A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1550-1613
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Obscur(e)-, Obscuirly, -lie, adv. Also: obscwir-, obscuyr-, obskuir-. [e.m.E. obscurely (1527).]
1. Not brightly, dully, darkly. c1590 J. Stewart II. 34/145.
Quhair hiddius rocks obscuirlie did depon Thair feirfull fronts
2. Obscurely as to meaning or expression; not plainly; vaguely, ambiguously. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 107/9.
Quhy hef ȝe set furth the said pennance sa obscuirlie, appuncting thairto twa partis only 1562-3 Ib. II. 57/13.
Lat it be vnderstand be thy expositioun mair cleirlie quhilk afoir was beleuit obscuirlie c1550-c1580 Art of Music 37.
Thir forewrittin preceptis obscwirly figurat c1575 Balfour Pract. 381.
Gif the witnes deponis obscurelie or confusitlie, the samin is of nane avail 1596 Dalr. I. 308/8.
3. In concealment, in hiding; covertly, secretly. 1566 Rec. Earld. Orkney 376.
[They] came vndir sylence of nycht to the towne of Kirkwall and thair obscuirly ramanit 1566 Anderson Collect. Mary II. 271.
Thai … tuik the Kyng … to the castell and placed him worry obscuyrly thair 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 33.
The said George wyf … was than lyand privatlie and obscurlie in the said Jones hous 1596 Dalr. II. 473/20.
Monie nocht obskuirlie began to think and tak this opinione appeirinlie that [etc.] c 1613 Melrose P. I. 118.
Obscuirlie
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"Obscuirly adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/obscuirly>
