Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Softly, -ie, adv. Also: so(i)ftlye; saftlie. [ME and e.m.E. softly (Cursor M.), softely (Piers Plowman), ME also softeliche (Ancr. R.), soft(e)lie, e.m.E. softlye (1567); Soft adj.]

1. Gently, tenderly, carefully; in such a manner as to avoid causing harm or damage; in an unaggressive fashion. b. Leniently, not harshly. a1400 Leg. S. v 461.
Sanct Johne … softly vith his handis twa It handlyt 1456 Hay II 134/11.
Evill humouris … quhen thai ar lessit be vomytis softly [etc.] a1500 Henr. Fab. 2494 (H).
The dogis skin of he flew And on the scheip richt softlie couth it sew a1500 Seven S. 563.
The herd wan till him with his hand And clawit him softly on the bak 1513 Doug. i x 67.
Softly [Ruddim. softlye] the goddes in hyr lap hym bair 1513 Doug. vi i 19.
Softly he [sc. Dedalus] gan alicht 1513 Doug. i iv 30.
Troianys … set softly on the sand 1533 Boece 194b.
Thelarg … to King Craithlinth send ambassiatouris quhilk softlie suld schaw he was sory for the dammage c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 993.
Thair tenderlie he hes hir happit, Full softlie vp, intill his bed c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1482.
Quhen this squyer wes haill & sound And softlie micht gang on the ground 15.. Clar. i 95.
Clariodus, … held his heid up softlie 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4665.
In hir bed thay happit hir esilie … Scho being laid sa softlie in hir bed a1578 Pitsc. I 174/2.
Thinkand that the king sould be taine softlie and fairlie bot heirm of his bodyb. 1596 Dalr. II 273/1.
The gouernour … vses gret lenitie and gentlenes … and bot in thair gudes saftlie punisses thame

2. Quietly; esp. in a soft or low voice.(1) c1450-2 Howlat 768 (A).
Quhen thai had songyn and said softly and schoure a1500 Henr. Fab. 2057 (H).
Till him self this softlie can he say a1500 Henr. Fab. 2175 (H).
‘Softlie,’ he said, ‘I was begilit anis’ 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 795.
Ladyis … Singand softlie full sweit on thair maneir a1540 Freiris Berw. 60 (M).
Scho to thame richt softlie answerit 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 23.
With febyll voce, as man opprest with paine, Soiftlye he maid me supplycatioun(2) 1535 Stewart 37679.
Syne at the dur, … Softlie did knok

b. Unobtrusively, so as to avoid observation.(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2382 (H).
Ȝit at the last he findis furth ane wyle Than at him self softlie couth he smyle(b) a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 87.
He came up saftlie … dissembling all the way that he saw … thayme and adverteist the kepar of that port quyetlie

3. In soft or luxurious clothes. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 547 (Arund.).
Think how the corps, quhilk now is softlie [Harl., Asl. costly] cled, Sall cleith the cloik of catife corrupcioun

4. At a leisurely pace, slowly; gradually. 15.. Clar. ii 434.
Thir knichtis … In thair voyage so softlie can them steir Whill [etc.] c1590 Fowler I 84/202.
Whose nurishing by peice and pece dois softlye weir away