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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wele, Weil(l, adv. and interj. Also: vel(e, weil(l)e, veil(l, veille, ueill, viel, weyll, weyl(l)e, veyle, wel(l, welle, vell, uell, weal(l, weale, veale, ueale, weel(l, wale, wail(l, vaile, wayll, will, vill, wall, woll. [ME and e.m.E. wel (c1175), wulle (Layamon), will(e, wil, welle (all Cursor M.), wele, weyl (both Manning), well (Chaucer), weel (Wyclif), weile (?a1400), OE wel, well, ON vel, MLG wal, MDu. wel.]

A. adv.I. Modifying verbs.The sorts of verbs modified are indicated at each sense. The lists are not, however, complete and determining the sense in each case depends not only on the particular verb but on the whole context of the occurrence. Hence the same sort of verb may be indicated in different senses. Furthermore, there is considerable overlap between the senses so that on some occasions particular examples might equally well have been assigned to other senses.

1. With verbs of behaving, conducting oneself, esp. to do: In accordance with moral principles, virtuously. 1375 Barb. iv 227.
Thai that weill ar liffand her Sall wyn the sege quharoff thai [sc. devils] wer Tumblyt c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. v 44.
I say to you, lufe your ennimyes, do ye wele to thame that hates you a1568 Scott i 99.
Thai gyde nocht ill that governis weill thame sell 1585 James VI Ess. 74.
Let vs imploy that time that God hath send vs, In doing weill 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 354.
The children of this world have much robbed joy that is not well-come

2. With verbs of greeting, receiving, treating (another), intending: Kindly, charitably; in a friendly, agreeable fashion. See also Mene v.¹ 1 (2) for further examples. For weill menyt see Mene v.¹ 1 (3).(a) 1375 Barb. iii 360.
The queyn … come to the castell Quhar hyr folk war ressawyt weill a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 172.
Weill gretis yow, lord a1500 Seven S. 1924.
Defowle nocht my lordis bed That weile has fosterit me 1533 Gau 26/24.
That He wil do weil to hime and haiff cuir of hime [etc.] 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 18.
Treit wele Maxwell and sa wele to hym(b) 1563 Misc. Maitl. C. III 320.
Ane gentyll woman quhai prayed hyr to do wayll to the barne

b. Modifying a past participle. See also separate entries. 1549 Compl. 3/9.
Ȝour … dochter … quha is presentlye veil tretit in the gouernance of hyr fadir of lau 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV ii 159.
Nor ȝet any wyse to proceid judicialie, quhilk was weell resavit and admitted by thair Honours 1558-66 Knox II 379.
This bill was not weall accepted of the said erle; and yitt did he utter no part of his displeasur in publict 1600 Dunblane Test. III 24b.
To sie his bairnis weill handlit 1629 Annandale Corr. 281.
If yow can do this young man any kyndnes, … it will be wele bestoudd

c. In the formal greeting at the commencement of a letter. 1533 Acts Sederunt i 14.
Chancelar, President and Lordis of our Counsale and Sessioune, we gret yow hartlie wele 1568 Q. Mary in Facs. Nat. MSS III lviii.
Reuerend fader and traist cousigne and counsalour, we greit yow weill 1594 Misc. Spald. C. I 8.
Rycht traist freind, We gryt yow hairtlie weil

3. With verbs of holding, keeping, observing, considering: Faithfully, carefully. 1375 Barb. xi 452.
He said him self suld weill Kepe the entre 1375 Barb. xiii 546.
His cunnand has he haldyn well a1400 Leg. S. xxxii 306.
Maistry is to kep it [sc. chastity] wele c1420 Wynt. v 27.
Thai … kepyd welle All the lawys 15.. Wyf Awcht. 32.
Keip weill the gaslingis fra the gled 1567 G. Ball. 31.
Mark weill thairfoir, … How Christis croce, is for ȝow meet a1568 Bann. MS 135a/26.
Obey weill to the kirk a1570-86 Maitl. F. 173/123.
Myn awin deir sone I thé requeir Thir documentis that thow wald leyr And keip thame weill 1593 Aberd. B. Rec. II 89.
[To inquire] giff the commoun burs of the toun be weill and faythfullie kepit 1600 Breadalbane Lett. 16 Dec.
Luik that the lairds of Powrie be weill bund in warrandice of the landis

b. In the wording of grants of land, etc. 1407 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 32.
To be haldyn … the forsaide rycht … of the forsaide landis … frely quitly honorabily welle ande in pese 1475 Lennox Mun. 104.
My landis of the Hangatschaw … to be haldyn … halyly, quietly, weill and in pece, without ony reuocacioun 1514-6 St. A. Formulare II 115.
With all and syndry utheris … fredomes, frelie quietlie wele and in peax but ony revocatioun or agane calling 1546 Rec. Earld. Orkney 231.
[The land to be held … ] alse frelie, veil, and in paxe as onye outwell lande 1583 Red Bk. Menteith II 364. 1562 Crim. Trials I i 342.
Weale

