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: 1375-1627
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Lichtly, adv. Also: lichtlie, lycht(e)ly(e, -li(e, leichtly; lichly, -lie, -lé; lightly, -lie, lyghtly. [ME. lihtliche, liȝt-, lightly, -li(e, -liche, -like etc., OE. léohtlíce (Licht a.1).]
1. Not heavily or weightily; with little force, gently; not severely, strongly or heinously, mildly. In material and non-material applications.(1) c1420 Wynt. vii. 3130.
Lychtly syne on fayre manere Hyr cors thai tuk wp and bare ben(2) 1533 Boece i. vi. 45.
Than certane power lichtlie bodyn … suld persewe the flearis(3) c1460 Consail Vys Man 337.
And lichtlear hurtis that is fore sen, Na wnprowystly cumyne had ben 1562-3 Winȝet I. 114/10.
Achan … committit only the samin cryme … mair lychtlie than thai sen he committit his cryme quietlie 1568 Lyndesay Pref.
The importing of … fals cunȝe, sklenderlie serchit, and lychtliar punischit a1598 Ferg. Prov. 18 b.
They are lightlie herrite that hes thair awn a1627 Craig v. 10.
For hee that loues lightliest Bee sure hee shal speede best
b. (To lift or try the weight of something) as if it were light.1513 Doug. v. vii. 84.
Ful of magnanymyte, Eneas Pasys thar weght as lychtly as a fas
c. (To dine) lightly, ? to take a light, not a large or heavy, meal.1528 Lynd. Dreme 1030.
I … lychtlie dynit, with lyste and appityte
2. Of literary description or study: Briefly, superficially, slightly, not at length or in full.c1420 Wynt. i. 1103.
Now hawe yhe herde me lychtly c1420 Ib. vi. Prol. 30.
Quha this wald argwe wylfully, Lat hym be answeryd rycht lychtly 1456 Hay I. 11/25. 1456 Ib. 124/20, 169/31.
I will pas mare lichtly our of all the papis that was in the first tyme of the sevyn angelis c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii. 918. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1640.
Quhowbeit Moyses … That story lychtlye did ouer luke 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 36.
And mony thingis for haist I haue bot lichtlie tuichit 1596 Dalr. I. 124/5.
Followis that lychtlie we descriue … the maner of the magistratis 1596 Ib. 249/9.
Instructed in lettres nocht lychtelie
3. Without great labour or difficulty, with slight effort, easily, readily.(a) 1375 Barb. xii. 46.
He thoucht that he suld weill lichtly Vyn him … Sen he hym saw horsit so ill 1375 Ib. 459, xv. 337, xvi. 616. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxx. 249.
Thu ma lichtly … Sauf hyme & do thi-self na il c1420 Wynt. iii. 412.
How that he Mycht lychtlyest [C.-ast] our-cummyn be c1420 Ib. v. 1342.
Mare chargis on hys bak to lay Than he mycht lychtly bere away c1420 Ib. 2220, viii. 6841. 1456 Hay I. 301/30.
And throu hardnes of lyfing, and custume, thai bare it lychtly bot ony dises 1456 Ib. II. 46/13.
Sa kepis the sadill him that he be nocht lychtly put fra his hors c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ix. 218. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2439. a1500 Prestis of Peblis 223.
Tharfor that lychtly cummis will lichtly ga 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1410. c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 268.
I compt thame daft, and mekill wors nor mad, That laykis this gift, so lichtlie may be had a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xcvii. 83.
The quhilk will not be done lychtlie Without trawell and mony straikis 1596 Dalr. I. 49/28.
The twa riueris Die and Don … lichtlie thay excel the rest of the fludes and riueris in Albion … in plentie of salmonte [etc.] 1596 Ib. 53/11.
Because riches … lychtlie corruptes the godlie institutiounis of our elderis 1596 Ib. 91/1, II. 317/27.(b) a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xxxv. 24.
The trimmest face with gudlie grace, That lichlie may be sein(c) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 696.
That the Gregeois in the cite The lyghtlyer myght haue entre 1513 Doug. xi. Prol. 116.
Be thou stalwart campioun … Thou may debait thame lyghtly in ilk fyght c1590 Fowler II. 135/17.
