Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Unwarly, -lie, adv. Also: unwairly, -werly, -lie, wnwarly(e, -lie, onwarly. [ME and e.m.E. unwarliche (c1200), vnwarli (Cursor M.), vnwarly (Chaucer), vnwarily (1568), vnwarilie (1580); War(e)ly adv.]

1. Incautiously, unguardedly; heedlessly; carelessly.(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 477.
The cok … Vnwarlie [Bann. Wnwarlye, Ch., H. Vnwarlie] winkand walkit vp and doun … And suddandlie … The foxe wes war 1531 Bell. Boece I 24.
King Coyll, unwarly kepit be his nobillis, was slane 1531 Bell. Boece I 117.
Ane cumpany of Scottis … followit so unwarly … that thay wer belttit about on every side with ennimes afore thay wist 1531 Bell. Boece II 515.
Gif sic preeminent giftis of nature be unwarly abusit, na werkis sall follow worthy to have memory(b) 1531 Bell. Boece II 309.
Malcolme excusit him … sayng he come unwairly in King Haryis handis(c) 1533 Boece 177a.
That … nane … with staff schot of arrow or vthir instrument vnwerly sla hir [sc. a hare] in hir sete(d) 1513 Doug. ii vii 21.
Bot first enconteris ws Androgeus … Onwarly [Sm. wnwarly, Ruddim. unwarly] wenyng his fallowis we had be 1513 Doug. xi xv 32.
[She] Throw owt the ost onwarly [Ruddim. unwerlie] went alquhar

2. Unexpectedly, without forewarning. a1500 Henr. Orph. 487.
Wardly men sum tyme … Apon the quhele in grete prosperitee … vnwarly [Asl. wnwarly, Bann. onwarly] or thai wait Ar thravin doun c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3469.
The babbis vpone the noryse kne, Rycht suddantlye … Unwerly come thare iugement 15.. Clar. i 757.
So come thair wnwarlie on Clariodus Ane count of Spainȝe