4. With verbs of agreeing, dealing with, regulating, etc.: Satisfactorily, fairly, properly, duly.(a) 1375 Barb. ii 332.
God may rycht weill our werdis dele For multitud mais na victory 1375 Barb. viii 497.
That … quhen he had ȝemyt a ȝer In wer as a gud bachiller The … castell of Douglas … Than mycht he weile ask … Hyr amowris and hyr drouery a1400 Leg. S. xiv 34.
[He] mad a buke … for to kene men wele to wirk c1420 Ratis R. 1028.
Quhat lord that can nocht veil do swa, Leif of, and farly gang hym fra c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 64.
‘Wele is vs begone, That with oure makis are togider here’ c1475 Wall. i 347.
He and thai couth neuir weyle accord c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 208/32.
Sum to the riche gevis geir That micht his giftis weill forbeir 1513 Doug. vi viii 68.
All that thou aucht to Deiphobus, ilk deill Thou hest perfurnyst worthely and weil 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 90.
That the letter be vaysely med and vith gentill vourdis the clarke off the register can make it veille c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 84.
He … stude weill ay in his ladies grace 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 531.
Bot in-to gude part tak it [sc. this poem] weil 1567 Sat. P. vii 27.
Quhilk charge … thay cannot weill refuse, Les schamefullie thair office thay abuse 1573-1600 King Cat. in Cath. Tr. 215/18.
To iudge vniustlye, rashly nocht veale trying the cause 1622-6 Bisset II 245/7.
Gif they will nocht sweir, they be bound to ordoure there saill weill and trewilie befoir they pairt fra there charge 1622-6 Bisset II 249/2.
Gif the schip … war ankered with twa or thrie cabellis, they aucht weill to gang out, but the maisteris leif, leving sum of the marynaris to keip the schip 1665 Misc. Spald. C. I 40.
I am werie confident … that the bussiness of our familie shall goe weall 1669 Laing MSS 373.
I can not bot say he behav'd weal(b) a1400 Leg. S. vi 423.
[The] aucht wel ma be, For to luf hospitalyte

b. Modifying a past participle. See also separate entries. ?1438 Alex. ii 1407.
The Bauderanes deuys … was courtes, weill taucht and keynd c1420 Wynt. v 2135.
Swa the destyne wes welle Fulfillyd ?14.. Ship Laws c. 12 (H2).
The maistir is haldin to se that all the gudis be kepit & stablit & welestowit as it aw to be or he pas out of the havin 1456 Hay II 104/3.
Mony notable … ensamplis of … ancient faderis of armes wele techit and instruct in the actis of noblesse 1476 Acts II 114/2.
The dome gevin … wes evil gevin and wele again said c1475 Wall. v 950.
Quhen Schyr Jhon had his tayll weyll wndirstand Off nane othir fra thine furth tuk he heid 1490 Irland Mir. I 74/8.
Suppos his tovnge and langage be faire and sueit in metire & well componit 1545 Bk. Carlaverock II 27.
It shuld be wele done … not to do in eny maner … quhairby ȝe shuld displeis his majeste 1546 Acts II 473/2.
To see that all thingis be weill and dewlie done 1548–9 Corr. M. Lorraine 295.
That tha be honest men … and that tha breng na man wyth tham … bot quhilk is well gifin 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 59/3.
Ue haue alreaddie ma goode lawis then are uell execute 1634 Black Bk. Taymouth 389.
That na … buyer of horse [etc.] … buy ony of thame … without sufficient caution … that the saidis guidis are weill come; and gif they doe utherwayes, and that they be stowin guidis that they buy, [etc.] 1649 Red Bk. Grandtully II 143.
It is weil done not to show ȝourselff particular for any faction a1651 Calderwood II 295.
The religioun … she … beleeveth to be weill-grounded 1661 Laing MSS 284.
You may mend what you find … not weall vordit 1664 Rothesay B. Rec. 79.
He said … 'quhat mean ye to be cutting the trie in the nicht.' He answeret ‘have ye anything to say against it’ and Robert Stewart said to him it was not weill done and left him a1699 Skene Agric. MS (ed.) 69.
That shoe be weill wintered and not hungered 1674 Douglas Corr. 275.
The great soumes he hes gotten by his father, quhich, if they had been ueill manadged, myght have payed all the debt(b) 1586 Cal. Sc. P. IX 10.
I think yt shalbe woll don thait your honor mycht wryt to the Lord Scroppe

