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.
Quotation dates: 1399-1400, 1500-1627
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(Sakeleslie,) Sakleslie, Saiklesly, adv. Also: sack-, sauk- and -les(s)ly(e, -le, -lasly, -lislie. [North. ME and e.m.E. sacclesli (Cursor M.), saklesly (Cath. Angl.); Sak(e)les adj.] Innocently; although innocent; without just cause.Also const. of the alleged offence.(1) a1400 Legends of the Saints xli 304.
This vergine That thai saklasly put to pyne a1578 Pitsc. II 211/18.
He was bruited behind his back sacklislie 1582 Declar. Causis in Calderwood III 659.
Some sakleslie forefaulted, others [etc.] 1584–5 Hamilton P. II 637.
To be all utterlie wreyked sackleslie(b) c1626–7 Select Biographies I 352.
Because of my carriage towards her, who suffered sakelessly for his cause(c) a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 734.
Thus endit the malice and the feid Aganis Crist, quhilk [they] held saikleslie 1525 St. A. Formulare I 268.
The kingis trew and faithfull liegis … ar saikleslye put doun and distroyit 1525 Ib. 269 (see Sak(e)les adj. 1 d). 1533 Bell. Livy II 71/35.
The consullis war saiklesly [L. immerito] blamit 1535 Stewart 17162.
That saikleslie he flemit wes of Scotland For the slauchter of thi father deir 1535 Ib. 27469.
Quhair euir he wist that thair wes gude to wyn, Richt saiklislie sa mony he gart die ?1543–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 54.
The thing I did wes for gude quhowbeit I be murmurit saikleslie 15.. Clariodus iii 1696.
Ȝour dochter innocent he hes put to deid Full saikleslie but mercie 1566 Reg. Privy C. I 443.
Nocht willing that the said Jonet salbe saikleslie troubillit 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 238. a1568 Bannatyne MS 224b/20. 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 546. a1578 Pitsc. I 65/10.
He being iudge and partie spoillȝeit them saiklislie of thair lyues a1578 Ib. 137/16.
The King of Ingland … did wex my realme and leidges saiklesle witht incursiounis 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 155. 1582 Declar. Causis 19.
Sum saiklesly forfaltit a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 50. 1609 Reg. Privy C. VIII 250.
[The said magistrates having] saikleslie consavit [grudge against the complainer] c1609 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 108/12.
The Erle of Gowry was saiklesly put downe(d) 1567 Edinb. B. Rec. III 234.
The innocent prince saukleslie murtherit(2) 1535 Stewart 49058.
Wallace … Quhilk saiklislie of ony gilt or cryme, … sufferit hes the deid
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"Sakeleslie adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/sakeleslie>
