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.
(Luvely,) Luw(e)ly, Lov(e)ly, a. Also: lowelie. [ME. luueli, -lich, louely, -li, -lich, e.m.E. lovely, OE. luflic f. lufu Luve n. Cf. Luf(e)ly.] a. Admirable, beautiful. b. Amiable, kind, friendly, amicable. c. Amorous.a. c1420 Wynt. v. 707 (see Luve v.2).
Luwely [v.rr. luf(f)ly] —c1450-2 Howlat 627 (Asl.).
I tell nocht … Quhat fele armes on loft, louely [B. lufly] to lend … The said persewant hbreb. 1580 Edinb. Test. VIII. 139.
The said Johne … was … gude and beneuolent to hir and also to hir bairnis and helpabill and lowelie to thame a1578 Pitsc. I. 384/20.
Be consall of his most wyse … lordis quho thinkand the King of Inglandis commissioun and lowelie and ressonahb desyre [I. luwlie desyre to be so ressonnabill], they thocht it nocht to be denyit a1649 Drummond Hist. Scot. (1655) 12.
After lovely advice at the council-table … he was freely dismistc. c1590 Fowler I. 58/12.
[I saw] my marrowis miserable whome lowe led in his danse … [and] The throwing wayes … Quhair all that lowelie flok and troupe did then so wandring err Ib. 249/11.
Gif I desyre in vthers to mak chose, Or in thame ioyse quha would my lovlye fyre Quensche