5. Of (the outcome or progress of) a task, event, etc., with verbs of action, freq. to do: Effectively, capably, skilfully, successfully. Also proverb. b. In the sentences say weill and do weill in subject position with the sense of ‘actions speak louder than words’.(1) 1375 Barb. i 118.
Veyle 1375 Barb. xvi 101 (C).
Schir Richard of Clare … Send wicht ȝhomen that veill couth schut 1375 Barb. xx 614, 615.
The gud erle gouernyt the land And held the power weill to warand, The lave sa weill mantemyt he And held in pes swa the countre c1420 Wynt. vii 3373.
Hys kyrk … In all he gert be byggyt welle c1475 Wall. vii 1148.
The bryg … Off gud playne burd was weill and junctly maid 1490 Irland Mir. II 76/25.
Mony … serue God weil in mekle merit that gettis na reward 1567 Sat. P. iii 24.
Ascanius … weill ane steid could steir 1567 Sat. P. iii 49.
With Romaine hand he could weill leid ane pen 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Georgics iv 336.
Ligea, suavis (that sang weill) 1629 Justiciary Cases I 105.
Thair confessiones wrocht weill aganis thame selffis to thair destructiones 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 132.
A blind man … that could play weill to the gooffe 1681 W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. (1693) s.v. Speed.
This business speeds well under our handsproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 874.
Weill bydes, weill betydes(2) ?1438 Alex. i 3107.
He to do weill had sic will That he na semblance maid of ill; His spere was tint bot he his brand Had … drawin … to delyuer all his menȝe 1456 Hay II 164/10.
Mony … say thai sall do wele, and quhen thai mount in governaunce thai do all othir wayis 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 6.
Giff ȝe do weill, gar thame daunce heidles, and than ilke guidfallow may get a lumpe of thair landis 1585 James VI Ess. 54.
Thingis, quhilk now we obserue, and eschew, and dois weil in sa doing ?16… James VI in Facs. Nat. MSS III lxix.
Aluayes ye sall do uell to haiste als sone as ye can 1666 Annandale Corr. 309.
A littill more cannell watter wold doe weille 1667 Highland P. II 24.
My lads yow have done verie weel(b) 1634 Hist. Fam. Seton 765.
Al they that ar heer dois viel and ar in goud accountproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 230.
Do weill and have weill a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 242.
Do well and doubt na man, and do weill and doubt all men a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1642.
Wark beares witnes quha weill doisb. 1567 G. Ball. 208.
Say weill is slipper and makis mony wylis, Do weill is semelie, without ony gylis a1568 Bann. MS 83a/4.
Say weill is gud bot do weill is bettir

c. Modifying a past participle. See also separate entries.Also weill wsyt (see Us(e v. 4 b), wele won (wyn) (see Win p.p. and ppl. adj. 3), weill wrocht (see Wrocht ppl. adj.). 1375 Barb. x 731.
Ariste … dang on thaim sa douchtely That the king weile reskewit was a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 64.
Weill wroght wes the wall, And payntit with pride c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 148/73.
Weill spokin, Ressoun my brother c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 156/190.
The tailȝeour that wes nocht weill sittin … to the grund he socht a1540 Freiris Berw. 103 (B).
Ȝone loft, Quhilk is weill wrocht in to the hallis end c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 237.
Ane campioun … Weill practikit with speir and scheild 15.. Clar. ii 1728.
Ane fair sparhalk weill maid 1558 Reg. Great S. 282/1.
Tua thowsand laid of petis weill wynnyng 1628–9 M. Works Acc. II 256.
The dores and chymnayis to be marbillit and the pend … to be weill layit over with blew gray 1661 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 200.
Which he haid this day delyverit to the counsell weell done

6. With verbs of giving, dressing, living, marrying, etc.: In a fitting manner, excellently, to a highly acceptable level. 1375 Barb. ii 174.
He serwyt ay lelely And the tother … Rewardyt him weile his seruice 1375 Barb. vi 204.
Men armyt weill [C. weill armyt] a1400 Leg. S. xvii 264.
Vele it dowit he c1420 Wynt. viii 4866.
A damyselle Arayid jolyly and welle a1500 Henr. Fab. 1351 (H).
His hude of skarlate, bourdourit weill with silk a1500 Seven S. 874.
Marijt baith his douchteris wele a1500 K. Hart 130.
This wourthy quene … With hir fresche court, arrayit weill at richt [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece I ii.
Ane hes that mycht ane hundreth weil sustene 1535 Stewart 40278.
He levis weill that levis into eis 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 306.
They haue three sisters, setled and well to live

