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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wis(e)ly, Wys(e)ly, adv. Also: wis(e)lie, wys(e)lie, vyselie, wysslé, vysly, -lie, wysalie, wyislye, -lie, vyislie, wyisely, vaislie, vaysely, vasly, weselé, weiselie. Compar. wyslear. Superl. wyseliest. [ME and e.m.E. wisliche (1175), wisliȝ (Orm), wiseli (Cursor M.), wysly (Chaucer), weisely (?a1400), wysely (c1400), wisely (1420), OE wíslíce, MLG, MDu. wîslîk.] a. In a manner showing good judgment; competently, skilfully, carefully, attentively; cleverly, cunningly. b. Knowledgeably, in an erudite manner.a., b. 1375 Barb. iv 580.
He … Sad he wes boune in-till all thing For to fullfill his commaunding, And said he suld do sa wisely That na repruff suld efter ly 1375 Barb. xv 544.
He tretyt thaim sa wisly ay … And sic a-wansement wald ma Off thar deid that the mast cowart He maid stowtar then a libart a1400 Leg. S. i 26.
Criste has wisly done, That opinly wald nocht discouere Till his discipulis that tratoure a1400 Leg. S. ix 150.
That he ourcome the feynd vysly, Quhene his visdome the fendis arte Had ourcumyne in til al parte a1400 Leg. S. xviii 639.
Prayand hyr at al myn mycht: ‘A lady Mary, … wysly, laydy, pray I thé That thu wald mercy hafe of me ?1438 Alex. i 891.
Thay raid wisly and in gude array c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2454.
Wyslie 14.. Burgh Laws c. 88 (B).
Thai sal bysily and wysly wake qwhil in the mornyng c1450-2 Howlat 305 (A).
Thai … Enteris in Ewrope, fre but offens, Walis wyslie the wayis, be woddis & wellis 1456 Hay II 104/10.
Thou suld ger rede in thy presence bath cronykis and histories … thou sall fynd thare mony thingis … that sall mak thé wysar to eschew perilis and govern the mare wisly in tyme tocum 1490 Irland Mir. I 164/20.
I knaw that Gowere, Chauceire, … and mony wthire has writtin in Inglis tonge richt wisly induceand personis to lefe vicis and folow wertuis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 496.
To every man in speciall speke I sum wordis So wisly and so womanly quhill warmys ther hertis 1535 Stewart 57015.
For to devyis … Richt wyslie than quhat best wes to be done With presoneris 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 112.
Wyssle 1562-3 Winȝet II 57/10.
Graif owt the precious stanis of godlie doctrine: faythfullie set thame: wyslie trim thame: eik to thame licht, brychtnes, beutifulnes and plesance! 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III 479.
Ȝe sall do wislie and ryghtlie as ȝe ar customit c1550-c1580 Art of Music 24b.
Quhow mekill of tym is to be gewin in the choip of ewerrie noit and pause it is rycht vyslie diffinit 1589 Reg. Privy C. IV 388.
It hes bene maist prudentlie and wyslie providit, be divers actis of parliament … that [etc.] 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 282.
If the Laird … proceid wyslie and warlie being cheiflie cairfull of the saftie of the cuntrie(b) 1375 Barb. ix 150.
Quhen the erlis cumpany Saw that thai wrocht sa wisely That thai thar strenth schupe to defend, Thar archeris furth to thaim thai send ?1438 Alex. i 1662.
Emynedus … That gouernit thame wysely in that raid c1450-2 Howlat 660 (B).
The Paip and the patriarkis, the prelattis, I wist, Welcomit them wysalie [A. wynly], but weir, With haly sarmondis seir [etc.] a1500 Rauf C. 587.
I raid on full richt, To watche wyselie the wayis 1562-3 Winȝet II 70/17.
Vyselie 1596 Dalr. II 145/17.
Our king wyselie following his counsel cumis fra the hill 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 159.
He manadges this matter in the dispensation of the gospell so wiselie [etc.] 1645 Misc. Hist. Soc. I 119.
Ȝe do wyselie to hold ȝow be your maik and syde with nather(c) a1500 Henr. Fab. 791 (Bann.).
Attent wyislye [OUP, Ch. wyislie] and in ȝour hartis note Aganis deid may no man mak defence 1533 Boece 270b.
His son Occa … suld wyislie cleith him self with all castellis and fortalicis … betuix the fludis of Tyne and Humbir a1568 Sempill in Sat. P. xlviii 65.
Gif ȝe wirk wyislie, and schaip it precyslie, The elwand wald be grit and lang 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 16.
Vyislie 1600-1610 Melvill 522.
Sua your lordschipis wald … wyisely and godlilie forsie that [etc.](d) c1475 Wall. x 309.
Hundrys thre Off westland men, was oysyt in jeperte, Apon wycht hors that wesele coud ryd 1690 Leven & Melv. P. 551.
I assure your Lordship acts his pairt wiell and weiselie(e) 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 89.
Vasly 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 90.
That the letter be vaysely med and vith gentill vourdis 1545 Douglas Corr. 155.
This artekille being vaislie set furht, I treste swrlie it sal cawse the moste parte off Scotland to fawore the kingis openioncompar. 1535 Stewart 17448.
I dout richt nocht, The wyslear that this mater be wrochtsuperl. 1582 Warrender P. (SHS) I 152.
Handill that mater the wyseliest ye can to your honestie