A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1400, 1475-1500, 1633
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Rathly, Raithly, -lie, adv. Also: rawthlé, rauthlie, rythly. [Early ME raðliche (Ancr. R.), ratheli (Cursor M.), ME and e.m.E. rath(e)ly (a1352–1502), (OE hræðlice), Rath(e adj.] Promptly; quickly. = Rathe adv.Chiefly in early verse. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxviii 516.
Quhen scho had Serwyse to God deuotely mad A licht of hewine rathly schane a1400 Ib. xl 1197.
He rycht rathly mad ȝare a1400 Ib. xxix 977. a1500 Golagros and Gawane 128.
The yettis wappit war wyde, The knyght can raithly in ryde a1500 Ib. 1113.
The tothir raithly vpraise a1500 Henr. Orph. 276 (Ch. & M.).
A wonder grisely flude … that rathly [B. rythly] doun can ryn c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace viii 1362.
Quhilk maid Scotland full rathly for to rew c1475 Ib. ix 1242.
Rawthle [pr. rawchle; 1570 rauthlie] thai left and went away be nycht a1500 King Hart 648.
That he his rollis raithlie to ȝow reid a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 831 (Asl.).
Fra fraude to treuth sa rathly now wprys a1499 Ib. 1484.
Rathlie 1633 Banff Ann. II 169.
Obligis him to giwe dew adverteisment raithlie to the saidis provest [etc.]
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"Rathly adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/rathly>
