A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1563-1590, 1651-1688
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Menelie, adv. Also: mainlie, meanly. [e.m.E. meanly, ME. menely (c 1380, Wyclif), f. Mene a.] a. To a middling to small degree, moderately. b. Humbly, lowly. c. Indifferently, more or less badly. —a. 1563 Ferg. Tracts 5.
Althogh this pithles epistle haue lytle … strength to deceaue any that haue but meanly teasted of the treuthb. 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. i.
Thir treis … So schenlie and menelie Thair tops thay did dounfald 1688 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 315.
Cuthbert, the second sone, haveing maried meanly to the displeasure … of all his freindsc. 1651 Lamont Diary 41.
After they were apprehended, they were all put into English ships, and bot mainlie used