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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sadly(e, adv. Also: sadlie, saidly, -lie, saydly, sadd(i)lie. [ME and e.m.E. saddli (Cursor M.), sadely (Rolle), sadly (Manning); Sad adj.]

1. In a resolute or determined manner, resolutely. 1375 Barb. xiii 498.
[He] sadly gert assaile Schyr Wilȝam off [Herth] & him slew Ib. xvii 567.
The Inglis men come rycht sadly With gud contenance and hardy ?1438 Alex. ii 5485.
Quhen ane deid wele and sadly Beginning is and hardely, It is … Weill neir brocht to gude ending 1456 Hay I 119/1.
Till assaile, or to defend ryply and sadly, with gude deliberacioun, and gude avisement vertuously a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 574.
Sadly and sair … in that stour stithly thai stude a1500 Rauf C. 656.
Thair was na fyue of thay freikis, that micht him furth fend, He socht in sa sadly c1475 Wall. iv 231.
Sadlye on fute on to the hous thai socht, And entryt in Ib. 648.
Rycht manfully he graithit has his ger, Sadly he went agayne the men of wer Ib. ii 84, v 301, etc.

b. (To deliver a blow or the like) vigorously, forcefully, heavily. a1400 Leg. S. xlvi 202.
& sum mony sar buffet One his face ful sadly set ?1438 Alex. i 2072, 2903. a1578 Pitsc. I 222/7.
Mr. Patrick Lindsay … strampit sadlie on his brotheris foott to gar him wnderstand that [etc.]

2. So as to be firmly fixed; firmly, tightly, closely. 1375 Barb. xiii 374.
[Knyt] als sadly as ȝe may ?1438 Alex. i 1354.
The gude Emynedon Embraisit sadly his blason c1420 Wynt. iv 290.
All abowte the wallys ware Fyve and twenty elne brade, Wytht sykyre syment sadly made a1500 MS Rawl. Qb. 4 fol. 1.
Sant Paule … bad that thai suld sadly grondit be As a toure that is strang to se 15.. Clar. i 57.
His fute sadly throw the stirrip ȝeid, And throw the feild traillit him his steid Ib. ii 1123.
Togidder gois thir michtie champiouns With speir set all sadlie into the reist

3. In a firm, earnest or grave manner: Firmly, indelibly; intently, with careful consideration; gravely, seriously, solemnly.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xvi 264.
For-bedand thame sadly ay Til ydolis for to mak sacrifice Ib. 352.
Trewis thu, woman, that thu ma Defend that treutht thu sa techis Ws and saydly prechis? Ib. xxvi 694.
Syngand this anteme distinctly Ay noyt to noyt til hyme sadly Al out ‘o pastor eterne’ Ib. iv 176. a1500 Henr. Fab. 854.
Commandand silence, sadlie thus he said, ‘We, nobill lyoun [etc.]’ Id. Hasty Credence 37.
Sitt doun sadly in to iugement c1475 Wall. vi 127.
Quhen sadly thai had said thar deuotioune [etc.] Ib. ix 359. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 612 (Harl.).
Bot ȝit me think it rycht expedient In sentence schort sadly till assing To gif men mater of spirituale commonyng 1528 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 275.
To that effect that sche may avis sadly quhat way sche will tak or quham to sche will pas 1533 Boece 175.
Trebellius … avisit sadlie with freyndis be quhat way he mycht evaid the appering dangere 1535 Stewart 31892.
Tha tuichit all ilkane the Evangell buik … And sadlie swoir be euerie sacrament Ib. 370. 1587-99 Hume 83/126.
Walke warilie, modestlie, and sadly, and be not iolly nor intemperate(2) 1442 Stirlings of Keir 216.
The resonis … of bath the forsaid partyes herde and sadly degestyt [etc.] 1454–5 Soc. Ant. Chart. No. 7.
The quhilk assize … riply and sadly auysit … pronuncit thare veredict 1466 (1471) Reg. Great S. 214/2.
We saidly avisit with oure counsale … has [etc.] 1517–18 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 112.
It is neidfull that the said article be saidlie avisit apoun c1522 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I p. cxi.
All sik thingis beand saddilie rememberyt, sik mysordour and crudelite bypast considerit 1536–7 Sc. Hist. Rev. VII 358.
The saidis resonabill desire of our souerane lord … be ws sadlie and riplie considerit(3) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 177/39.
And sadlye in thy hart inpres Quod tu in cinerem reverteris 15.. Dunb. App. v 3.
In mynd keip weill thir thingis thre, And sadly in thy breist imprent Arundel MS 255/5.
Thy grym passion, gret tormentis, grevous panis, Ingrauit sadlie in my spreit remanis 1657 Rogers Social Life III 389.
The eldership seriouslie and saddlie laying to heart the Lord's just displeasure [etc.]

4. (To sleep) heavily, soundly, deeply. c1420 Wynt. ii 1002.
Quhyll thai ware sadly fallyn on slepe Ib. iii 360. 1535 Stewart 39514.
Ane herb … mukilwort … Quha previs it so sadlie garris thame sleip, Quhilk puttis thame in perrell of the deid

5. Sorrowfully, mournfully, with sorrow or distress. c1450-2 Howlat 42 (A).
I herd ane petuos appele with ane pure mane Solpit in sorowe that sadly couth say [etc.] a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 601.
Siching full sadlie c1475 Wall. viii 564.
Sadly thai think off harmys thai haiff tane Ib. xi 217.
Sadly agayn to thaim ansuerd the king; ‘Sayr me forthinkis at he desiris sic thing’ a1500 Prestis of Peblis 20.
Quhat thai wald tell or crak, Vmquhile sadly, vmquhile jangle & jak 15.. Dum Wyf 14.
[He] fast at him did fraine Quhy he sa sadlie went Quhat angwisch greif or paine Purturbit his intent a1568 Bann. MS 249a/14.
The sarar I sych, The sadlyar I indyte 1655 Cupar Presb. 169.
The presbyterie being sadly weghted with the report of the … exhorbitant … confluences of people at pennie brydles