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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Secret(e)ly, Secrely, adv. Also: -lye, -lie, -lé, secreitly, -lie, secreatlie, sacretly, -lie. [ME and e.m.E. secreely (vrr. secrely, secretly) (Chaucer), secretely (c1430), sekerly (c1440), secretlye (1447), secreetly (1537); Secret(e adj.] In a secret manner, in secret; privately; covertly, surreptitiously.(a) 1456 Hay I 74/8.
That it is grete wrang that mysdedis that ar secretly done than suld nocht be punyst [etc.] 1456 Hay I 259/32.
Gyf ony man has slayne ane other secretely and hidlynes c1475 Wall. ii 278.
Rycht couertly thai kepe him in that caiff, Him for to sawe so secretlye thai mycht 1490 Irland Mir. I 80/13.
That was the Virgin glorius, that conseruit secretly in hire mynd all the nobile deidis and wourdis of Jhesu a1500 Bk. Chess 1175.
Secretlye c1490 Irland Asl. MS. 70/22.
Beand evill content in my hert of the prosperite of other personis and blytht of thar aduersite baith manifestly and secretly 1506 Edinb. B. Rec. 109.
That the samyn [sc. merchandise] be nocht secretlie schippit and we defraudit of our customes aucht thairof 1533 Boece 151.
[To] cast tymmer in the nerrest wod and secretelie ione ane brig 1533 Bell. Livy I 123/23.
Tarquinius Sixtus concludit … to haue his plesere of Lucres be violent deforsing 1549 Compl. 88/29.
Darius … conqueist mair of Greice vitht ane hundretht tallentis that he distribuit secretly amang the Grecians to menteine there ciuil veyris … nor he conquest be forse c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2551.
Gyff thy brother doith oucht thé tyll offend, Than secretlye correct hym 1589–90 St. A. Kirk S. 656.
The said Nicholl being fund … hid secretele in James Meldrumis hous 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 221.
Hee was secretly nominated for a notable conjurer 1637 Baillie I 35.
This is done very secretlie; to the gentry and ministrie is letten fall only a small generall(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 251/38.
And secreitlie on me thai lie And dois me sklandir privaly 1533 Gau 57/30.
Godis vord virkis in it secreitlie 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 2.
Secreitly sittyng in myne oratorie c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1345.
[He] said: pas behind him quyetlie. And sa thay did, richt secreitlie, And come behind him, cowartlie 1567 G. Ball. 131.
I mak my mone, Rycht secreitlie, To Christ Jesu 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 242.
He … secreitlie said he forthoght it 1596 Dalr. I 152.
To ouirthrawe the hail nobilitie athir secreitlie be fraude, or apinlie be force(c) 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 224.
Secreatlie 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 152.
He shawes that they were all wyld in, secreatlie, to the commissioners chamber(d) a1500 Lanc. 2807.
And [she] sacretly his armour one hyme spent. He tuk his lef 1490 Irland Mir. III 163/5.
Alsua the noble prince suld nocht tak of his counsal the persounis that counsalis him a thing sacretlie, and opinly thai counsale the contrar 1547 Cal. Sc. P. I 4.
It is divysit that the Abbat of Paslaye sacretly shall ga in France for that caus(e) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 168 (C).
Anthenor and Dyomedes Inne secre place, and Vlixes, thame drew, whar they myght pryvely Spek what they wold and secrely Of pryvateis of thar fals gyles