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 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Clerely, Cleirly, adv. Also: clerly, -lie, clerelie, cleyrlye, cleirlye, cleirlie. [ME. clerely, clerli (c 1306), from Cler(e,a.]

1. With clearness; brightly. 1375 Barb. vi. 100 (E).
The moyne wes schynand clerly ?1438 Alex. i. 824.
Helmis … and vther armin, That cleirly agane the sone shein

2. With clear sight or speech; distinctly. a1400 Leg. S. vii. 401.
He that gert blynd men clerly se Ib. xiii. 78.
For that the erne … the sowne [= sun] clerlyaste seis Ib. xxxix. 225.
Thane ware thai astonyt gretumly, Herand the camel speke clerly c1420 Wynt. viii. 1077.
Na langage cowth he spek clerly, Bot hys awyn langage off Normawndy 1490 Irland Mir. I. 62/29.
Thare we sall se clerelie the diuinite in the self … natur 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6199.
Thay in the hoist richt weill and cleirlie saw a1585 Maitl. Q. lxvi. 135.
Thocht men be blind, ȝit thow dois cleirlie sie

3. Plainly, manifestly, definitely, fully.Very common throughout the 15th and 16th cent., esp. with knaw, se, or understand. 1375 Barb. vii. 352 (E).
Now may we clerly se That nobill hart … is hard till ourcum Ib. xii. 184.
I trow, and knawis it all clerly c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 138.
As folowyng of thys storye Present declare shall sone clerly 1405 James of Douglas Letter to Henry IV in Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
Giff yhour hee Excellent war clerly enfourmyte of the … takyng of prisoneris & Scottis schippis c1420 Wynt. i. 1063.
Thai exponyt clerly The trewtht that Crystyn men lywys by Ib. v. 74.
Quhare thaai mycht clerly red and se 1456 Hay I. 5/15.
The quhilk better and mare clerely till vnderstand [etc.] Ib. 187/12; etc.
It is declarit … clerely and playnly that [etc.] c1475 Wall. ix. 104.
Rycht weill ȝe may him ken, Throu graith takynnys, full clerly by his men 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 13.
It wes clerlie wnderstand that William Bartone had brokin the statutis of the toune 1533 Gau 67/35.
Heir it is cleirlie anewch prouine that this same body sal ris wp agane 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2062.
Our greit abusioun is cleirlie knawin 1563 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 210.
I sall schaw Mr. Quintine clerely, quhow [etc.] 1566 (1571) Reg. Great S. 516/1.
It is cleirlie undirstand to ws that it is maist expedient [etc.] 1587 Misc. Bann. C. I. 123.
The greit hasard off the Kings Majesties persoun, … being … cleirlie persaiffit be dyvers nobilmen 1596 Dalr. I. 82/24.
Quhilke be thair monumentis cleirlier thay testifie than that we [etc.]

4. Completely, thoroughly, clean. 1456 Hay I. 39/8.
That the Grekis … destroyit … all the toun clerely be a sege c1515 Asl. MS. I. 235/15.
All officeris that ware put in be thaim ware clerlie put out of all officis 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xliii.
Salmond … quhilkis lepis nocht cleirlie ouir the lin, … growis mesall 1562 Rec. Earld. Orkney 115.
Swa ar the ayris of the fyrst get cleyrlye owtred of thayre fathyre arff 1569 Ib. 128.
The selleine and analiation and cleirlye ofhenteine and away putteine off the half of the land … off Horrye