A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1599
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Sumdele, -deil(l, pron. and adv. Also: som- and -deyll, -delle, -deale, sume dewil. [ME and e.m.E. (pron.) summ del (Orm), sumdel (c1320), somdele (1502), somdeale (1553), (adv.) sume dale (Layamon) etc., OE sum (Sum(e adj.) and dǽl (Dele n.).]
A. pron. Some part or portion of. Also vther sum-deill, some others.1375 Barb. v 358.
Bot thair chancer full sturdely Thai held, and [thaim] defendit weill, Till of thair men war slane sumdeill ?1438 Alex. i 2858.
For sum he fellit and sum he slew, And vther sum-deill thame withdrew
B. adv. Somewhat; to some extent. Also in sum deill.(1) 1375 Barb. ii 272.
Thai sall fer mar be awise … then thai War set sumdele out off aray 1375 Barb. iv 670.
Scho confortit hym sumdeill 1375 Barb. xvi 207.
Thai eschewit sum deill the ficht a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxvi. 1066.
He fel in hard seknes, That sume dewil lyk a feuer wesa1400 Legends of the Saints xl 1212.
& al the morne duelt he stil, Prayand sumdele with iwil vil ?1438 Alex. ii 5916. c1420 Wynt. viii 5640.
The lave hale war Scottis men, That liwyd sumdelle at lykyn then c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace iv 572.
At him he drew a sekir schot and sar Undyr the chyn … On the left side and hurt his hals sumdeill c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace v 272.
Sumdeyll 1513 Doug. i v 47.
Smylyng sum deil, the fader of goddis and men, With that ilk sweit vissage, … said on this maneir 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 207.
Say weill is repute be man sum deale Bot do weill onlie to God dois appeale(2) 1513 Doug. x viii 98.
The schaft … throw the bordour of the scheild swa persyt Quhill fynaly in sum deill it traversyt, And hurt a part of Turnus byg body
b. Qualifying a following adjective or adverb.(a) 1375 Barb. i 383.
In wysage wes he sumdeill gray 1375 Barb. xix 428.
And on the morn, sum-deill airly a1400 Legends of the Saints vii 12.
I ame ald & sumdele swere ?1438 Alex. i 2808.
Gavdifeir him beheld wraithly, And said sumdele dispittously ?1438 Alex. ii 4765, etc. c1420 Ratis Raving 1037.
Comone voice is sum-deil laith To greif a lord c1420 Wynt. viii 913 (W). a1500 Henr. Fab. 2257.
The husband saw him, and worthit sumdeill agast a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 363.
He hes merwell sa lang on grouf ȝe ly And sayis ȝour beedes bene to lang sum deill c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace x 380. 1513 Doug. v iii 95.
Sum deil slaw was sche 15.. Clariodus iii 1463.
His host him helsit sum deill hevilie(b) 1375 Barb. xiii 510.
Bot for the erll Gilbert of Clar, That slayne wes … The kyng somdeill anoyit was
c. With the comparative more.1375 Barb. xi 237.
Of fechtand men I trow thai ware Thretty thousand and sum deill mare ?1438 Alex. Col. 39.
Ane thousand ȝeir, Four hundreth and threttie thair-to neir, And aucht and sumdele mare, I wis a1500 Henr. Fab. 2356 (Harl.).
He sayis it weyis ane stane and sum deill mair
