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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Large-, Lairge-, Larg-, Lairgly, adv. Also: largis-, lerge-, lerg-, learg- and -lie, -lé. [ME. largeliche (a 1225), ME. and e.m.E. largely, -li, e.m.E. also largly; f. Larg a., Large a.]

1. Liberally, generously; lavishly, freely.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxiii. 97.
The sewine … gafe largely Til al that pouere ware c1420 Wynt. vii. 3558.
The Frankis natyowne war … Rewardyt the mare largely a1500 Seven S. 833.
The tother wald spend to largely And feist his nychtbouris commonly 1531 Bell. Boece I. 232.
The abbay kirk was dotat efter … with rentis, landis, and possessionis, mair largely 1645 S. Leith Rec. 62.
Those who largelie would acknowledge the poor(b) 1562 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 341.
Thame selffis to contrabut and pay … lergelie of their geir(c) 1375 Barb. xi. 146.
And largly emang his men The landis of Scotland delt he then 1535 Stewart 51653.
This subtill serpent … for thair plesour larglie wald spend In cumpany 1528 Lynd. Dreme 212.
Larglye 15.. Clar. ii. 1778.
Larglie(d) 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 302.
At the merchandis … mot by the ger, and gif als lairgly … as ony wderis a1578 Pitsc. I. 226/22.
And forder … to be revairdit lairglie for his trawell(e) a1568 Bann. MS. 270 b/96.
Lergly

2. Copiously, abundantly. a1450 Fifteen Ois 344.
Thy blude thou ȝet out full largely 1533 Boece viii. ix. 269.
That the nobill wyne largelie apoun the king suld be birllit Ib. xii. ii. 457.
The cartaris … inducing thame largelie to drink 1528 Lynd. Dreme 1050.
Scho hes lairglie kyith on thé hir cure 15.. Clar. v. 2835.
The feist … lastit larglie With glaid disport 1562-3 Winȝet II. 69/24.
With thair vennum mair largelie bresting out 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 152.
Cvstumers … sould be challenged, that they take mair largely custome, then is … permitted to them

3. Widely, extensively. 1375 Barb. xi. 123.
Thar battalis war ek so braid … That men that mekill host mvcht se Our-tak the landis so largely 1498 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 74.
The daynger of perilous seikness of pestilence now rissin in the eist pairts and lairgelie spreid a1578 Pitsc. I. 105/16.
Braid entreis oppinnit fourtht largelie to all kynd of … iniquitie 1581 Burne Disput. 120 b.
We se the kirk largelie amplifeit

4. a. Freely, without restraint, inhibition or reservation. Chiefly said of protestations or statements: Openly, frankly, bluntly.(1) 1456 Hay I. 166/18.
[He] tuke alsmekle largely of his gudis as the soume that the baroun held wrangwisly fra him 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 347.
Thay … lairglie wyll propynis hecht(2) c1420 Wynt. viii. 6661.
Thow spekis … all to largely ?1438 Alex. i. 841.
The laif hes … tauld me largely thair intent Ib. ii. 2735.
Ȝe suld nocht sa largely Call vs cowardis but ȝe wist quhy Ib. 4725.
Ȝe say ȝour will our largely 1528 Douglas Corr. 132.
Lyk as Patrek Sinklare … hes planlie done thaim understand and said rycht largislie in that behalf 15.. Clar. ii. 1675.
The kingis heralds larglie cryit aloud Of gold and silver … Gevin to them Ib. 1708.
The nobill knichtis speikis more largly Anents my sone … nor he hes deservit 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 22.
Trasting that ye will stand gud unto … hir housband quhilk I have said larglie on your behalve unto hir 1562-3 Winȝet I. 42/14.
Contrare the word of God sa expresse and sa largelie put afore ȝour eine c1650 Spalding I. .
As be the particular condiscendans contenit in thair imprinted protestatiouns most lairgelie do appeir

b. Of discourse: At length, fully, amply. 1531 Bell. Boece I. xix.
We sall writ sum othir tim mair largelie of othir materis a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 46.
I sall set furth sic doingis done be him als larglie and weill extendit till his disprayse as I have done [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet I. 73/22.
We speik this mair largelie [MS. lairgly] becaus [etc.] Ib. II. 20/20.
Thir thingis … a little mair largelie to be dilatit 1558-66 Knox II. 189.
Becaus that electioun … hes altogither bene abused, we think expedient to intreat it moir largelie c1590 Fowler II. 99/36.
We will mair hig[h]lye and larglye discourse herupon 1618 Crim. Trials III. 586.
That ȝe wald rander and follow out the maist just reasones … at ane vther occasioun moir lairglie and accuratlie

5. In a wide sense, broadly or loosely. 1456 Hay I. 283/8.
For largely to tak colouris, be all our maisteris and philosophouris all metallis … that … gevis sycht to the eyne is of the nature of colouris 1456–70 Liber Aberbr. 108.
Succedit tyll hyme ane othir lard and largly begwd quhar his predecessor lefte 1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 496.
The woorde Elder … sumtyme it is takin learglie, comprehending alsweill the pastouris and doctouris. as … seniouris and eldaris

6. In large measure, greatly, considerably, much. 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 58.
As I am largely oblist & haldyn to c1420 Ratis R. (S.T.S.) 174/9.
Lak na lofe to largely c1475 Wall. xi. 879.
[He] Send to the erll, and thankit him largele c 1489 Liber Aberbr. 263.
Large expens quhilk is largely for the inbryngin off the samyn 1562-3 Winȝet II. 18/20.
Sen the canoun of the scriptuiris is … till all thingis anewche and largelie sufficient Ib. 49/33.
Quhylis he lippinnis ouermekle to his awin ingyne, and creditis till him self largely 1568 Lyndesay Pref. .
In till this buke … thay sall Find mony lessoun largelie to commend a1586 Lindsay MS. 16.
His counsale [should] punis that officiar sa lairgely that all vtheris suld tak exempill