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: 1526-1682
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(Severely,) Seveirlie, adv. Also: severly, -lie, severeleye, sevearly, -lie, ceveirlie. [e.m.E. seuerely (1548); Severe adj.]
1. With rigour or severity in punishing, judging, censuring, etc. 1562-3 Winȝet II 28/7.
Quhow seueirlie, quhow vehementlie inweys … Paul contrare certane men 1558-66 Knox II 342.
That sayeris and heararis of Messe, … may be seveirlie punished 1595 Colville Lett. 191.
Severly 1596 Dalr. II 344/29.
To justifie the burgesses … and to deil seueirlie with thame 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 146/11.
Bryberie … can not ouer seuearlie be punished 1606 Lett. Eccl. Affairs I 27.
He deales … seuereleye … with some of our humorists 1653 Nicoll Diary 111.
Severlie 1653 Glasgow B. Rec. II 259.
Ceveirlie 1682 Sc. Ant. XVI 3.
Sevearly
b. With scrupulous attention to detail; strictly, exactly, scrupulously. 1622-6 Bisset I 95/31.
We injoyne … the … abbattis and provestis … that they … mak these presentis seveirlie to be observed
2. Painfully, grievously. 1526 Criminal Trials I i 135.
Being verrie seueirlie tormentid, he wald not confes a1568 Maitland in Bannatyne MS 12b/41.
Thay … Seveirly, awsteirly, Sowld dye withowt remeid
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"Severely adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/severely>
