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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Slely, -ie, adv. Also: slei-, sleely, slealie, sli(e)-, slylie. [ME slahliche (Layamon), sleili, slilik (both Cursor M.), sleȝlych, sliȝli (14th c.), slely (c1440), ME and e.m.E. slily (Trevisa), slyly (Chaucer); Sle adj. Cf. ON slœ́gliga.] a. Describing deliberate actions or willed behaviour: In a clever, covert fashion, cleverly, secretly; cunningly, using guile; treacherously.(a) 1375 Barb. i 150.
He thocht … throuch thar debat That he suld slely fynd the gate How that he all the senȝhowry, … suld occupy 1375 Barb. ix 353.
He spyit, and slely gert assay Quhar of the dik the schawdest was a1400 Leg. S. xxiii 152.
Cesare sa warly wrocht, & thai sewine sa slely socht, & has gotine witting quhare thai ware a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 604.
Thai slely stal it away ?1438 Alex. ii 2874.
Delyuerly ishit he of the tent And slely to the toun he went c1420 Wynt. v 4447 (W).
And Leois sone and hirris slely Scho put to scoill c1420 Wynt. viii 4963.
He held all prewaly his gate And by the galais all slely He gat wyth his cumpany c1475 Wall. viii 1333.
Slely he slayd throuch strenthis off Scotland a1500 MS Rawl. Q. b. 4 fol. 1.
The feynd … tempis man … That he mycht draw him slely fra the lufe of God 1513 Doug. i x 59.
Than may thou slely thi vennamus ardent fyre Of fraudfull luf amyd hir breste inspyre 1513 Doug. vii viii 67.
The ilk fury … Full prevely in the dern wod dyd lowr To cast on thame slely hir feirfull rage 1533 Boece 546.
Johnne Cwmeyn … slely vnder coloure of pece drewe Jhone Balliol … to the castell of Montros 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7194.
The knichtis wordis that him sa slelie sylit 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 291.
Lath war thay to kep ony skaith … So slelie, and frelie, From dangers thay thame fred(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii 596.
Sleily scho gat away c1420 Wynt. ii 211.
Syne how this Jacob sleely Prewenyde hys brodyre … Quhen throwcht hys modyre suggestyowne He wan his fadyr benysowne 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 909.
As Maister Jhone Dowglas weill can tell, How slealie he deceavit him sell(c) a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlvii 88.
If he [sc. Love] thé heght, or slielie drau thé nar

b. Describing how events occur or situations develop: In a manner such as to remain unnoticed or unobserved, stealthily, secretly. a1500 Colk. Sow ii 242.
My sone set nevir thy harte To mak an hurd … For littill watt thow how sone that thow may slid Frome it slely or it fra thé to glid a1500 Prestis of Peblis 240 (Asl.).
Thus wist he neuer of wo … Quhill he had slely sliddin fra all seile 1585 Epitaph in Maitl. F. 447/1.
The slyding tyme sa slilie [Maitl. Q. slylie] slippis avey 1639 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 247.
Episcopall Governement crupten in slilie, and erected without order of law