A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1522-1699
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(Likly-,) Likli(e)hood, Lyklyhod(e, n. Also: likliehoid, lykliehoode. [Late ME. and e.m.E. likli- (1398), likly- (1433), lyklyhode (1455, 1509): cf. Likely-.] a. Likeness, resemblance. = Liklynes 1. b. Probability, reasonable expectation or presumption. = Liklynes 2 and Liklyhede,n. a. 1561 Cal. Sc. P. I. 582.
[To] augment the freindship and luif which must spring of the lyklyhode of these two princesses 1590-1 Bruce Serm. 156.
For there is nothing makes this life happy but the resemblance and liklihood that we have with God 16.. Rudiments fol. 41 a.
Conjunctiues … Quam, than, and other some adverbs of lykliehoode, resemblance, similitudeb. (1) 1522 Douglas Corr. 86.
I am dissauit … in contrare to all goode lyklyhod or naturall equite 1606 Criminal Trials II. 503.
A continwing obdured obstinacie and wilfulnes, without likliehoid or appeirance of resipiscence and repentance in thame(2) 1568 Cal. Sc. P. II. 555.
Articles contenyng certane conjectouris, presumptionis, likliehoodis and circumstances [concerning Darnley's murder]
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"Liklihood n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/likliehood>
