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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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CERTIE, CERTY, adv. and int. Also serty; †sartie. Also in forms certies, certes, certis, and most commonly found in phrases (see 2 below), indicating additional emphasis. [′sɛrtɪ̢]

1. Assuredly; to be sure, sure enough. Known to Abd.², Ags.², Fif.¹⁰, Lnk.³ 1939.Sc. 1884 A. S. Swan Carlowrie ii.:
Certy, ye are a braw little quean . . . a perfect wee leddy.w.Dmf. 1908 J. L. Waugh Robbie Doo (1912) ix.:
He was anxious I wad wager him a shillin' that he wadna put his heel in his neck. . . . I did sae . . . and, certie, efter a lot o' twistin' and sprauchlin, he managed his point.

2. Phrase: (by) my (ma) certie (certy); — certi(e)s, — certes, used in excls. of surprise or emphasis. Gen.Sc., except for Sh. and Ork.Sc. 1819 Scott Bride of Lamm. xxiv.:
Was I? my sartie! first for bringing me into jeopardy, would I nould I.Sc. 1929 M. M. Muir in Sc. Readings, etc. (ed. T. W. Paterson) 26:
Ten o'clock! An' us staun'in' here gossipin'! Ma certy!Ork. 1904 W. T. Dennison Sketches 2:
Be me serty, I t'ink, gin noise could deu geud i' the world, women wad be mair t'ought o' or dey are.Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 66:
My certie, please peace an' the king, I'll bide laicher doon. A sailor can climb like a cat, but a plooman likes stan'in' room for's feet.Abd. 1930 D. Campbell Kirsty's Surprise 37:
Be sure, lassie, tae mak' yersel' at hame, for, ma certies, ye're a gey step frae yer ain noo.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto Tammas Bodkin xxiv.:
My certie, if he didna dicht me up, clean steek, for my undutifu' behaviour.Edb. 1811 H. Macneill Bygane Times 25:
By my certes! This aping fool gae Evening parties.Lnk. 1930 T. S. Cairncross in Scots Mag. (Jan.) 301:
My certes! wha wad be a beadle noo?Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage, etc. 252:
By my certy, it wou'd ta'en a buirdly chiel' to said boo to him.s.Sc. 1871 H. S. Riddell Poet. Wks. I. 37:
My certis, ye're sure to hear.