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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.

Cruelly, Crewellie, -allie, adv. Also: cruellye, crwel(l)ie, cruelie, cruilly, crwllie; crewelly, -elie, crewllie, crewallie, -aly(e; creuelly(e, -ellie, -allie; crow-, cruwellie. [ME. cruelly (a 1340), cruwelly, f. Cruel a.]

1. In a cruel manner; with cruelty or extreme severity.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 473.
Achilles thrught Troyiens cruelly slayne was 1456 Hay I. 59/1.
To revenge cruelly the distruccioun of thair peple Ib. 171/31.
To be the mare cruelly punyst in hell c1460 Thewis Wysmen 197.
Thai punis nocht oure cruilly, Quhar thai have ourhand, or maistry 1513 Doug. i. vi. 86.
Quhou he was cruelly slane at the altare 1533 Bell. Livy I. 110/24.
The said Turnus did maist cruelie inway aganis him c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1507.
He menis, quha straikis cruellie, Aganis the law, without mercie 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1178.
Was neuer woman … Sa cruellie drest with ane vnfaithful man a1578 Pitsc. I. 39/22.
Wedowis … seiking redres for thair husbandes … that was crwellie slaine 1589 Maxwell Mem. II. 166.
My men … was maist crwellie doung and hurtt(b) 1533 Boece vi. vii. 198 b.
Victouris persewing the flearis … slewe thame crewelly 1563 Crim. Trials I. 431.
[Certain] cietineris of Brechine … crewelly strak and dang thame 1567 Sat. P. vii. 38.
Murdreist downe causeles and crewelly a1578 Pitsc. I. 150/18.
Quha in the castell was heidit crewllie 1615 Highland P. III. 264.
Those … who crewellie opprest the pure cuntrie(c) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1148.
Quhow curst Cayn, for inuy Did slay his brother, creuelly Ib. 2680; etc.
Quhow mony kyngis … creuellye Wer puneissit be God 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 144.
Saying that the Kirk punissis men mair creuellie [etc.] a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cxi. 15.
Grit nwmber ar in dyuers landis … Rebelland creuellie a1605 Birrel Diary 7.
If he had not beine creuelly vyrriet, … with his awen garters, he had leived(d) 1549 Soc. Ant. XI. 95.
The said Erlis officeris … bosting to put thame crewallie to deith 1564 Crim. Trials I. 456.
[The child] wes crewalye slane be him in hir wamb a1578 Pitsc. II. 56/22.
The cardinall … crewallie persecutit him into the death c1590 J. Stewart 36/230.
Gif that fortoune creuallie compell my cairful corps to die 1600-1610 Melvill 132.
The students … war invadit, and ther bluid crewalie sched(e) 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III. 81.
Sclane thair crowellie be his innimiis 1564 Inverness B. Rec. I. 109.
Iohne Roy cruwellie sett on the said Iames wyth ane sourd 1622-6 Bisset II. 9/29.
He wes maist crowellie crucyfeid on ane croce of grene trie

2. Fiercely; without sparing. 1375 Barb. xiv. 198.
The stour begouth thair cruelly Ib. xvii. 144.
The Ynglis men faucht cruelly c1420 Wynt. viii. 5724.
Thai fawcht a qwhille rycht cruelly c1475 Wall. iv. 449.
Wallace and his went cruelly thaim agayne c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3141.
Thir two armeis full creuellye, Thay ruscheit togydder so rudlie 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1783.
Thir twa to fecht began Sa cruellie 1570 Leslie 176.
It wes crewellie fochin … with uncertane victorie 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 303.
The said … horsmen … lichtit and faucht creuallie a1578 Pitsc. II. 261/24.
He … faucht with thame so cruelie that he causit thame to gif backis