A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Mervaillously, -vell(o)usly(e, -lie, Marvelously, -lie, -valouslie, adv. Also: mervailouslie, -velloslie, marveilouslie, mervelusly, -weluslie, -walusly, -veulously. [ME. (c 1330) and e.m.E. mervellosly, -veillously, -vaylously, e.m.E. marvellously.] In a marvellous or wonderful manner or to an astonishing degree; wonderfully, amazingly; wonderfully well; extraordinarily, enormously, ‘incredibly’.1456 Hay II. 94/32.
The kingis rentis and prouffitis growis and multiplyis mervaillously c1475 Wall. iv. 151.
He with power partyt merwalusly 1494 Loutfut MS. 21 a.
The wnicorn … hir voice is mervelusly fleyand Ib. 29 b.
And seis nocht weil on erd bot in the sey seis mervelusly a1538 Abell 84 b.
Quhare merweluslie fechtand he wes tane 1533 Boece i. ii. 35.
Mervellusly Ib. viii. i. 248.
Sum parte mervellusly war kindillit and desirit the bargane Arundel MS. 252/398.
That I may be … fed so marvalouslie at that … haly tabill 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9835.
He thocht this pure man meruellouslie Had gottin this ring at sum greit ieopardie 14.. Conf. Faith (1567) in 14.. Acts (1597) ii. 3 b.
Abraham … his seede He multiplied, the same He marveilouslie preserued, and mair marveilouslie delivered, from … Pharaoh 1567 G. Ball. 112.
The Lord … The quhilk has … maid the eird sa meruellouslie 1570 Leslie 167. 1584 Gray Lett. & P. 32.
The King is marvelously comoueit presently at [etc.] c1590 Fowler ii. 78/1.
Mervellouslye strong 1596 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 874.
Pryces of victualls is mervailouslie raised … be girnelling of victuals 1596 Dalr. I. 36/5.
This causes men meruellouslie to wondir that [etc.] Ib. II. 262/1.
Meruelloslie instoret with gold [etc.] 1608 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 33.
Merveulously affrayit
