Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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Starkly, adv. Also: -i(e, -ye, sterkly. [Early ME stercliche (c1175), stærcliche (Layamon), starcliche (a1225) strongly, boldly, e.m.E. starkely (1523-4), starckly (1557), starkly (1603) stiffly, rigidly; Stark adj.]

1. In a strong or powerful manner. a. With physical strength, strongly. b. With moral or spiritual strength; with fortitude, courageously.a., b. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxiii 128.
Thai cane ete, To ma thame stark, confort to get To that end, & in entent That starklyare to thole the torment a1500 Bk. Chess 2145.
Off gret corage he is … And … starkly fechtis for his querell

c. With (a) powerful military force.(a) 1375 Barb. xiii 372.
Tharfor confort ȝow, and rely Ȝour men about ȝow rycht starkly [C. straitlye] 1542 St. P. Henry VIII V 208.
Wardane of the Middle Merchis starklie accompanijt with the capitains and chiftanys send to ȝour Bordouris 1546–7 Reg. Privy C. I 62.
Our auld inymyis of Ingland intendis … to … invaid this realme, byrn, hery [etc.] … without thai be starklie resistit 1548 Melville Chart. 88.
The Erle of Argile … vas preparand to mak starklie vpone Dunde 1549 Lamb Resonyng 37/10.
Haifing in his face Kyng Francise with the greit stranglie power of France starklie parkit 1553 Reg. Privy C. I 149.
The saidis wairdanis, starklie accumpanyit as thair use is at sic metingis a1578 Pitsc. II 271/31.
The Erle of Mortoune and my lord Lyndesay watchit nichtlie and keipit the towne of Leith verrie starklie 1596 Dalr. II 305/15.
The castel of Dunbar starklie, and stoutlie suld be defendet with Frenche wappounes(b) 1515 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 59 (see Stark adv. 1 (b)).
Sterkly

d. Modifying verbs of building: Strongly, heavily fortified. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii 987.
Feill bestials rycht starkly wp thai rais a1578 Pitsc. II 118/2.
[They] dewysed ane strang fort at Haymouth and biggit the samyn verie starklie

e. With great resolution or finality; determinedly, emphatically. 1490 Irland Mir. III 164/3.
For the counsal that is tane and concludit sa star[k]lie that it sal nocht be changeit for na condicioun … that counsale is wranguis

2. In a strong degree; with strength or intensity of moral, spiritual or intellectual force, influence, feelings, etc. a. Modifying a verb denoting an action. 1456 Hay I 294/12.
Bot to schaw clerely that [etc.] … I have myn ymaginacioun starkly rycht apon the benediccioun that the fader gave to the sone a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 280.
Ȝone wretchit Cresseid, … Me and my mother starklie can reprufe c1490 Irland Asl. MS 3/4.
To resist starkly to the enemy c1490 Irland Asl. MS 29/1.
Geve thou be maire and starkly tempit to syn c1490 Irland Asl. MS 30/1.
And evyne as thow war tempit with a lady or she with thé richt starklye c1490 Irland Asl. MS 56/15.
Natur wirkis mair starkly in the thing nere it na far fra it c1490 Irland Asl. MS 75/27.
Nocht trowand in him and his faith na defendand it sa starkly as I suld 1490 Irland Mir. III 31/23.
We suld trow richt starklie quhen we resaue … this sacrament we resaue gret wertu 1494 Loutfut MS 28b.
He criys & brays fast & starkly c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts xix 20.
Sa starkli the word of God waxit, and was confermyt

b. Modifying a verb denoting a state. 1490 Irland Mir. I 152/14.
The … knawlage of Jhesus diuinite and His humanite, was starklie foundit in hire 1490 Irland Mir. I 164/32.
The maist principale of my sawis standis starklie in haly writt 1490 Irland Mir. II 12/2.
He sais that the haly faith of Jhesu is provit sa starklie be him-self his apostlis [etc.] 1494 Loutfut MS 20b.
The espreuier is a richt gentill foull nocht stark bot starklie armyt of courage than of body 1494 Loutfut MS 29b.
[It] is … starkly armyt with teith and leddir