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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.

Perfit(e)-, Perfyt(e)ly, -lie, adv. Also: -fytlye, -fyttly, -lie. [ME. and e.m.E. perfitly (Rolle), -fitely (c 1400).] Perfectly.

1. a. Completely, thoroughly, fully. b. Faultlessly, to perfection. c. Clearly, unmistakeably.In some instances passing into d and e.(1) 1456 Hay I. 297/32.
For all kingis that ar perfytely feft [etc.]
Ib. II. 101/9.
Ordanyt to be sa wele and perfytely that better may nocht be devisit
1513 Doug. i. Prol. 329.
By hym [Aeneas] perfytely blasons he [Virgil] All wirschip manhed and nobilite
Id. Exclam. 23.
Quha mycht perfytely all hys hie termys luge In barbar langage or thame dewly expon
c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4840.
And geve to thame spirituall auctorite Quhilk culde perfytlie schaw the verite
1568 Lyndesay Pref. (S.T.S.) 397.
Seing the samin may be maist esilie & perfytelie knawin be his awin pen
1615 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 322.
Thay fand ane merche stane perfytelie merkit with the signe of the sauser
Ib. 323.
The remanent merches … ar not yet perfytelie riddin or knawin
(b) c1420 Wynt. ii. 109.
Off Babylone … Scho made gude reformatyoune And kyrnalyt it perfytly [W. perfitly] And baytaylyd it rycht propyrly
Ib. 159.
He kend the Caldeys perfytly [W. perfitly] The scyens off astronomy
Ib. iii. 624.
The Tretis off Barbere Mad in tyll a genealogy Rycht wele and mare perfytly Than I can [etc.]
Ib. iv. 292; Ib. v. 2357. c1475 Wall. ix. 395.
The king … Perfytly knew that it was Longaweill
a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 410 (Harl.).
It may be callit ane blindnes rycht bestly Quhare men in syn dar perfytlie perseuere
Ib. 1099 (Asl.). a1500 Seven S. 1069.
He … fenȝeit slepe … Richt sa he did sa perfytlye [etc.]
c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 34/13.
To the deliuering of a persone perfytlye fra syn
1498 Acta Conc. II. 220.
That the sadis persons … had nocht ansuerit perfytlye til ilk punct
15.. Dunb. App. iii. 31.
Bot quha perfytly wald imprent Sowld fynd his luve moist permanent
1518–19 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 134.
Sen it is perfytlie knawin to all the said lordis regentis [etc.] … that [etc.]
1530 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 38. 1549 Compl. 3/5. 1551 Reg. Cupar A. II. 68. 15.. Clar. iii. 889.
And that scho did so weill and perfytlie With fair effeir … That [etc.]
1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 160/23.
To vndirstandmair perfytlie how [etc.]
1562-3 Winȝet II. 48/23. Ib. I. 106/12.
That al his writtingis may nocht onlie nocht be perfytlie red bot na wayis may be found
1570 Sat. P. xviii. 29.
And in ȝour harts perfytlie do it prent [etc.]
a1578 Pitsc. I. 18/3.
Perfytlie
Ib. 31/4.
Perfyttlie
1580 Skeyne Descr. Well 4.
Perfytlie cuiris nephritick dolouris
1582 Conv. Burghs I. 147. 1583 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 313.
Quhilk wes syllowrit with wanescott perfyttly
c1590 Fowler I. 66/220.
The more perfytlie for to vew that … rowt
a1605 Montg. Son. viii. 10.
Ȝour laurell leivis with palmis perfytly plet
Ib. xv. 14.
I pingle thame all perfytlie in that parte
c1610 Melville Mem. 365.
My brother … culd perfytly speak the Latin [etc.]
1611 Crim. Trials III. 154.
Auld Auchindrane at the verrie first sicht of his letter red the samyn so ryplie and perfytlie as gif he had it perquier
1617 Old Kirk Chron. 36.
Seing now bothe the draife and harvest are perfytlie endit
1611-57 Mure Psalmes cxxxix. 21.
Such perfytlie I hate
(c) c 1522 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I. p. cx.
Quhilk is verray vnlefull and schewis perfitelie his governament
1533 Bell. Livy I. 20/5.
He knewe al maist perfitelie Remus
Ib. 162/23; Ib. II. 96/36. 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 93. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 290.
Thai that ar gud pastouris watchis perfitely
1560 Rolland Seven S. 859.
The maisteris seuin concludit perfitelie All that he said was … trew
Ib. 2507, etc. 1580 Hume Promine 129.
Thow Salomon facund in sapience … Perfitelie pleneist with all abstinence
(d) 1490 Irland Mir. II. 6/11.
Thar is nocht … sa haly a persoune that may perfitlie eschap … all thir synnis
Ib. I. 61/11; Ib. II. 151/31. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1596.
Nane of thame him perfitlie knew
1533 Gau 19/4.
That ane man sinnis notht … bot giff he determe that perfitlie with his hart
Ib. 24/21.
And thow sal mortifi the ewil desiris of thy hart bot this cane noth be perfitlie in this mortal liff
Ib. 26/6. a1538 Abell 120 a.
Ydolis of thare fathiris & mothiris at ar nocht perfitlie conuertit thir barnis … bringis faithfullie to our bredir
1535 Stewart 26742.
Marling … Culd tell perfitlie baith of peax and weir
Ib. 50342.
Thair bed Perfitlie maid wnspilt … As nane thairin had lyne
1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 210. 1558-9 Godlie Exhort. in Misc. Bann. C. III. 317.
Wytt ȝe perfitlie … that [etc.]
1600 Conf. Faith in Knox II. 123. 1568 St. A. Kirk S. 306.
That sche kennis perfitlie that Jonet Calland buir ane madin bairn
1575 Reg. Soltre 228.
The hospitularis … sall leir and haue perfitlie the ten commandimentis
1528 Douglas Corr. 130.
Sua that … na thing may be perfitliar done nor the mater mair profundlie wayit
(2) 1531 Vaus (1531) .
Preterito perfecto tyme perfitely bygane amaui

d. With precision or accuracy; exactly. a1500 Bk. Chess 1672.
With arsmetrik suld he perfytlye The mynut compt
1525 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. 63.
The sayis to be tane of the said gold and silver … sa that the fynes tharof may be perfitelie knawin
1600 Crim. Trials II. 287.
The carecter of euerie letter … resemblis perfytlie the said vmquhile Robertis hand wryit euerie way
16.. Abercrummie in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. i.
The coast turns perfytely south

e. In a morally or religiously perfect manner, righteously, holily. c1420 Wynt. v. 1672.
And lyvyt thare religyowsly And dyde thare office perfytely
1490 Irland Mir. II. 117/11.
All vthir dois thar operacioun perfytlie without faute as God has ordand & commandit thaim
1581 Bann. Memor. 338.
How the erle had diet so perfytlie and with sic kynd of speich as give he had died with the grittest provisione that ever man died
Ib.
I hoip in God the fyft sall die mair perfytlie and declair the leivis deidis with his own mouth makand his repentence at the gallouse fute

2. Modifying an adjectival or adverbial, passing into mere intensive use: Entirely, very. 1456 Hay I. 188/9.
That we knaw perfitely wele thir fals Jowis
1554 Misc. Bann. C. III. 69.
The quhilkis he … causit tobe rede perfitlie weill
1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 53.
That it can neuir aganis the nature of it turne perfytelie quhyte
1596 Dalr. I. 116/23.
Quhais beginning being obskure or nocht perfytlie and cleir anuich notified

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"Perfytly adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 22 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/perfytely>

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