumlie desyre of God our necessarie sustentatioun 1561 Reg. Privy C. I. 177.
Ony schip fund passand betuix realmes without coquet is jugeit to be pirate and lesumlie may be tane be ony persone 1565 Fam. Rose 243.
He … can nocht lesumlie exerce the office 1568 Grey Friars II. 66.
The provest … and communite of the said burght … may fra thyefurtht lesumlie … uplift the samyn yeirlie a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. xvii. 27.
Be glaid in hairt ay lesumlie And just in thy vocatioun 1578 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. 85.
The first Waikand skair … that may fall in thair hands and be lesumle disponit be thame 1580 Inverness Rec. I. 287.
That lesumlie the said Robert … culd nocht … mak his actuall residence heir … becaus of deidlie feide 1590 Conv. Burghs I. 321.
That na man lesumlie may be chosin prouest, baillies or eldermen to burgh, bot that ar honest and substantious burgessis 1598 Edinb. Skinnners in Bk. O. Edinb. C. VI. 75.
Quhill he may lesumlie buik his prenteis 1620 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 187.
They culd not lesumlie use the tred of merchandice 1621 Marischal Coll. Rec. I. 188.
That he may lesumlie do the same c1650 Spalding II. 159.
He … denyit him nothing worldlie quhairin he could lesumly availl him(b) 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I. 136.
Micht the samyne mariage leisumlie haiff bin contractit 1593 Fam. Rose 275.
Bot leisumlie thai may pas and repas and ws thair leafull busines in all pertis, ontrublid, onmolestit … be ws, our army … in ony maner of way(c) 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Bastardus.
Gudes and geare quhilk, be the law of the Athenians, leasumlie micht be given be the father to his bastard sonne
