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

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

Clene, Cleyn(e, Clein(e, adv. Also: clean(e. [ME. clene, OE. clǽne.]

1. So as to be clean; in a clean or neat manner.In some instances not clearly distinguishable from Clene,adj. used predicatively. 1375 Barb. xviii. 213 (E).
Quhen the feld was clengit clene, Swa that na resistens was sene a1400 Leg. S. xv. 90.
Ȝe schryfe ȝow of ȝoure synis cleyne 1456 Hay I. 170/21.
Peple in syn … ar nocht … sa happy as otheris that ar clene confest c1460 Thewis Gud Wemen 85.
Pres nocht … to bee … our clen wesching onne verk dais c1475 Wall. viii. 1202.
His leg harnes he clappyt on so clene a1500 Rauf C. 681.
The flure carpit and cled and couerit full clene 1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 395.
Sax pillaris … and seven bollis [= bowis] clein hewin 1542 Reg. Cupar A. II. 18.
Thay payand … ȝeirly to ws … xi b[ollis] of gude and clene dycht quheit 1597 Edinb. Test. XXXI. 1.
Ane dussane of clene dicht calf skinis 1634 Urie Baron Ct. 74.
The said day Magnus Milne at the milne of Cowie is ordeanit to sie the ferme cleine sheilit

2. Completely, entirely, altogether.In very common use after 1500. Also clene and clair, clene and law.(a) 1375 Barb. x. 123 (E).
Alexander … , that saw The king dystroy wp, clene and law, His land Ib. xvi. 363.
To hew Jedwort forrest sa clene, That na tre suld tharin be sene 1456 Hay I. 54/16.
Gude men of were sa clene war slayn doune, that thare was na men for to defend the toune a1500 Rauf C. 125.
Gif thow of courtasie couth, thow hes forȝet it clene c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 325.
Qhen I the cure had all clene, & him ourcummyn haill 1513 Doug. i. i. 37.
Cartage … [to] bryng ontill finale rewyne, And clene distroy the realme of Lybia 1533 Boece iii. xxi. 123 b.
All evanyst sa clene that quhare the batell was sene na takin remanit 1558 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 161.
Œcolompadine wyl sweir … , that thow art clene out of the way 1569 Sat. P. x. 205.
He sat hir clene at fredome By our aduyse a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxxxv. 41.
To nycht the court sum gydis clene Thairin to morne dar not be sene a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xvii. 59.
Exemed clene from loves lair, To work Apollo spyt 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xiii.
For cauld thay wer discomfeist clene(b) Brus xvi. 462 (C).
Thai … tald how that thar men war slayne So cleyne, that neir eschapit nane Ib. xviii. 239.
He thoucht … For till distroy so cleyn Scotland, That nane suld be thar-in liffand 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 113.
Nor ȝit sa cleyn all sudron I refus Ib. 497.
Bot first, I pray ȝou, grape the mater cleyn 15.. Clar. i. 330.
Quhill all his painis worne war cleine away a1570-86 Maitl. F. xxx. 90.
I clein recant And cry for mercy a1585 Maitl. Q. xvi. 14.
The poure peopill oppressand clein 1596 Dalr. I. 61/31.
Mony ane sawe the balkes of the same schip cleine consumed Ib. 258/8.
He gaue him selfe clein and clair ouer to al vice 1638 Ann. Banff I. 82.
To red and remowe their … muck clein out of the peathe(c) 1584 Sat. P. xlv. 897.
The first merchant he cleane forsuike 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 37.
Quhilk causit the cuntrie to be cleane herijt a1578 Pitsc. I. 75/15.
They put the Inglisch men cleane abak fra thair standart

3. Without addition; net. 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII. 153.
Tene kyngkennis of powder, weyand clene by the treis thre hundretht thre score poundis