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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.

Ut(t)erly, Uttirly, Ut(t)rely, adv. Also: uterlie, uttir(r)lie, utar-, uturlie, -ie, ut(t)raly, wt(t)erly, wtterlie, wt(t)rely, -aly, wtirly, -lé, oterly, (utlye). [ME and e.m.E. utterliche (Ancr. R.), vttirly (Chaucer), vtterly (Wyclif), utturly (c1430); Ut(t)er adj. = Outerly adv.]

1. Without reserve or equivocation; straightforwardly; sincerely. Passing into b. Finally, conclusively.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1325 (C).
To determynacioune Of it … They thame submytted wttrely [D. vtterly] 1460 Hay Alex. 1159.
And quhow the child haid anserit vterlie And done his message weill and hardelie a1500 Seven S. 2676.
Suthly I presome And wtterly I gif for dome [etc.](b) 1461 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V i 428 (14 Aug.).
[They] ar … oblist at thai sal stande oterly but ony gaynstandyn or gayncallin to the delyuerance … of the personis forsaidb. 1461 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V i 422 (11 May).
In the mentyme quhil declaratioun be uterly made quhom [to] the crofftis debatabil sulde pertene rychtwusly

2. In the fullest, most thoroughgoing manner, thoroughly; incontrovertibly; completely, totally. b. Of destroying, dying, vanquishing, etc. c. Of knowing, telling, deceiving. d. All utterly, a further example of Alluterly adv. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 511 (D).
That thai … shold ger mayd be … A brassynge horse … The which hors thai mayd wterly [C. vttrely] c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1647.
Quhen that herwist … was passed vttraly 1454 Acts II 48/2.
And at the fut ball ande the golf be vtterly criyt done and nocht vsyt c1475 Wall. xi 1377.
So wttraly it suld beyn at his will, Quhat plessyt him, to sauff thi king or spill c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 238 marg.
As for dissemlyng prayeris, he vtrely abhorris them a1540 Misc. Bann. C. III 40.
We putt thame uttirly out of the land for ever 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 161.
This realme by me was vterlie deuydit a1578 Pitsc. I 68/17.
This slaughter and discoird was wtterlie profietabill for the Frensch men … for they thairby begane to be of better curage 1596 Dalr. I 244/17.
Vttirlie 1629 Maxwell Mem. II 202.
Wtirle a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1677)) 30.
Upon the death of the king, Harold … was preferred, Prince Edgar his right utterly misknown(b) ?c1500 Rathen Manual 27/1.
We cursis wariis and fra sacrament of Haly Kirk vtlye puttys [all the following]b. 1375 Barb. iii 195.
Fra a man disparyt be, Then wtraly wencusyt is he 1375 Barb. x 92.
Thai ruschyt apon thaim hardely And discumfyt thaim wterly [C. vtrely] 1375 Barb. xvii 810.
Fele war woundyt wttrely [C. wikidly] a1400 Leg. S. iii 430.
That thinge restoryt is but wene, That uterly periste has bene 1456 Hay I 175/25.
That he be in perile to be maid outhir crepill, or mortall infirmitee tak in prisoun, or to dee utterly a1500 Seven S. 1401.
Sche has it wtterly distroyit c1500 Fyve Bestes 298.
Wtterly 1533 Bell. Livy II 64/12.
Vturlie 1555 Corr. M. Lorraine 399.
Wtterlie 1561 Q. Kennedy in Knox VI 161.
Utarliec. 1375 Barb. xiv 154 (C) (see Witterly adv.).
Wtirly 1375 Barb. xiv 489.
And tauld him wtrely this tale a1400 Leg. S. ix 162.
Criste answerte sa wysly That the feynd begylyt wes vtraly c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2883.
He wist nocht quhois son he was—Outtane that he wist vttrely That Circes bure him, certanely 1460 Hay Alex. 499.
He … tauld him als his fassoun vterlie. His conditioun and feiris halilied. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 444.
I sal tel the Al vtrely myn priwete

e. Entirely, exclusively. 1596 Dalr. II 125/30.
The wyte he lays on the wings, that tha war nocht vttirlie egle fethiris

f. Absolutely, without doubt. ?1438 Alex. i 2004.
Thai the best war vterly That leuand war in this warld

g. In negative constructions: (Not) at all, to any degree; (no) (thing, etc.) whatsoever.(1) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Ep. Ald Test. xi 50.
And vtralie the fire tuichet nocht thame(2) 1596 Dalr. II 399/26.
Sum religious persounis … that vttirrlie na lettres tha had to serue thair cure … defected til hæresie 1596 Dalr. II 464/11.
Knox, and vtheris apes or messenis of Caluing, vtterlie haueng na lerning, [etc.]