A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Wil(l)fully, -ie, Wylfully, -ie, adv. Also: willfull(y)e, vil(l)fully, vilfullie, velfullie, wolfullie, wulfullie. [ME and e.m.E. wilfulliche (a1240), wilfully (1357), wylfully (Chaucer), willefullich (Piers Plowman), willfully (a1425), wilfullye (a1536).]
1. a. With a ready will, willingly, gladly, keenly, eagerly. b. Voluntarily, of one's free will.a., b. 1375 Barb. ii 172.
The tother full wilfully … Rewardyt him weile his seruice 1375 Barb. ii 389.
And with that word sa wilfully He dang on 1375 Barb. viii 462.
Thai ischyt all abandounly And prykkyt furth sa wilfully [C. vilfully] 1375 Barb. xi 209 (C).
Villfully ?1438 Alex. ii 2225.
He leuch and gamyt him wilfully [F. bonnement] ?1438 Alex. ii 3270.
That he wald hartfully Accord with his sone wilfully [F. francement apaisier a son filz] ?1438 Alex. ii 3879.
Thir knichtis … wilfully [F. volentierz] Thay wald I made thame cumpany c1400 Troy-bk. ii 368 (D).
He … Full wylfully [L. sponte] … Hath graunted … that relyk … To Anthenor c1420 Wynt. i Prol. 80 (C).
Thus set I … Willfullye det to paye c1420 Wynt. viii 4388.
Rainfrwe … Come to thare pes full wilfully c1420 Wynt. viii 5175.
The erle thame assuryd willfully [W. sekerly] 1428 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 460.
Or gif the said Andru will nocht wilfully fulfill the said mariage [etc.] 1499 Reg. Great S. 537/1.
Landis … he of his free will and deliverit mynde, wilfully … resignit 1513 Doug. ii ii 4.
A ȝong man … that wilfully fortobe tak Rendrit hym self c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts xxi 17.
Quhen we com to Jerusalem, brethir resauet vs wilfully [L. libenter] 1533 Bell. Livy I 167/31.
Occurrit wilfullie certane men [L. voluntarius comes] to augment this sedicioun 1535 Stewart 17648.
Rycht wilfullie thai faucht thair to the deid a1578 Pitsc. I 50/14.
Willfullie a1605 Montg. Flyt. 398 (T).
The[n] wilfullie voitit the weirdis in ane voce The deid of that daiblet 1586 Elgin Rec. II 5.
Give scho beis fund … heirefter to have dealing with the said Jhone … scho obleisit hirselff vilfullie to be baneisit 1618 Annandale Corr. 278.
Wilfullie, wittinglie and willinglie
2. In a self-willed fashion, perversely, stubbornly.Quots. Hamilton and Montg. may belong in 3.a1400 Leg. S. iii 80.
[A]ne woman … wedyt was wilfully With ane murthire … & God hire send gret seknes … To punyce … hir c1420 Wynt. vi Prol. 46.
For this fredwme … mak we defens. Quha this wald argwe wylfully Lat hym be answeryd [etc.] … It is my purpos nowe till hast … Thare personale successyowne That has ws in that fredwme sete Gywe it ware wilfully foryhete It wald be repute wykyndnes Wan wyt or than reklesnes 1551 Hamilton Cat. 25.
Quhasumever miskennis thai things wylfullie quhilk God requiris of thame [etc.] 1585 Reg. Privy C. IV 2.
Uthiris, wilfullie persevering in ignorance and obstinacie a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xvii 31.
Cupid … Quha wilfullie did ay invent Hou to augment his pane
3. Deliberately, on purpose.(a) ?14.. Ship Laws c. 13 (H2).
The maisters aw to sueir and thair mene that thai straik nocht the schip wilfully 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I 8.
Quhasa … absentis him willfully, he sal tyne his fredome 1453 Douglas Bequest 10 June.
Wylfully or fraudfully to abstene [from coming] 1498 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 613.
To vilfullie or fraudfully absent ws 1509 Reg. Privy S. I 299/2.
The said William wilfully slew himselff 1568 Inverness Rec. I 167.
Thai wilfulle defraudis the … liegis in making … schone maid of horse leddyr for nowte leddyr a1578 Pitsc. I 125/27.
Ane cryme committit rathir of necessatie then willfullie of set purpois 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii 135.
Them quha … wilfully cuttes … cornes, breakes myllnes [etc.] a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 119.
He that is convict to have willfully and malitiouslie removed … or altered, the meithes [etc.](b) 1519 Buccleuch Mun. II 136.
Gif it happinnis me … wolfullie or on set purpose … to [etc.] 1585 Douglas Bequest No. 90 (4 March).
Wolfullie(c) 1566 Boyd Fam. P. No. 53.
Wulfullie(d) 1581 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 407.
Velfullie
