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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1420-1626

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On-na-wis(e, -wys(e, adv. Also: -wiis, -wyis(e, -wyes, -vys, -vyise, -vyes, onne-na-wise. Also anglicised variants: on-no-wise, on novyse, onnowyse. [On prep. 20 and cf. Na wis(e adv. Cf. On-na-wayis.] In no manner, by no means, not at all.(a) c1420 Wynt. v. 1571.
He bade the nunnys on na wys Suld cens the kyrk
1456 Hay I. 258/27.
Gif it mycht be on na wys othir wayis provit
a1500  Bk. Chess 1454. 1567 Rec. Earld. Orkney 124.
On nawys
a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS xlvii. 60.
Be nocht haltane nor dangerous nor on na wys dispituous
1589 Black Bk. Taymouth 245.
The said assurance suld be upgiffin … quhilk onnavys ves sa done
1622-6 Bisset II. 176/22.
On nawyse
(b) a1500 Lufaris Complaynt 115.
To sla thine awin … That will on nawise fro thé fle
1490 Lennox Mun. 141.
This on na wise ȝe leif vndon
1551 Criminal Trials I. i. 357.
And becaus thai onne na wise comperit
(c) 1512 Dundee Chart. No. 47.
On na wis
1565 Treasurer's Accounts XI. 401. 1575 Glasgow Chart. I. ii. 166. 1580 Reg. Morton I. 124.
On nawis
(d) 1500 Stewart Mem. 82.
One na wiis
1561 Reg. Privy C. I. 166.
On na wyise
1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 122.
Onnawyis
1572-5 Ib. 309.
On na wyes
1578 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I. 64.
That we will nocht suffer the sam on nauyes
1581 Criminal Trials I. ii. 96.
And on nawyise to cum be-south the said watter
c1615 Chron. Kings 39.
On navyise
(e) a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 187 (Arund.).
Corruppit men to suffer on no wise … To execut the office of iustry
a1578 Pitsc. I. 332/13. a1578 Ib. 386/21.
On novyse
1615 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 256.
Onnowyse

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"On-na-wis adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/on_na_wise>

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