b. Modifying a past participle. See also separate entries.Also weill accuterit (see Accouterit p.p.), weill armyt (see Armit adj.¹), weyll kemmyt (see Kemmit p.p. and ppl. adj.), weill membrit (see Membrit adj.), wele nurist (see Nurist ppl. adj.), weill soundand (see Soundand ppl. adj. 1), weill spekand (see Spekand ppl. adj. b. Cf. also Wele spokin ppl. adj.). c1420 Wynt. viii 2484.
Twenty thowsand men Welle horsyd and welle armyd c1420 Wynt. ix 2826 (A).
Withe a nobyll company Weil arayit and dantely a1500 Bk. Chess 462.
Fair ladye … A crovne of gold apone hir hed weile dicht 1566–7 St. A. Kirk S. 285.
Hyr said father suld caus hyr be weyll marieit

c. Post-positional after a past participle. 1375 Barb. xiii 54 (C).
Fiff hundreth armyt weill in steill 1375 Barb. xiv 289 (C).
Stedis trappit weill 1375 Barb. viii 222.
Arrayit sarraly and weile 1513 Doug. viii x 69.
Legharnes … , Grathit and polyst weill 1513 Doug. ix iv 10.
Euery man stud reddy in hys geir Enarmyt weill c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 79.
He was … Proportionat weill

7. With verbs of bearing, doing: Bravely, courageously. 1375 Barb. xi 650.
He is in perell … with ȝour leve I will me speid To help him … The king said … 'A fute till him thow sall nocht ga Giff he weile dois lat him weile [C. veill] ta' 1375 Barb. xvi 428.
The archeris weill has borne thaim thar For weill and hardily schot thai 1375 Barb. xvii 415 (C).
Thai of the toune so weill [E. stoutly] thame bare c1475 Wall. i 40.
Quhen it [sc. Scotland] was lost with tresoune and falsnes … he fred it weyle

8. With verbs of happening, befalling: By the nature of things, as might be expected, with good reason. 1375 Barb. iii 293.
Haiff he lyff-dayis weill mai fall That [etc.] 1375 Barb. xii 272.
Giff that ws fall as weill may tid 1375 Barb. xix 625 (C).
‘It mycht haf fallyn weill,’ said he 1375 Barb. xx 549.
Rome is welle [C. wele] off mycht Throw strenth off armys in-to fycht To wencus thar fayis c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 14.
Wist thou thy payne to cum … For sorow and drede wele myght thou wepe and waille c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 279.
Rude is thy wede … Wele aucht thou be aferit of the licht 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 165.
As [etc.] … So weill according [etc.] 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 154/8.
Thairfoir it followis weill that [etc.] 1680 Highland P. I 318.
You are … to give a peck of meall to each of the division of Argyll [etc.] … These of Lorne may very weell provyde themselves, seing they have not keept the rendevouze

9. With verbs of travelling, living: Without harm, safely, in good circumstances. Also proverb. 1375 Barb. iii 206.
Syne our Lord sic grace thaim lent That thai come weill till thar entent 1375 Barb. xiii 629.
Thai come to Berwik weill & … In-to the toune ressawyt war 1375 Barb. xix 813.
Hame wele cummyn ar thai a1400 Leg. S. xl 194.
Niniane … in Bretan com … & his frendis fand wele farand c1420 Wynt. vi 2054.
Fayre on thi waye, Owthire welle or ill as happyne may c1420 Wynt. vii 2958.
Schyr Willame Besat … gert the Kyng weylle fayre that nycht a1500 Prestis of Peblis 562.
Adew, sir, … Weil mot ȝe fair c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 74/60.
God and Sanct Jeill heir ȝow convoy Baith sone and weill 1567 Sat. P. vii 19.
Mycht thay not weill … In quyetnes leifit in peace c1570 Facs. Nat. MSS III lxvi.
Fair weal and God keip you 1625 Lithgow Poet. Remains 69.
The angells joyed, To see his sp'rit, from hence, so wele convoyedproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1014.
Keip yow weil fra the devill and the lairds bairnis

10. With verbs of accomplishing, achieving, doing: Easily, without difficulty. 1375 Barb. iii 111.
That wes sa strait … That he mycht nocht weill turn his sted

