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.
Quotation dates: 1494, 1551-1683
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Willingly, Wil(l)inglie, adv. Also: villingly, wyllingly, -ie, wollinglie, wolynlye, villandly. [ME and e.m.E. willyngly (Chaucer), wyllinglye (1531), willingly (1549).]
1. Intentionally, deliberately. 1562-3 Winȝet I 32/8.
Except ȝe be wyllingly blind, ȝe may persaue thir dayis quhairof we speik to be the festuall dayis of the Lorde 1562-3 Winȝet I 53/9.
Thai … confessit thame selfis … willinglie and wittinglie to hef borne fals witnes 1562-3 Winȝet I 127/3.
Breking the samin command, nocht willinglie nor wittinglie, bot in ignorance
2. a. Voluntarily, without compulsion, of one's own free will. Passing into b. With a ready will, without reluctance; gladly, eagerly. Also compar.There is some overlap between the senses.a. 1551 Hamilton Catechism 43.
Thai ar content to do it willingly without ony compulsioun 1562-3 Winȝet I 24/2.
The mynd of man … obeyis not … the self willinglie to ony commandar … bot to sick quhome it is persuadit to command iustlie 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. ii 59.
Ultro, non quaesitus (willinglie) a1578 Pitsc. I 22/28.
As to mysellffe I remowe all rancour of mynd seikand frielie … ȝour peace … and is content … to rander my sellff … willinglie to be ane trew … subiectt 1591 Edinb. B. Rec. V 43.
That the said maltmen sall willinglie pay [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 135/6.
Ferleg, to flie the panes of his deserueng, willinglie was banissed [L. sponte in exilium abjiit] 1622 Urie Baron Ct. 48.
Wilinglie … band … him selff to … find ane … responssall cautiouner 1683 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 13 Aug.
£14 addebted be Jane Milligane … wherof I forgive the half if she pay it willingly and without lau(b) 1565 Canongate Kirk S. (ed.) 86.
The said Alexander … offeris him self wolynlye to cum to the tabill without compellingb. 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 67.
Christe did suffer wyllinglie a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 130/9.
Jesus Christ … of His infinite gudnes and visdome knavand … that Christiane men suld nocht be frustrat of this grete benefice throuch there … vaiknes quha naturally vald haue abhorrit to … eat the body of ane man, villingly of His infinite mercy … chengit the substance of breade [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 96/12.
Thay ar bent mair willinglie and vehementlie gif thair maistir commande thame to … stryfe: than to be labourars … thay had leuir be esteimed al nobilis … albeit neuir sa pure … than housband men 1596 Dalr. II 334/22.
Sho tuke til her … verie monie of the nobilitie quha willinglie shew this benifite to the quene … and gladelie tha gyue her the conuoy 1644 Acts VI i 76/1.
The great burdens of this kingdom, have hithertills lyne vpon the weele affected, who did willinglie embrace the same c1650 Spalding I 214.
Quhairvnto his majestie most willinglie condiscendit ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 139.
I assented the more willingly to the moderator's lenity in this(b) 1649 Misc. Spald. C. V 380.
I sall werey wollinglie concwre withe them(c) 1494 Loutfut MS 27b.
Coq is a hardy foull and of richt gret courage & fechtis aganis his aduersaris rycht villandlycompar. 1596 Dalr. II 78/18.
The king … to ding doun the pride of the duke the willinglier cumis, because [etc.]
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"Willingly adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/willingly>
