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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Alswele, Alsweill, adv. Also: alsweil(e, -ueill, alsweyll, -ueyll, alseweill; alsweal(e, -weall, -weel; alswyl, -wille; alswel, als(e)well. [Als adv., Wele adv., written as one word.]

1. Alswele as, as well as, as much as, to the same extent as, etc. 14.. Acts I. 22/2.
And alsua of this alswele as of othir he … sall be demit be his peris 1456 Hay I. 177/30.
He aw to be haldin free of passage alswele as of his come a1500 Seven S. 2660.
He fed the ravyn … quhill it couth fle, And help the self alswele as he 1509 Reg. Privy S. I. 296/1.
Thai calseand and makand the said streit agane alswele as it wes of before c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2060.
Than wes he king of Caldea, Alsweill as of Asseria a1578 Pitsc. I. 26/7.
It is supponit he thocht … to haue had sum reull in the realme alsweill as ony vtheris a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 698.
For they ar the stayer Of vs, alsweill as he 1607 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 109.
Your maiestye vho knoues vs both alsueyll as our selfis doe 1644 Aberd. B. Rec. 18.
The counsell … ordanes ane watch to be keipit be day allsweill as nichtlie

b. With intervening words, alswele … as. 1398 Acts I. 212/1.
All gudis, catale & landys alswele demayn as other landis Ib.
Alswele beyhond the see as on this side 1456 Hay I. 232/20.
Thus may he tak alswele the sone as the fader 1470 Liber Aberbr. 162.
Alsweil and in syklyk vyis as we are oblisit to pay 1558-66 Knox II. 29.
Gif I war alsweill disposed to accuse, as some of thame … have declaired thame selfis 1596 Dalr. I. 20/26.
Foules and sik kynde of beistes as leiue alsweil be water as be land 1622-6 Bisset II. 101/30.
The actioun … may be defended alsweill be ane as twa

c. Used to denote equality between, or equal inclusion of, two things, and passing into the sense of ‘both … and’. 1386 Bk. Carlaverock II. 418.
Alswele vndir erde as abone 1405 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 200.
The lordeschip of Caueris with the pertinencis alswele of auld as of new 1422 Stirlings of Keir 208.
Alswel nocht nemnyt as nemnyt, alswel undyr erde as abown, alswel far as nere 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 8.
Al the communytie, alsweile vnfree as free men 1472 Edinb. Chart. 138.
Alswele the outeburges and occupiaris of the fredome … as induellaris and inhabitantis thareof 1509 Rec. Earld. Orkney 83.
Alsweyll nocht neymitt as nemytt c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4206.
All erthly Regionis, Alsweill maine land as Ylis in the sey 1573 Tyrie Cath. Tr. 21/24.
Alsueill in scripturis as in histories, antiquities, and all kynd of writtars 1631 Misc. Spald. C. II. 226.
The Constable is supreame iudge … alswele within the court as outwith the same 1641 Peebles B. Rec. 104.
All sort of merchandice, alseweill strainge merchandice as of these within the cuntrie 1663 Conv. Burghs III. 568.
Alsweall becaus he wes not provydit with ane foot mantill … as because [etc.] 1666 Melrose R. Rec. II. 162.
[Corn] alsewell growing as imbrought

d. Followed by and. 1447 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 15.
The said counsaile has … concludit that alsweil the feit chaplaynis and the feft chaplaynis sall be rewlyt … be the sight of the alderman and counsaile

2. (Without as.) Equally. 1456 Hay I. 240/35.
Sen he mon bere his part of the payne, he sulde bere alswele his part of the prouffit 1567 Sat. P. iii. 130.
O ȝe that to our Kirk hes done subscriue, Thir Ecanis try alsweill traist I [ȝe] may