Show Search Results Show Browse

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mercy-, Merciles, a. and adv. Also: mercie-, mairci-, mearceles. [ME. (14th c.) and e.m.E. mercy-, merciles(se.]

1. Merciless; showing no mercy; devoid of mercy, pitiless. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxii. 30.
Ever quhen I think ȝow harde or dour Or mercyles in my succour
Id. lxiv. 5.
Except onlie that ȝe ar mercyles
1549 Compl. 163/1.
He vsit his mercyles crualte contrar them
a1568 Bann. MS. 217 a/5.
And scho be mairciles
a1568 Scott xx. 7. Ib. xxi. 10. a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 309.
How unnaturall and mearceles traitors thay ar
transf. a1578 Pitsc. I. 319 n.
Quhilk was callit efterhend the merciles mark of Schir James Hammiltoun

2. Obtaining no mercy, unpitied.Passing into adv. (next sense). 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10695.
Merciles to be marterit
a1568 Scott xvii. ii.
Bot merciles I go from ȝeir to ȝeir
c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 467.
Ȝe … That seis ȝournedie brotherin distres … bot layfis him mercyles
a1568 Bann. MS. 223 b/32. 1567 G. Ball. 119.
Our ennemies … sal say, God hes left us mercyles

3. adv. Mercilessly, pitilessly, ruthlessly. 1549 Compl. 1/19.
The vniuersal pestilens … that hes occurit mercyles amang the pepil
1562-3 Winȝet I. 12/1.
To abolise and pull the samyn [sc. images] mercyles vp be the rutis
1556 Lauder Off. Kings 470.
The pure that ar … Opprest and hereit mercyles
1567 G. Ball. 177. 1614 Highland P. III. 188.
Let thame knawe … how mercieles all was execut

You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.

"Merciles adj., adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/merciles>

25749

dost

Hide Advanced Search

Browse DOST:

    Loading...

Share: