Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
OVERLY, adv., adj. Also -li(e), and less commonly in vocalised forms o(w)erly, ourely, owrely. See Ower. [′ovərli, ʌu(ə)rli]
I. adv. 1. Excessively, too, too much, in the extreme (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Uls. 1953 Traynor, overly, ourely; Sh., Cai., Ags., wm., sm. and s.Sc., Uls. 1964). Also U.S.Ayr. 1821 Galt Annals xiii.:
Lady Macadam's hens and fowls, which were not overly fed at home.Sc. 1825 Anon. Writer's Clerk I. 28:
I ha' been lang enough at the tailor business to be overly fond of it, and I shall follow that business nae langer.Per. 1842 R. Nicoll Poems 64:
Though overly proud, she was bonnie an' young.Fif. 1896 D. S. Meldrum Grey Mantle 275:
She was not overly pleased at the manner of its delivery.Kcb. 1911 Crockett Rose of the Wilderness xx.:
I have been thinking overly much of a few sheep — of the material loss, I mean.Edb. 1916 T. W. Paterson Wyse-Sayin's iii. 5:
Dinna lippen overlie to yer ain understaun'in.Lnk. 1951 G. Rae Braefoot 125:
His face, keen and sensitive, and not overly clean.
2. Carelessly, superficially, in a casual manner, by chance (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 137; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Bnff. 1949). Obs. in Eng. from early 18th c.Sc. 1709 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1843) I. 18:
I reasoned with them only very overly, and for my own information.Sc. a.1737 A. Fergusson Major Fraser's MS. (1889) II. 35:
[He] asked the Major overly from whom the letter was.Wgt. 1744 Session Bk. Wigtown (1934) 611:
Overly she said she heard them converse together in her own house.Sc. 1842 Whistle-Binkie (Ser. 2) 117:
And he o'erly just speer'd for the men, But he cadgily cracket wi' aunty.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 121:
A hard it overly.Rxb. 1903 N.E.D.:
I happened overly to say that I had seen him there.
II. adj. 1. Excessive, exaggerated; unrestrained, unconventional, unusual (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1964); of a person's manner: arrogant (Sh. 1964), obs. in Eng.s.Sc. 1836 Wilson's Tales of the Borders II. 305:
He had but one child, Alison; his fondness for whom, as he often said, was the only remains of an “overly world's care.”Sh. 1898 J. Burgess Tang 52:
Feth, I tink he [weather]'s redder overly wi hot nu.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl. 98:
I tink hit's reder overli for da King to be gjaain awa ta India mid da winter day, an takkin da Hween — honest woman — wi'm, an leavin da puir tings a bairns hem demlanes.
‡2. Amiable, kindly, affable (Ork. 1929 Marw.).
‡3. Superficial, cursory, not careful (Sc. 1787 J. Beattie Scoticisms 63, 1825 Jam., 1881 A. Mackie Scotticisms 44; Abd. 1964); casual, incidental, chance (Cai. 1903 E.D.D.). Obs. in Eng. since 17th c.Sc. 1700 R. Wodrow Early Letters (S.H.S.) 39:
My throng of bussiness at this time has made it much more overly than you might have had it in the time of our vacance.Abd. 1712 T. Blackwell Methodus Evangelica 123:
In lecturing, great care should be taken of shunning the two extremes, which some are too ready to fall into; the first of which is, that of being too general and overly, so that their explication upon the matter differeth little from reading.Ags. 1795 Session Papers, Arbuthnott v. Scott (11 March) 252:
The deponent never paid any particular attention to the salmon, farther than taking an overly look.m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 155:
I was thinkin' mysel' o' giein' a bit speer, in a kind o' canny, overlie sort o' way.Bwk. 1900 A. T. G. Thornlea 47:
I added in an overly way that I would just say. . . .
