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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quently, Quaintly, Queyntly, adv. Also: quentlie, qwhently; quayntly, quantly; qweyntlye; qwyntly. [ME queint(e)- (1297), queynteliche, -ly, quaintli (Cursor M.), quaynteliche, quoynteliche (1297), coint-, coyntly, e.m.E. queintly, quaintly; Quent adj.¹]

1. Skilfully, cleverly; expertly, efficiently, effectively. Also transf. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2408.
This King Acastrus prevaly Has put Peleus so queyntly Frome his cuntre, that on no syd In-to a part he durst abyd c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 1932.
Beter it war it [the helmet] strukin fra him haid bene Quentlie but mair a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1302.
The dout and the danger he tauld him quently 1513 Doug. v x 82.
To … er thar onreturnabilly The subtell throwgangis [sc. of the Laborynth] followand sa quentlytransf. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1223.
Quhare Criste cachis the cours, it rynnis quently

2. By way of trickery or deceit, cunningly, craftily, deceitfully, insidiously.Also with admixture of other senses. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1837.
Sum folk … Told a foule fenȝeit fortoune fals Of Pallamydes queyntly With sleked wordis subtelly c1420 Wynt. ii 212.
Syne how this Jacob sleely Prewenyde hys brodyre qweyntlye [C. qwyntly, W. quayntly] Ib. 1132.
And thai excusyd thame symply And said, thai dyd it qwhently [v.rr. qwyntly, full quantly] For [etc.] 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 240.
Quhat slycht dissait quently to flat and feyn Ib. vii vi 30.
Sone as the first infectioun a litil we Of slymy vennom inȝet quently [E. quietlie] had sche Ib. x xi heading.
Juno rycht quayntly causys Turnus to fle Ane fenȝeit figour persewand of Enee a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxiv 11.
Quhen we beleif it is most stabill To change on ws it is most able Fortoun so quentlie dois it steir

3. With skilful or ingenious art; artistically, curiously, elaborately.Also with admixture of prec. sense: ‘artfully’.(1) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1476.
Thre curious goldin treis, … Ane fair mirrour be thame quentlie vpborne Id. Æn. v vi 127.
A rych scheild, wrocht quently Sum tyme by ane Dodymaon maist crafty Ib. ix v 97.
Twa charis rych, or trestis quently fold a1570-86 Maitl. F. liii 8.
In cloikis thai come so quentlie cled And rowndis to get thair erandis sped Urquhart Rabelais i lvii (OED).
They could speak five or sixe several languages, and compose in them all very quaintly(2) 1513 Doug. ii iv 85.
Quhil that myschancy monstre, quently bet, Amyd the hallowit tempill vp was set