11. With verbs of thinking, knowing, understanding, etc.: Clearly, for sure, distinctly. Also in parenthetic clauses and with modifiers richt, our, full. Also proverb.Also wele sene (see Sene (ppl.) adj. l c).(1) 1375 Barb. i 149.
He thocht weile … That he suld slely fynd the gate [etc.] 1375 Barb. i 264.
Ȝe may weile se … How hard a thing that threldome is 1375 Barb. viii 188 (C).
Veill a1400 Leg. S. i 107.
He knew hym weille … Bot he na mycht spek ?1438 Alex. ii 2221.
The king saw and persauit weill That ielusy gart hir speik 1460 Hay Alex. 3431.
Sansoun knew vele the duke Bites baner a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 811.
I forsaik noght to feght, … I do thé weill for to wit c1475 Wall. i 59.
Fra tyme that he [sc. Edward I] … herd tell weyle Scotland stude in sic cace c1475 Wall. i 246.
Thai wyst nocht weylle at quhat ȝett he in ȝeide 1490 Irland Mir. I 18/6.
Jhesu knew weil oure febilnes 1513 Doug. vi Prol. 14.
Be war to lak, les than ȝe knew weil quhat 1521–2 Acts XII 39/2.
We weill understand quhat [etc.] 1535 Stewart 41500.
Ane knycht … I knaw nocht weill his name 1560 Rolland Seven S. 613.
The great ioy … My waik ingyne can na way weill compas 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 75.
Gif the ansuerar vnderstand not veill the hail text [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II 417/12.
That al sal weil vnderstand his wil to be … bair of ony couering of dissimulance 1604-31 Craig v 5.
As I lent to my lug, this well I heard a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1698.
Weill wats the mouse, that the cat is out of the house(2) 1375 Barb. iv 61 (C).
Schir Neill the Brys, I wat weill c1420 Wynt. vi 482.
Yha, wyt yhe welle, a schrewe fyne 1460–70 Innes Sketches 505.
As we weyll knaw 1581 Sat. P. xliv 146.
Meluene can play the fule, as ȝe veil knau(3) 1375 Barb. ii 339.
And wate rycht weill quhat honour is a1400 Leg. S. i 356.
Thu May knaw be pruf richt weil now [etc.] c1475 Wall. i 171.
Glaskow thai gaif, as it our weile was kend, To dyocye in Duram 1513 Doug. i iii 62.
Junois dissate and ire full weill he kend 1567 G. Ball. 187.
The mair thay blaw, full weill thay knaw, The mair [etc.] c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxix 66.
Willproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1133.
Manie speirs the gait they knaw ful weill

12. With verbs of behaving, acting, knowing, liking, happening, etc.: Entirely, completely, fully, thoroughly, to a high degree of completeness or generality. Also with modifiers richt, wondire, etc.(1) 1375 Barb. i 202.
Thai watyt hym wele with gret scaith a1400 Leg. S. xxii 347.
Als with stawis bet hyme wele c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 64.
Quho coud wele endyte How all the feldis … Depaynt war(b) 1375 Barb. ii 93.
Befor the byschop schar Had weill hard all the letter red 1375 Barb. xiv 91.
The castell weill wes stuffyt then … with wyttaill and with men ?1438 Alex. ii 129.
Gudeman … Comfort thé weill and tell me hale Thy name a1508 Kynd Kittok 3 (Ch. & M.).
Thai callit her kynd Kittok quhasa hir weill kend 1513 Doug. ix Prol. 48.
Weil hym lykis the goshalk 1513 Doug. xi iii 69.
Weil lykis ws … To help till rays this … wall 1533 Boece 109b.
In Orknay … inhabitantis grewe weill in age, liffit mony ȝeris 1571 J. Maitland in Sat. P. xxvii 20.
Scho is a bruikle barge And may na bitter blastis weill abyde 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 86.
Weill haif ye schemit me, I sall gar the best of yow repent(c) c1420 Wynt. iv 1853.
Thai relevyd welle All thare defawte off yrne and stelle c1420 Wynt. v 1508.
A doctor … That welle was lettryd c1420 Wynt. v 3924.
Scho [wes] arguyd that that mycht be Ondone welle for hyr honeste(d) c1475 Wall. ii 117.
Wallace was harnest on his body weyle(e) 1567 Crail B. Ct. 25 Nov.
Wilyeam … rememberis vill ane of the saidis ackaris to be of mukit land(f) c1610 Melville Mem. 360.
Abused … be myngnons that he lyked weall of(2) a1400 Leg. S. i 322.
Drede na deile, For I sal helpe thé wondire veill c1420 Wynt. v 2820 (C).
Of thi lippyr swa thow sal Thi heil richt weil recouir all c1475 Wall. v 513.
The crukis off Forth he knawis wondyr weylle a1500 Prestis of Peblis 456.
Hee luifit ouer weil ȝong counsel a1500 Peblis to Play 164.
Lord God richt weill that sat him 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 107.
Cunningis … haue riddillit all the erdis of the linkis richt weille 1581 Sat. P. xliv 193.
It may staik thé ful veil The fyre to big 1596 Dalr. I 203/10.
That the ald band … betuene the Scottis and Pechtes pleiset him verie weil

