A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1537-1670
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Vilely, Vyldlie, adv. Also: wilelé, vildely, wyildlie. [ME and e.m.E. villiche (c1290), vilik, vilelik (both Cursor M.), vyly (Manning), vilely (14th c.).] a. In a despicable, reprehensible manner. b. In a filthy, foul manner.a. a1538 Abell 77b.
Ondir him wilele wes callit to feist and slane all the Denis be the Inglismen 1584 Acts III 305/1.
Thair be way of hame sukkin brigancie and forthocht fellony maist vyldlie … murtherit him 1586 Criminal Trials I ii 145.
Wyildlie c1590 Fowler II 134/22.
Vyldlie doing and committing a thousand base parts 1607 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 33.
Personis … that maist vyldlie … abuses thame selffis … be thair drunkensumnes a1649 Drummond I 90/11.
Those blacke artes By which base mortalles vildely play their parts, And staine with horride actes earths stately stage 1649 Last and Heavenly Speeches of Viscount Kenmuir 9.
A gentleman of your name who killed a man vildely 1670 Kingarth Par. Rec. 64.
Her neibor had most … vilely and ignominously slandered her in saying that she did eat liceb. 1655 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII 369.
For keiping of the hie streitt of the Cowgait clein, quhilk is most vyldlie pestered … with middings
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"Vilely adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/vilely>
