A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Witterly, Wittirly, adv. Also: vittirly, wittrely, wytterly. [ME witerrlike, -liȝ (both Orm), witterliche (Ancr. R.), witerli (Cursor M.), wyterly (Piers Plowman), witterly (c1450), MSw. vitterliga, Da. vitterlige, clearly, manifestly.] Certainly, truly.1375 Barb. iv 226.
For feyndys ar off sic natur That … thai wate weill and witterly [C. wittirly] That [etc.] 1375 Barb. x 355.
I can noucht rehers thaim all … Bot thai that I wate wytterly [C. vittirly] … rehers will I 1375 Barb. xiv 154.
For he wyst all witterly [C. wtirly, 1571 richt perfytelie] That [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xviii 673.
Der laydy, alsa wittirly Of me synful thu haf mercy a1400 Leg. S. xix 171.
I cane tel thé witterly How [etc.] a1400 Leg. S. xlviii 84.
Thare-for wat I wittirly That [etc.] c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1309 (C).
And so hys spekyng Vlixes Endyt … But Thelamonyus wittrely With prowd wordes full fellonly Vlixes manased ?1438 Alex. i 2458.
The king … Thar straik nane, wit ȝe witterly c1420 Wynt. i 483 (W).
Quha lukis the Bibill wittirly [R. increly, C. increlye] May fynd [etc.] c1420 Wynt. i 834 (W).
Nixt lyis the land of Medy, Off Medus king callit witterly [R. rychtwysly, C. richtwisly] c1420 Wynt. v 4637.
Or ellis wit he witterly [R., C. certanly] He suld haif [etc.] c1460 Consail Vys Man 309.
Suppos thai wyst it wytterly, Quhai suld that gold aw werraly