b. Modifying a past participle. See also separate entries.Also welle lettryd, weill letterit (see Letterit p.p. and ppl. adj., weell qualified (see Qualifyit ppl. adj. 1 (1)), weill sene (see Sene (ppl.) adj. 3). 1375 Barb. xix 709.
Quhill that the nycht weill fallin be c1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
I sall … make it well kennyt that I haff trewly kepit myn athe c1475 Wall. v 143.
Wallace twa men amang the ost in went, Dissemblit weylle, that no man suld thaim ken 1492 Myll Spect. 285/5.
The king … maid … this evill ald woman to be byrnt as scho had weill disservit 1514 Irvine Mun. I 35.
That … ilkan of thame be wele abuȝeit and bodin for were … in quhite harnes … gluvis of plate grete speris axis [etc.] 1521 Edinb. Hammermen 103b.
The brether of the hammermen veil gadderit at the hous of Vilȝem Smechberd 1527 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 85.
Of the quhilk sowm the saidis Jhone [etc.] … haldis thaim full and weille pait 1540 Lynd. Sat. 151 (B).
Thankit be God, I am weill hippit 1545 Douglas Corr. 154.
Veille 1549 Aberd. B. Rec. I 269.
Breid … that be guid stuf, fresche, veill bouttit a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 46.
I sall set furth sic doingis done be him als larglie and weill extendit till his disprayse 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 86.
Gif I denied their consequent, they would be weill fashed to prove it 1614 Crim. Trials III 369.
Thay within held good for sex dayes, being weel prouyded with pulder 1650 Blairs P. 27.
Til the treaty be ueale aduanced 1693 Misc. Spald. C. II 299.
The Lady Blair is now weel recovered

13. With verbs of wishing, asserting, saying, believing, having, etc.: Truly, for a certainty, absolutely. Also proverb. 1375 Barb. i 21.
Certis thai suld weill hawe prys That in thar tyme war wycht and wys 1375 Barb. xv 470 (C).
He vist veill than that thai vald ficht 1375 Barb. xviii 87.
‘Ik ask at ȝow … That … ȝe … Wald … stand on fer … And se our fycht … ' Thai said weill that thai suld do swa a1400 Leg. S. v 438.
That mon ȝeld resone, wele thou trew a1400 Leg. S. xxiv 253.
The sacristane … lowyt hyre as he wele aucht ?1438 Alex. ii 3764.
Draw on … for ȝe may Haue wele the first draucht of the play c1420 Ratis R. 12.
Gyf swyk caus sall fal in thé, Trow weill at thow sal punyst be 1456 Hay I 15/22.
And sa may it wele seme to be callit 1456 Hay I 19/28.
As God he [sc. Christ] dred nocht the dede, bot wele as man a1500 Henr. Fab. 104.
Houngrie men may not weill leue on lukis c1475 Wall. ix 1208.
It sall ye se, trast weill, in werrament c1475 Wall. ix 1305.
With his bait thai mycht weill passage hawe a1500 Seven S. 2182.
Thai are the caus, I dar wele saye, That [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 203.
Thought men be ferse, wele I fynd, fra falȝe ther curage, Thar is [etc.] 1540 Lynd. Sat. 809.
Weill said, be him that herreit hell a1578 Pitsc. I 27/21.
He thocht veill be this … fassoun … his authoritie sould be contempnit 1596 Dalr. I 3/19.
Appeiris weil, and is a rasone verie euident a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 869.
I told you weil my maich wald die a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1671.
Weil said quo the tod quhair sits your hennis?

II. Modifying adjectives.

14. Fully, very, rather, quite. a. Modifying an adjective.(a) 1375 Barb. i 359.
A weile gret quhile thar duellyt he 1375 Barb. xiv 302.
Thai … fled … And levyt … Weill mony off thar gud men dede a1400 Leg. S. ii 325.
The morne weil ayrly a1400 Leg. S. iii 807.
Al thai that vele wylly was a1400 Leg. S. xxxii 38.
It is a wele lang story 1407 Montgomery Mem. 20.
Quhilk infeftment is weill auld, the letteris … be schort spaice … wil becum skairclie legiable 1462 Paterson Ayr & Wigton III 340.
Of the quhilk forsayde soume … we halde us weyll content c1475 Wall. i 438.
He for wo weyle ner worthit to weide c1500 Fyve Bestes 184.
In his grammere was he wele perfyte c1552 Lynd. Mon. 6282.
Of thy callyng be rycht weill content 1562-3 Winȝet I 73/10.
Hiech materis weill obscuir in scriptuir 1610 Breadalbane Lett. 16 April.
The day that the laird of Weme is summond … is the xvi day of Maij, I think ȝour maister will think the day weill schort bot we war content to get it ony way(b) ?1438 Alex. i 2552.
Emynedus … straucht his steid And he him bare wale gude speid ?1438 Alex. i 1964.
Waill a1500 Bk. Chess 1661.
A vaile gret clerk

