A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Mercy-, Merciles, a. and adv. Also: mercie-, mairci-, mearceles. [ME. (14th c.) and e.m.E. mercy-, merciles(se.]
1. Merciless; showing no mercy; devoid of mercy, pitiless.c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxii. 30.
Ever quhen I think ȝow harde or dour Or mercyles in my succour Id. lxiv. 5.
Except onlie that ȝe ar mercyles 1549 Compl. 163/1.
He vsit his mercyles crualte contrar them a1568 Bann. MS. 217 a/5.
And scho be mairciles a1568 Scott xx. 7. Ib. xxi. 10. a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 309.
How unnaturall and mearceles traitors thay artransf. a1578 Pitsc. I. 319 n.
Quhilk was callit efterhend the merciles mark of Schir James Hammiltoun
2. Obtaining no mercy, unpitied.Passing into adv. (next sense).1560 Rolland Seven S. 10695.
Merciles to be marterit a1568 Scott xvii. ii.
Bot merciles I go from ȝeir to ȝeir c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 467.
Ȝe … That seis ȝournedie brotherin distres … bot layfis him mercyles a1568 Bann. MS. 223 b/32. 1567 G. Ball. 119.
Our ennemies … sal say, God hes left us mercyles
3. adv. Mercilessly, pitilessly, ruthlessly.1549 Compl. 1/19.
The vniuersal pestilens … that hes occurit mercyles amang the pepil 1562-3 Winȝet I. 12/1.
To abolise and pull the samyn [sc. images] mercyles vp be the rutis 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 470.
The pure that ar … Opprest and hereit mercyles 1567 G. Ball. 177. 1614 Highland P. III. 188.
Let thame knawe … how mercieles all was execut
