A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Lawly, adv. Also: lau- and -lie, -lé. [ME. laweliche (14th c.), loȝly, louly, lowly: cf. ON. lágliga and Laichly adv. (and Lawly a.).]
1. In a lowly manner: humbly; modestly.Common in Douglas.c1460 Thewis Wysmen 229.
Quhen vysmen beris thaim our lawly It is reput to gret foly c1475 Wall. ii. 317.
A woman … on hir kneis rycht lawly thaim besocht c1500 Makc. MS. iv. 14.
Thi flech & blud … [thou] Gif thi discipulis, syne lauly wech thar feit 1513 Doug. i. ii. 25.
To quham as than lawly [Sm. lawlé] thus Juno said, [etc.] Ib. iii. vi. 158.
That mychty prynces To ples lawly [v.rr. lawlie, -lye] with offerandis thé addres Ib. iv. viii. 33.
In my name this a thyng Say lawly to my provd fa Ib. viii. vii. 34, ix. x. 80, etc. 1533 Gau 24/12.
Speik lawlie and without fenȝeitnes to euerie man 1535 Stewart 22945. Ib. 27336.
Nor ȝit no way obtemper wald [they] thair ire, Without the Britis laulie come thame till Ilkone that tyme a1538 Abell 29 b.
In his begynnyng he had him lawlie bot eftirwert be suspitioun he slew mony nobillis 15.. Clar. i. 280.
I that sall unto my lyvis end Lawlie ȝow serve 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 145.
To testifie unto you how lawly I submit me under ȝour commandementis
2. With more or less admixture of lit. and fig. senses. a. (To kneel, bow, stoop, prostrate oneself) low, or humbly or submissively. b. (To lie) low.a (1) 1533 Boece iv. xviii. 159 b.
How sone thai come in presens of the kingis lawlie thai inclinit to ground Ib. vi. xv. 217.
This nobill woman … laulie falling before his fete 1535 Stewart 11852.
Suppois tha pepill war bayth strang and stout, We maid thame sone rycht lawlie for to lout Ib. 31156.
This gude Hungus richt laulie on his kneis Befoir the altar passit vp the grees a1540 Freiris Berw. 356.
Mair than lawly cowd he lowt, Quhen that he come neir the almery c1552 Lynd. Mon. 30.
Efter reuerend recommendatioun, Under thare feit thow lawlye thé submyt 1588 King Cat. 79.
We maist humblie and laulie prosterne our selfs a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1086.
‘Gudeman, gramercy for ȝour geck,’ Quod Hope, and lawly louts(2) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5677.
Sa Galiene, na ill hauing in minde, To pull the rute lawlie he did inclindeb. 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. iii.
Beists of diuers kynds, Laich on the ground, richt lawly lay 1600-1610 Melvill 60.
Sen lawlie lyes thow noble Lyon fyne, What sall betyde behind to dogges and swyne?