b. Modifying an adverb or prepositional phrase. 1375 Barb. ii 120.
Thar na hors is … Sa [wycht], na ȝeit sa weill at hand 1375 Barb. vi 449.
[They] sesyt weile hastily in hand [etc.] 1375 Barb. xix 596.
He weill oft wes hard assayit a1400 Leg. S. xii 374.
The knawlage van vel nere … of all the lawis ?1438 Alex. ii 7445.
I knaw that ald … Weill far better than ȝe do c1420 Wynt. iv 2582 (W).
All about it the circumscriptioun, Writtin weill sa invyroune c1420 Wynt. viii 1798 (W).
All thai bodyis … are in blis, as weill is like a1500 Quare Jel. 33.
Wele long I walkit there 1513 Doug. vi xv 113.
The tother port is forgit wail perfite Of eliphantyne 1513 Doug. x xiii 78.
He wepyt wail sair for hys fader deir 1576 Crim. Trials I ii 51.
Ane honest wele elderlie man a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1677) 44.
He behaved himself well insolently 1652 Johnston Diary II 174.
I … brought my daughter weal out to landwert 1694 Annandale Corr. 72.
I wish my greatt unckle were weell in Scottland

c. With comparative or superlative adjectives or adverbs. 1375 Barb. xvii 602.
Scaffaldis … weill heyar than the wall a1400 Leg. S. i 276.
And do weile mare at my lyking ?1438 Alex. i 3170.
I dout schame weill mare na deid ?1438 Alex. ii 3755.
Vox ridder weill than rose c1420 Ratis R. 553.
Thai dar weill bettir traist thar-tyll Than til the empreouris wyll 1535 Stewart 26116.
Fra that tyme furth the weill les he thame dred a1651 Calderwood II 261.
Yee are the weill worst of the two

d. Wele inoch, weill ineuch, well enough, sufficient(ly, adequate(ly. 1375 Barb. iv 373.
Thai … in a glen thar galay drewch And syne it helyt weill inewch 14.. Acts I 43/2.
It sall suffice wele inoch 1570 Leslie 301.
That micht be weill ineuch avoydit 1595 Skene in Misc. Stair Soc. I 144.
The deir being thairin weill aneuch feid 1603 Moysie 11.
Quhilk he doubtis not they lyk weill anuiche of 1604 Dundonald Par. Rec. 58.
He gat no profeit of his ky fra that forth … his ky being veill ineuch befor 1629 Annandale Corr. 30.
With pacience … yow may cum wele aneughe to your ends

III. With expressions of extent, number, distance, etc.

15. Fully, not less than (a quantity, etc.). 1375 Barb. i 455.
Thai war weill a thowsand 1375 Barb. iii 682.
Weill in mydwart … Betuix Kyntyr and Irland 1375 Barb. ix 520 (C).
He … slew twa hundreth wele & ma c1400 Troy-bk. ii 3054.
It in pece and rest held he Wele sexty ȝeris ?1438 Alex. ii 8351.
Emynedus … Come prekand … Wele ane bow-draucht and mare c1475 Wall. iii 257.
Weylle ma na x thousand a1500 K. Hart 42.
Thir folk … nummerit ane milȝon and weill mo 1513 Doug. Comm. i ii 3.
Eolus … wald schaw the pepill … weill two or thre dais befor, the wynd was to blaw c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 661.
His brand … was weill seuin quarter lang 1553 Balcarres P. 313.
The king … is welbe iij scor mm fut men and xx^m horsmen 1622-6 Bisset II 256/28.
There hyre for to go to ane certane place or weill als far

