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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sarely, Sorelie, adv. Also: sare-, sairlie, -ly(e; searlie; soirly; soarlie. [Early ME særliche (Layamon), ME and e.m.E. sarely, sorely (both c1400), soreli (c1450), OE sárlíce; Sar(e adj.] = Sar(e adv. in various senses.For a possible further example, see Alex. i 2221 in Sarraly adv.¹ (b).

1. Of the infliction of physical injury or the effect of disease or illness: Grievously; painfully.(1) 1456 Hay I 94/15.
Gif a man be hurt sarely be ane othir 1494 Loutfut MS 32b.
The cheuailleire of sey … is ane monstre in the sey … in form of ane armyt knycht … And has armes & hand stark quharwith he strikis sairly 1513 Doug. ii vii 78 (Ruddim.).
For baith hir tendir handes War strenȝeit sairly boundin hard with bandes(2) 1622 Crim. Trials III 526.
Cuthbert Greig, … sueitting and brocheing in ane vncouth seiknes, sairlie handillit, quhairby he was nocht able to gang

2. Of punishing or tormenting: Severely. a1500 Seven S. 745.
Sairlie for that gret trespas God tuke wengeans on Ypocras 1588 Sc. N. & Q. I 106.
When she telled any of them things she was sairly tormented by them

3. Chiefly with verbs of sorrow, regret or reproach: Sorely, bitterly; sadly, sorrowfully.(1) 1533 Boece 87.
Cadall … towart the hevin lifting his handis, blamyt sarelie fortune and the goddis Arundel MS 256/52.
Seand thi panis, sorelie weip I walde 1567 Sat. P. iv 157.
I speik not but pruife, quhilk I may sairlie rew a1578 Pitsc. I 128/1.
He lamented sairlie that the realme had bene … owerthrawin witht civill weairis and discoird(2) 1549 Compl. 64/35.
Rycht soirly [G. Ball. 61 sorelie] musing in my mynde

4. More or less as a simple intensifier: Grievously, greatly. Also fig. 1583 in Melvill 164.
Obignie … wha haid sa soarlie oppressed the king's majestie [etc.] 1596 Ib. 364.
I have broken and transgressed, maist unthankfullie, sinning searlie at all tymes against my guid Godfig. 1562-3 Winȝet I 5/25.
Hes not mony throw inlak of techement in mad ignorance … sairlye stummerit?