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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.

Plainly, Plan(e)ly, adv. Also: plaine-, playn(e)-, plen-, plean- and -lye, -li(e, -lé. [ME. pleynly (Chaucer), playn(e)ly, e.m.E. plain(e)ly, planely, f. Plain a.¹]

1. Over unbroken or level ground. c1420 Wynt. viii. 3586.
Wyth thai fagottis thai thowcht that thai Suld dyt the dykis suddanly And till thare fays pas on playnly

2. Without concealment, visibly or audibly, publicly. 1375 Barb. ix. 512.
Schir Eduard that so planly Our-raid the land Ib. xix. 54.
Thir thre planly War with ane assis thar ourtane c1420 Wynt. v. 3403 (W).
With harde thare he tuke his set All planely thare in to the mercat 14.. Acts I. 35/2.
[Sellers of fish] sal nocht bere it in any house bot playnly in the mercate c1475 Wall. iii. 202.
The Inglismen tuk playnly part to fle a1500 Bk. Chess 1138.
And thairfor suld thai [judges] set thair besy cure … [to] set the commoun proffet of the land Befor thair lyf & thairto planely go 1496–7 Acta Conc. II. 68.
Thai tuke the sade Thomas Watsone … to … Edinburgh … and led him planlye in the sicht of the commone peple as he had bene … a theiff 1503 Acts II. 253/2.
At the said breve [of inquest] be thrijs criyt planly togiddar 1513 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 298.
The said James exponit planly that for greit indigens … he wald resigne all his … tenement 1522 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I. p. cxi.
It is planely spokin and rehersit the Duke … deyt for defalt of sik necessar thingis as [etc.] 1535 Stewart 37760.
Mony … louit him … Thocht tha so planelie durst nocht tak his part Ib. 1649.
Planelie c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1171.
Plainelie a1570-86 Maitl. F. lx. 27.
Haue mercie of all wofull wichtis … Defend thame playnly in thair richtis 1563 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 396/2.
That thairin the liberale sciences may be plainlie techit 1568 Lyndesay Pref. Adhort. 7.
To behald and heir Vertew and vyce disclosit … In thair richt collouris planelie to appeir 1569 Reg. Privy S. VI. 116.
Dalie counsalour to the said erle in his … seditious assisting … the said Erle Huntlie planlie thairintill 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 128.
The strongest throatcutteris of the Hamiltones going planelie vpon Edinburgh calsay —superl. 1594 James VI in Tytler Hist. IV. 216.
Plainliest kything himself where greatest confluence of people was

3. Modifying a whole phrase or clause: As is apparent or manifest, evidently, unmistakeably, with certainty, assuredly, indeed. 1375 Barb. xviii. 479.
Quhen the King of Yngland … Saw his men discumfyt planly He tuk his way in full gret hy c1420 Wynt. viii. 3552–3.
For the warld may playnly se That this is Goddis deide playnly 1456 Hay I. 258/4.
Sen it is playnly provit that [etc.] a1500 Henr. III. 144/50.
Bakbyttaris … ar planlie curst in everie place Ib. 167/60 (B).
Bot thay ar gevin so planely [Draft plenly] till oppressioun 1528 Douglas Corr. 132.
Lyk as Patrek Sinklare … hes planlie done thaim understand 1533 Boece vi. xi. 208.
Quhen Angusiane sawe fortune planelie frawart him inclyne 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2576 (B).
Thus mon thay pay grit ferme or leif the steid And sum ar planely hurlit owt be the heid 1546 Reg. Privy C. I. 26.
[The assassins of Cardinal Beaton] ar planelie fortifiit … and suppleit with otheris … liegis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 52/10.
I fand it … planelie inglorius and a thing to depriue thame of all auctoritie Ib. II. 68/2.
A grete special and planelie a singular grace of God 1565 St. A. Kirk S. 236.
It apperit planlie to the deponar Joanna gave na … consent 1580 Inverness Rec. I. 282.
The said Robert Reid … hes playnelie contravenit his ayth in breking of the statutis [etc.] 1584 Laing MSS. I. 41.
Planelie 1590 Welwod 63.
As giff hee [sc. the master] … hes na commissioun … or that utherwaies the borrowing of the money bene plainely unlikely 1609 Garden Garden 53.
From both he [sc. Christ] struke the sting and … plainlie made them ledders vnto life 1627 Justiciary Cases I. 64.
Be act of parliament maid in anno 1587 all continuatioun of justice courtis ar planelie discharget

