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

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

Worthely, -ie, adv. Also: vorthely(e, worthyly, -ie, -ily, -ie, -ielie, wourthely, wordely, wordily, vordily, wordalie. [ME and e.m.E. worthyly, worthily (both 14th c.), wortheli (1377), worthely (c1400), woorthely (1548).]

1. Honourably, in a noble or fitting manner; excellently, competently; valiantly.(a) 1375 Barb. iii 81.
Gud Gaudifer the worthi Abandonyt him so worthyly For [to] reskew all the fleieris 1375 Barb. xvi 495.
Schir James of Dowglas on this wis Throu his worschip & his empris Defendyt worthely the land 1375 Barb. iii 438.
Worthily a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 271.
He … Strak the dragone … In at the throt … Til he fel to the erde … The maydine … God thankit & hyme bath, That succurrit hyr sa worthely ?1438 Alex. i 2546.
[They] had na mister … To gang to fechting mare … Bot thay reprufe dred mair nor deid And he that had thame for to leid … Admoneist thame sa worthely 1456 Hay I 213/24.
Thus wan thai this realme … throu force of armes worthily a1500 Rauf C. 460.
Mekle worschip of weir worthylie he wan c1475 Wall. i 156.
In till Dunde Wallace to scule thai send, Quhill he of witt full worthely was kend a1578 Pitsc. I 14/10.
Schir Williame Crichtoun was of new approvit chancellar of Scotland becaus he had worthielie exersissed the samyn office in King James the firstis tyme(b) ?1438 Alex. ii 4331.
And mony ane man full wourthely Fulfillit with hardement douchty(c) c1615 Chron. Kings 151.
Dischargitt the dewtie of men werry wordily

2. Deservedly, justly; justifiably. 1375 Barb. x 256.
The king … him rewardyt worthely 1456 Hay II 25/21.
Thus is the ordre of knychthede mare worthily in the curage na in the corssage 1490 Irland Mir. I 67/29.
Thaim that seruis Him He rewardis richt worthely 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 204.
Becaus … Johane Bycartoun persistis in his contempt … he wordely meritis and deservis to be excommunicated 1565 Edinb. B. Rec. III 199.
The prouest … desirit of the saidis baillies … gif ony of thame micht wordalie burdene him with ony sic wrang done be him … as micht merit the pvneisment of depravatioun 1600 Acts IV 243/2.
Becaus the commoditie hes nocht bene presentit to his Maiestie to gratifie and reward his said cousignes as scho hes worthelie merete and [etc.]

3. With devotion, with due respect. a1450 Fifteen Ois 182.
Grant me Thi body and Thi blude Worthely to taist the lestand fude c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. xvi 2.
That ye resaue hir in the Lord worthilie [L. digne] to sanctis 1558 Misc. Bann. C. III 318.
Quha ressauis worthelie this blyssit sacrament, ar unit and coniunit to the mistical bodie of our Saluiour Jesus Christe a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 136/28.
Quhen ve vorthelye resaue the blissit sacrament of the altare a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 119/27.
Vorthely a1585 Maitl. Q. 242/12.
Set furth hir praysis worthelie & vow thy self hir man 1573-1600 King Cat. in Cath. Tr. 211 heading.
Ane schorte vaye schaving how we maye vordily præpare vs to confession beffoir the receauing of the halie sacrament 1598 Acts IV 173/2.
Sua lang as the samyn rancour continewis with thame … thay can not worthelie ressave the said sacrament