A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Violentlie, -ly(e, adv. Also: wiolentlie, -ly, vyolently, veiolentlie, (vyolatlie). [ME and e.m.E. violentli (Wyclif), violently (c1440), vyolently (1495).] a. In the context of causing injury, destruction or damage: In a violent manner, using physical force. b. In the context of taking possession of (another's) property, etc. for one's own use: Forcibly, unlawfully. c. More generally: With great strength or force.There is some overlap between the senses.a. c1420 Wynt. V 1704 (W) (see Villanously adv.).
Violently 1496–7 Acta Conc. II 47.
He folowit on horseback on the sade Thomas and violently handillit his persone ?a1500 Dewoit Exerc. 55.
For the gret pane that ȝe sufferit … quhen the fals tratour Jowis, full of ire and inwy, drew furth wiolently with all thair strenth and mycht the haly hair of ȝour blist heid and berd be the ruttis, sua that thai gart the flesche follow 1509 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. II 108.
Johne Bensone acquit him lauchfullie that he coyme not wpone Johne Mcbreye and straik him not wiolentlie and drew not his bluyd 1549 Soc. Ant. XI 88.
Dauid Sinclar … violentlie handlit be his lordship, and inordourlie keipt within his firmans 1573 Reg. Privy C. II 267.
It being allegeit … that the saidis complenaris … violentlie brak up the yettis and durris of his said place, and spuilyeit and awaytuik … diverse and sindrie guidis, geir [etc.] 1587 Reg. Privy C. IV 204.
[They] maist violentlie reft and awaytuke his haill evidentis, chartouris, sesingis, reversionis, obligationis and utheris writtingis, to his utter wrak 1610 Crim. Trials III 91.
Ȝe … brak the voult and pend of the said prisone, and schure af the irnes, quhairin the said Johnne Greir was loked and violentlie and forceablie relevit him furth of our souerane lordis prisone c1650 Spalding II 154.
Doctor Guild, principall, violentlie brakis doun the insicht and plenishing within the bischopis houssis (quhilk wes left ondistroyit befoir), sic as bedis, burdes, &c., and causit transport them doun to plenish the college chalmeris and vther wark 1670 Inverness Rec. II 243.
Certane of the name of Fraser … quha wiolentlie and in ane hostill maner … cam accompanied with the number of fourtie men … and layd wiolent hands on him(b) 1613 Lanark B. Rec. 119.
It wes ordorlie tryit that Robert Weir, talyour, had vyolatlie [? erron. for vyolentlie] deforcet Robert Harve, offecer, in the violent refing furth of the offecer forsaid hous of ane clok(c) 1673 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 174.
Did most veiolentlie come into my house … and slokined my fayerb. c1515 Asl. MS I 259/15.
Makbeth put away the richtuis airis owt of the land … and violentlie intrusit him self in to the crovne 1521 Fife Sheriff Ct. 273.
He hes violently put hir pleuch out of hyre saidis landis tendand hym to spoilȝe hyre of hir possession tharof … and to intruse him tharintil as ane violent possessore 1549 Compl. 23/9.
I remembir … oure ald enemeis … violentlye possessand ane certan of our burghis, villagis ande castellis, to ther auen vse 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 166.
The … schip, gudis and merchandice … war wranguslie, violentlie, injustlie and masterfullie reft, spulyeit and takin … be Williame Cant and Walter Cant … and thair complices 1567 Rec. Earld. Orkney 124.
Johne Atkin, occupyar of the saidis landis of Horrie as subtennent to the said vmquhile James, will nocht remoif himself, his guidis and geir, of the saidis grund and landis, bot, by ony just titill of richt, intendis to sit violentlie and occupy the samyn 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I 7.
Maister Thomas Leslie … intending to disposses the saids complenars … and to intruse himselff violentlie in possessioun thairof [sc. of a salmon fishing] 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 173.
The Clandonald … did most violentlie detrude my forbearis furth of oure saidis landis … and by fyre and suord mantenit thair violent possessioune aganis my forbearis and myself 1631 Stirling's Royal Lett. II 511.
Certane leadner mart kyne … violentlie takin away 1671 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 27 May.
Anent the inhabitants who violentlie intrometts with such fishes … befor they come to the troan 1678 Dunkeld Presb. I 213.
That I have riotously dispossessed him of his right and possession … and violently took to my own use another considerable part of his peatsc. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Prol. Rom. 339/12.
Mann is but drywin of dywers appetites, ande the greattest appetite ouircumis the les, and charyis the man avay vyolently with hir 1562-3 Winȝet II 63/19.
This wil [sc. to sin] cariit about, and inflammit with a certane furious raige of al wices … be an insatiable concupiscence violentlie is drewin 1596 Dalr. I 25/19.
Thay [sc. solan geese] feid thair birdis … with the maist diligate fishe that thay find, quhilkes with a gret force thay bring frome the sey ground, when thay dowk violentlie