4. Of perception or revelation: Clearly.In non-material and material senses.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxiii. 167.
& this has sene Theodorus … & Raphynus Quhou playnely that he [Decius] had wrocht With thai sewine men c1475 Wall. ix. 464. 1492 Myll Spect. 292/25.
O my sone now planlye I consedder thin abusioun a1500 Bk. Chess 569.
Planly than thi frendis ilk ane seis That [etc.] a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 477.
Gif thow be Crist, thai said, ws schaw planly 1522–3 Douglas Corr. 83.
For baithe be messinger and write I declarit him playnlie I wald pas throcht this realme 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I. 534.
That it was poysoun … [the] chyrurgian at the sycht of him playnelie jugeit 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 82.
[That they] do now planely schaw quhat thay then secreitly menit c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxiv. 119.
Thairby may ȝe planlie ges [That, etc.](2) 1533 Boece iv. xvi. 154 b.
The day following this dolly nycht schew planelie … how the confederatis … war departit 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8128.
Nane thame self suld hyde That the pepill micht all thame planelie se 1622-6 Bisset II. 246/26.
Thay aw to set markis at thair hankeris that thay be planelie sene

5. In simple terms, without elaboration; so as to be clearly understood, lucidly. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2822.
And torne we to the trewe story … For to tell planely the effect Of Vlixes how he gan dye c1420 Wynt. viii. 5339.
Bot for I na can wryt thaim playnly 1551 Hamilton Cat. 26.
Ane catechisme, that is ane common instruction contenand schortly and plainly thai thingis quhilk ar necessary to thame to ken and keip 1600-1610 Melvill 27.
He past throw the twa buiks of Samuel … very pleanlie and substantiuslie

b. (To write) legibly. — 1683 New Mills Manuf. 50.
That he take more paines to write plainely

6. Without reserve or prevarication: candidly, frankly, freely; directly, forthrightly, bluntly.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 775.
The monk … Com to the abbot … & talde ilke worde playnly c1420 Wynt. iv. 2254.
Playnly [W. frendfully] hym consalyd he All his diligence to sete [etc.] 1424 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 14.
In alsmekil as yhour hye excellence has dedeignet to certify vs thus plaineli of yhoure entent 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 487.
Sum wald swer that I the text haue vareit … Or threpe playnly that I come nevir neir hand it 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 234.
He will nocht schaw this playnlie to ony person uther than to your graice 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 195.
Thai … said plainlie thai suld cum … and strik vp the durris of his hous 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 97.
I haue learned plainelie and bauldlie to call wickitnes be the awin termes 1582 Declar. Causis 9.
To allow that the ministeris suld be put at, not plainlye bot indirectly and coloratly c1650 Spalding I. 217.
His majestie desyrit [etc.] … quhilk wes plainlie refusit by the covenanters(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 421.
That he wes Criste he nyt planly c1450-2 Howlat 289 (A).
Planly c1475 Wall. x. 1091.
Planle a1500 Bk. Chess 1238.
This justice … askit how scho liffit … But meit or drink, and so, in hope of grace, Scho said planelye [etc.] Ib. 1457.
Quhat suld thi frendschipe ony wys That so planely me my request denys Ib. 582. 1513 Doug. ii. iii. 28. 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 243.
The toun of Pertht … is in dispar and sayis planly that an part of the France army suld be [here] 1563 St. A. Kirk S. 163.
[He] hard hyr planle confes to hym sche had laytleye borne ane barne 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 515.
Hir maiestie had … na uther purpois in heid nor is planelie mentionat 1600-1610 Melvill 142.
Mr Andro … planlie tauld the king and counsall that they presumed ower bauldlie c1610 Melville Mem. 338.
Planly 1630 Justiciary Cases I. 147.
The quhilkis haill … poyntis … ar planelie confessit … to be of verritie(c) 1582 Cal. Sc. P. VI. 146.
I have byne askyd at … howe your lordshipe goid a waye and I taweild him plenlye

b. Of action: In a direct or straightforward manner, without deceit or trickery. 1375 Barb. x. 520.
No strinth mycht it planly get Quhill thai within had men and met 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 345.
The mair planelie and neirlie they deale the better end will follow