Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BELIKE, adv. and adj. Also belikes (em.Sc. 1912 W. Cuthbertson Dykeside Folk 211) (see -S, suff., (2)), bee-like. N.E.D. gives adv. as St.Eng. but adj. as obs. The Concise Eng. Dict. marks the adv. as arch. and the Un. Eng. Dict. as arch. and provincial; both omit the adj.
1. adv. Perhaps, probably, maybe; surely, as it were, seemingly.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet x.:
O ay; in Edinburgh, belike.Sc. 1887 R. L. Stevenson Underwoods 93:
Belike to hear Auld voices fa'in saft an' slee.Abd. [1768] A. Ross Helenore (1866) 254:
But ye'll hae of her, but a silly prize, An' soon belike may her and hers despise.Per. 1895 R. Ford Tayside Songs 193:
'Twas but the ither day, belike, an' he was young an' fier.Fif. 1812 W. Tennant Anster Fair vi. xli.:
She laugh'd and nodded courteously her head, Belike to clear away my doubt and awe.
2. adj. Likely. This usage may have arisen through ellipsis.Dmb. 1844 W. Cross Disruption vii.:
It's bee-like your antie is not past the time o' day yet for jumping at a man if she just has the offer.Lnk. 1825 Jam.2:
That story's no be-like.