Being lightlyed of all men, [they] perreshed als lightlye
b. Without weighty consideration or good reason, promptly, willingly; for trifling cause, frivolously; inattentively, carelessly, heedlessly.a1400 Legends of the Saints iii. 975.
For men will lichtly spek the ill, Thocht thai haf litill cause thare-till a1400 Ib. xxxiii. 649.
Ws awcht luf thaim for thare mercy, That lichtly wil forgyf til al That mysdone thaim has c1420 Wynt. v. 5093.
This empryoure oure lychtly Tynt throwch hys wyff all Ytaly 1456 Hay I. 244/25.
And how men suld nocht lichtly traist in na sauf conditis 1456 Ib. II. 48/13.
The sadill that he rydis in betakenis sekernes that he be nocht lychtly put by his purpose c1460 Thewis Wysmen 175.
Thai wyll nocht lichtly mak a grant c1515 Asloan MS I. 71/1.
Beand lichly and sudanly crabit 1533 Bell. Livy I. 14/23.
For that caus Mezentius wes confederate lichtlie with the Rutuleis 1535 Stewart 50904.
Horribill it is to heir … The pretius bodie how than of our Lord … Out of the bost so lichtlie as tha flang 1562-3 Winȝet II. 64/23, 4. 1573 Satirical Poems xlii. 67.
I meruell … That sic ane leirnit man as ȝe Sa lychtlie suld disdaine … Ane ordour that wyse men did mak 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 43.
The King … lichtly beleuing hir be excesse of lufe 1596 Dalr. I. 283/6.
Constantin had na will lychtlie to lat gang sa noble a pray
4. With light movement, nimbly, with agility; also, with swift movement, swiftly.1375 Barb. vi. 638.
Till thame … A lowp richt lychtly maid he than c1420 Wynt. v. 2362.
He than in affray Stert owte off his bed wytht that And lychtly on his solys gat ?1438 Alex. ii. 3318.
Lichted als lichtly the duke a1500 Golagros and Gawane 82.
Schir Kay ruschit to the roist, … Lightly claucht … the lym fra the lyre 1513 Doug. i. iii. 91.
Ourslidand lychtly the croppis of the wallis [= waves] 1513 Ib. ii. xii. 60.
Sche sa lychtly vanysyt in the ayr 1513 Ib. xi. xiii. 170.
Als lychtly as the happy goishalk … persewis wonder fair The silly dow c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 420.
Than drest he him into his geir … And lichtlie lap vpon his hors 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 109.
The hillis dansit and lychtly lap lyke lambis
5. With disrespectful levity, flippantly; scornfully, slightingly, contemptuously; also, unconcernedly, with indifference. Also to lauch lichtly.(1) 1456 Hay II. 99/24.
Understand wele that peple will speke lychtly of lytill evyn c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace iii. 361.
Lychtly he sperde, ‘Quhi, Scot, dar thow nocht preiff?’ c1475 Ib. 367.
Wallace tharwith has tane him on the croune, … Lychtly raturnd till his awne men agayne a1500 Sir Eger 1592.
Then lightly said he, ‘Thou shalt lie, For that man shall I never see’ 1535 Stewart 57508.
Lichtly agane to thame than ansuerit he: ‘Go hence’ he said, ‘ … No rekning now ȝé sall haif of me heir’ c1590 Fowler II. 24/21.
I contemnit his brauling & lichtlye regardit his boosting a1599 Rollock Wks. I. 447.
The outward wasching in baptisme is not to be luikit to lichtlie(2) a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 519.
‘It is lyke’, said Schir Rolland, and lichtly he leuch 1535 Stewart 5019.
Thairat the Britis lichlie all tha leuch Sayand that tyme thai had power aneuche [etc.] 1535 Ib. 13313.
Lichtlie he leuche with greit hething and scorne 1535 Ib. 10654, 18168, 26769.
b. To lat (also, to set and to count) lichtly (of a person or thing), to regard with scorn or unconcern, to despise. See Lat v.1 14. —a1500 Sir Eger 2409.
He sets but lightly of your love a1599 Rollock Wks. I. 304.
It is not the saul allane that can count sa lichtly of deith, or the frail body
