A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Sobirly(e, adv. Also: -ie, -yrly, -ie, -erly(e, -ie, sobrely, suberlye. [ME and e.m.E. soberly (13 … ), -lie (c1440), ME also sobreliche (1340); Sobir adj. Cf. MDu., MLG soberlike(n.] In various senses of the adj.
1. Gravely, seriously; quietly; steadily, in a measured fashion; calmly, without excitement or other strong emotions; reasonably.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 207.
Scho tuk it sobrely c1420 Wynt. vi 2085 (C).
The kynge than herde hym sobyrly [R. movyrly, W. soberly], And anssuerde hym al gudlely 1456 Hay II 126/20.
Do that be ordinaunce sobirly and mesurabily and nocht hastily bot lytill and lytill 1461 Liber Plusc. I 387.
Be nocht in to thi vertu veriabile; Bot soberly in paciens tak and gre a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 136.
Sobirly the souerane salust has he c1475 Wall. vii 67.
Wallace … to the grece he lenyt him sobyrly c1490 Irland Asl. MS 80/5.
That the persone will do [penance] soberly swetly and with discrecioun c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 142/36.
This lady sobirly did smyll 1567 G. Ball. 15.
The haly Gaist … (In forme of dow, sat on him soberlie) a1570-86 Maitl. F. 205/7.
Ane werie wicht … Quhilk full sobirlie sat and sicht Welcum eild for ȝouth is gone c1680 W. Row Blair 134.
Mr. Blair … did carry pretty soberly with a great measure of Christian patience(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 593.
He sad hyme sobrely 1460 Hay Alex. 715.
Than Alexander answerit rycht sobirlie [etc.] a1500 Henr. Fab. 2262.
The man thairoff wes in ane felloun fray and soberlie to the volff answerit syne: ‘Schir be my saull thir oxin ar all myne: Thairfoir I studdie quhy ȝe suld stop me' c1475 Wall. xi 86.
Rycht sobyrly he said … ‘I haiff no land bot quhilk the king gaiff me’ 1490 Irland Mir. II 141/10. a1500 Quare Jel. 53.
So sobirly sche spak that I no mycht Not here one word quhat that sche said arycht 1535 Stewart 16932.
The man that had the hound in cuir … Than soberlie askit agane the hound 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii 80.
[He asked me] where was my money to whom I soberly answered I had no more then he saw a1700 Mare of Colinton 689.
To wham Sir Tamas soberly Did answer mack(3) c1475 Wall. viii 1217.
Thai saw quhar at the queyn, Towart the ost, come ridand sobyrly a1500 Quare Jel. 47.
Forth a passe sche walkit sobirly 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 205.
Full soberlie thair haiknayis thay assayit Efter the faitis auld and not forwayit … In steidfast ordour c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 130.
Ladyes to dance full sobirly [M. sobyrlie] assayit Endlang the lusty ryvir so thai mayit 1528 Lynd. Dreme 113.
Pensyue in hart, passing full soberlie, Onto the see fordwart I fure anone 15.. Clar. ii 1461.
Ane lord before him raid. I let them pase rycht glad and soberly 1587-99 Hume 33/223.
The beastes … Quhilk soberly they hameward drive
b. Severely (punished or blamed).1657 Cramond Kirk S. I 22 Nov.
James Flookheart … being rebuked … was dismissed, with certificatione if he should be found to persist any longer in his fault he should be soberly punished 1658 Cramond Kirk S. I 7 March. 1659 Cramond Kirk S. I 17 April.
The session having straitlye prohibite thaim to frequent ane anothers companye under the paine of being censured soberlye
2. Moderately, temperately, without excess.Esp. as regards eating and drinking.1456 Hay II 135/30.
A man that lyvis sobirly lyf and eftir slepis his naturale slepe … than suld he nocht dout of no malady 1456 Hay II 141/1.
Se that thou tak sobyrly of it efter thyne age, and efter the tyme of ȝere c1490 Irland Asl. MS 41/12.
Sic thing brekis nocht fasting na drink sa that it be sobirly tane c1490 Porteous Noblenes 63/67 (Ch. & M.).
Than sulde ane man … reul hym sobirly and eschev distemperance of wyne & heit a1568 Bann. MS 72b/50.
Chaingeing of meittis but discretioun Raisis seiknes … it mon be … drawin with list richt sobirly 1657 Cramond Kirk S. I 20 Dec.
Thomas Millar … having been ordaind to be cited to the session for his … drinking excessivelye … compeiring and being both sharplye rebuked for his said unsober cariage, and seriously exhorted to walk more soberly in tyme to come was dismissed 1658 Cramond Kirk S. I 28 Feb.
The said Jon being rebuked … for his frequent … drinking was exhorted to walk in tyme to come soberlye as becometh ane Christian
3. Quietly, moderately, humbly, respectably, in respect of one's manner of living.a1540 Freiris Berw. 222 (B).
Thow sowp the hous clene syne That na apperance of feist be heir sene Bot sobirly our selffis dois sustene 1562-3 Winȝet I 9/29.
Leuing sobirlie, godlie, and iustlie c1650 Spalding I 232.
Doctor Williame Leslie … leivit soberlie in the toune vpone his owne charges 1687 Cramond Kirk S. II 6 Nov.
All the ordinar poore … wer confirmed in their monethly pensions, and wer exhorted by the minister to live soberly & devoutly
4. Peaceably, in a law-abiding fashion.1456 Hay I 186/21.
Sen thai maid offer to passe sobirly and curtaisly 1590 Digest Justiciary Proc. M 9.
The said James being gangand soberlie wpone the hie streit
5. Slowly, gently; a little.15… Sc. Hist. Rev. IX 450.
Set the puder diche apon ane byrnand peit or gleid and lat it bot melt suberlye
6. In a small way, from a small beginning; humbly, modestly.1531 Bell. Boece I 243.
This abbay, howbeit it began soberly [M. sobirlye] be devotioun of pepill, and princely rewardis, was maid the commoun sepulture … of all Scottis kingis 1533 Bell. Livy I 2/9.
I will assay How sobirly begouth the Romane blude, Thare commoun weill augmentand day be day
7. Poorly, badly (governed, dressed, etc.).1494 Loutfut MS 8b.
Quharthrow the office [sc. of herald] is lychtleyt sobirly governyt or conduct 1533 Boece 87.
Come the chiftane Cadall to land richt evill and sobirlie arrayit 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 317.
I have bene bot sobyrly regardit at this tyme and man hawe patience 16… R. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 392.
This forme of proceeding [sc. feuds] made the kings be oftyms evil and soberlie obey'd