IV. Modifying adverbs.

16. Sa weill, to such a great extent or high degree of completeness or perfection, so completely, entirely or perfectly. Also modifying a past participle.(1) 1375 Barb. vii 257.
‘Dame luffis thow him sa weil,’ said he a1400 Leg. S. iii 890.
That mycht na mans … Sa wel do as he mowcht 1492 Myll Spect. 295/9.
This man … did sa weill in his iornaye that he had the victorye 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 526.
Thay [sc. the musicians] condiscend sa weill in ane accord That [etc.] 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 168.
The freris that sae weill can fleitche 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii 68.
Sen James in Falkland deit Nane for my weill sa weill with me aggreit 1581 Sat. P. xliv 158.
Thair sleikit tungis ar sua veil creischit indeid 1622-6 Bisset II 139/10.
Na man can do … sa weill bot he may be amended be utheris 1667 Laing MSS 363.
I nid not giff you a caracktor of them, you cnow them so weall 1683 Coll. Aberd. & B. 104.
Being wrought never so weell, it remains alwayes britle 1605 Inv. Pictures in Clerk of Penicuik MSS (Reg. H.) 6 (1 Jan.).
This more rudish lyke … nor the other, bot not so weall done(2) a1500 K. Hart 868.
Ewill purvayit folk for weir and sa weill stemit 1535 Stewart 7211.
The Romanis war sa weill graithit into geir

17. As (sa) weill as. a. To the same extent or degree as. Also proverb.b. Not only … but also. Freq. in charters.a. (1) ?14.. Ship Laws c. 15 (B).
He may folow the schyp for to hafe hys hyre als wele as he war thar in 1519 Reg. Privy S. I 475/2.
He may … use the said office in all pointis als wele as he war of the lauchfull age of xxv ȝeris 1535 Stewart 22855.
Thairfoir I wald, alsueill as that ȝe ma, Debait ȝour self wnto ane vther daproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 410.
He can lie as weill as a dog can lick a dish(2) c1420 Ratis R. 612.
Thar is na creatur levand Sa weill louit … As is that madyne Cheritee 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 115.
The dewill playit nocht so melodiousle and weill as thow crewitproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 662.
Na man can play the fool sa weill as the wise manb. 1375 Barb. i 124.
Wnfayr thingis may fall … Als weill to-morn as ȝhisterday 1385 Rot. Sc. II 73/2.
By see als vell as … be lande 1389 Wemyss Chart. 23.
Als wele landys and possessiounys nocht nemmyt as nemmyt 1389 Liber Melros 449.
Wollys as wele of thair awin growing as of thair tendys 1400 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 7.
Al rychwysse pertenense als weile vnder the erd abufyne the erde als wele noucht nemmyt as nemmyd als wele fer as neir c1420 Ratis R. 1014.
Be lel … Baith to thi lord and to thi pare And to the les als veil as mare 1586 Glasgow Prot. IX 111.
Deth wald als weill invales amangis the foirsaidis fameleis be famene as be the … pest 1596 Dalr. I 41/15.
Asweil in the eister cost towarde Fife, as southward … thay ar in gret multiplie

18. As weill, also, in addition. 1518 Edinb. B. Rec. I 182.
Nocht anerly to the honour of God … bot als weill to the dayly augmentatioun … of merchandice 1549 Compl. 1/7.
As veil it bringis furtht … hoilsum frute of honour 1549 Compl. 3/23.
Ȝour grace deseruis nocht to be callit ane nobil alanerly … bot as veil [etc.] 1551 Prot. Bk. R. Lumsdane 17a.
The land … that is on sawin als waill that is reiditt … to be sawin be the said Thomas c1620 Boyd Fl. Zion Exc. xviii/1.
Some bor'd with wimbles, and some also well Did forme the fore deck

b. Might ( … ) as weell, suggesting equivalence in an (implied) comparison. 1680-6 Lauder Observes 7.
They might as weell say he had [etc.] 1689 Acts XII 63/2.
The king might in effect alse well nominate that entear estate of parliament

B. interj.Introducing a remark or qualifying something said previously, freq. little more than a resumptive word. Also reduplicated. a1500 Henr. Fab. 225.
‘Weill, weill, sister,’ quod the rurall mous a1500 Henr. Fab. 691.
‘Weill,’ quod the volff, ‘sit doun vpon thy kne’ 1558-66 Knox II 376.
‘Weall,’ said the Quene, ‘it is war then ye beleve’ 1558-66 Knox II 451.
‘Weill,’ said Lethingtoun, ‘I will dip no farder in that heid’ a1578 Pitsc. II 77/3.
The cardinall … ansuerit him furieouslie and said, ‘Weill, Weill, we knaw ȝow and quhat ȝe ar' a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 886 (see Wow interj.).
Well 1624 Aberd. Council Lett. I 223.
If yea win these pointis [etc.] … he sall have my mailles of Ferryhill to help him wall yea sall communicat this to the provest and bailȝeis 1667 Highland P. II 24.
Weel, my lads, yow have done verie weel, but that [etc.]