Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Fermely, Fermly, adv. Also: fermelye, -lie, fermyllie, feyrmely. [ME. fermely (Chaucer), f. Fermea. Cf. Firmely adv.] Firmly (in various senses).(a) c 1380 Bonington Charter (Reg. H.).
[That I] haf hecht & fermely vndyrtane … that I sall gif hym my chartyre c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1926.
Pallamydes persavand No fraude, bot fermely thame trowand 1456 Hay I. 129/26.
Sa that the sone traist fermely that his fader have verray rycht Ib. II. 19/12.
Be the quhilk his subjectis sall all obey till him fermely a1500 Bk. Chess. 1135.
Thairfor suld thai … kepe justice aye fermely to endur c1552 Lynd. Mon. 478.
Quho in Christ fermely beleuis, Sall be releuit frome all myscheuis 1622-6 Bisset I. 101/26.
Fermelie [to] observe quhatsumevir concernis the saidis letteres(b) a1400 Leg. S. i. 66.
Peter … bad hir trew Fermly euir in Criste Jhesu 1415 Lennox Mun. 61.
Me … fermly, lelely and faithabilly to be oblist til my nobil lord c1420 Wynt. iv. 2576.
The senatowrys … Gawe hym for counsall fermly … that he A god suld ger hym callyd be Ib. v. 64.
That that tempyll … suld endowre And fermly stand in to that plas 1456 Hay I. 84/13.
To byde in felde fermly of sett purpos is mare … vertuous thing 1513 Doug. ii. vi. 89.
He … wald not beleif fermly Hys sayd spowsis command and prophecy 1533 Bell. Livy II. 250.
Tullius … traistit fermly in a litill fauour of Goddis apperand to him 1562-3 Winȝet I. 134/31.
Thai perseuerit stiflie [ms. fermlie] in thair purpose(c) 1456 Misc. Bann. C. III. 98.
As my letter of assignatioun mar fermyllie proportis in the self 1534 Thanes of Cawdor 161.
Sall serue the forsaid Sir Johne afauldlye and feyrmelye