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.
Quotation dates: 1450-1500, 1578-1650
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Car(e)fully, Cairfully, adv. Also: karefullie, keirfully. [e.m.E. care-, ME. carfully, OE. carfullíce.]
1. Sorrowfully, dismally. c1450-2 Howlat 956.
He carfully cryd a1500 Henr. III. 156/23.
Thy crampand hair … Full cairfully conclud sall dulefull deid 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xxxvi.
Sum … with ȝouts and ȝells, Maist cairfully did cry
2. With care; attentively, assiduously. 1578 Red Bk. Menteith I. 537.
We sall cairfullie travell to se his Hienes ordour 1598–9 Montgomery Mem. 243.
Archibald Barklay … behaifit himself verie honestlie and cairfullie 1609 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 108.
You … quho so keirfully and painfully hed delt for us 1614 Highland P. III. 153.
I preased als cairfullie as … my credit micht extend to 1629 Dundonald Par. Rec. 268.
Sworne to exerce the office of ane elder faithfullie and karefullie c1650 Spalding I. 139.
The maisteris … of the said college, who cairfullie attendit thair callinges for vpbringing of the youth
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"Carfully adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/carefully>
