A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Liberally, adv. Also: -allie, -aly, librally, -ie. [ME. (Trevisa) and e.m.E. liberally, lyberaly; f. Liberal(l a.]
1. Generously, munificently, plentifully.c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1447.
The Gregeois than liberaly The space of four moneth holely Graunted to the refectioune Of tho shippes c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1222.
[He] liberallie did pay his coist 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 400.
The Lorde … [will] geue ws, liberallye, With gude wyll, grace and mercy fre 1558-66 Knox I. 102.
The handis of our lordis so liberallie war anoynted 1596 Dalr. II. 285/21.
The King … promiset that liberallie al thing necessar to the weiris he suld furnisch Ib. 367/12.
The inhabitouris … receiuet liberallie that stranger schipbrokne c1620 Boyd Zion's Fl. 49.
[In Egypt] Men there are wealthy, and … For such a one [sc. slave] they lib'rally will give
2. Freely, in various applications. a. Of speech, etc.: Frankly, openly; without restraint or reserve. b. Without moderation, immoderately, to excess. c. Without constraint, voluntarily.a. 1562 Knox Ressoning 1 b.
If any think that I speak more liberally then I am able to proue 1560 Acts II. 533/1.
This liberallie and franklie we confess that [etc.] 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 309.
That … all the subjectis … may frielie and liberallie traphick, hant, speik and converse togidder ower all the pairtis of this realme 1607 Reg. Privy C. VII. 513.
We haif reported small thankis of those who so liberallie hes talked of us 1615 Crim. Trials III. 24.
My affectioun to my maisteris honour … makis me to wryt more liberallie in this mater nor vtheris willb. 1558-66 Knox I. 230.
Upoun the Kinges evin, when French men commonlie use to drynk liberallie 1596 Dalr. I. 109/13.
Vthiris in the meine tyme leiuet sa liberallie, forgetting planelie thair … seruice ecclesiasticalc. 1568 Reg. Morton I. 37.
Thay wald haif persuadit me be craft to haif liberallie demittit my crown
