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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Evinly, Ewinly, a. Also: evynly, eyvinly, evinlie, evenly, -lie; ewynly, ewinlie. [Var. of Evinlik(e a.]

1. a. Equal in amount. 1392 Lennox Mun. 46.
To be payit … be ewynly porciounes 1443 Reg. Great S. 85/1.
Thre pundis … to be payit … in evenly proporciones 1462 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 371.
To be pait at the festis of Wytsonday & of Sant Martyn in wyntyr be evynly porcyonnys 1479 Acta Conc. 32/2.
The lordis … ordanis that the schiref part the said landis and deliuer the said Vmfra … an evinly thrid therof 1516 Reg. Privy S. I. 412/1.
To be payt to the said Kateryne be evenlie portiouns of the Kingis landis 1534 Crosraguel Chart. I. 97.
Payand … the sowme of fourtye poundis … at twa termis in the ȝeir … be ewinlie portionis 1590 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 49.
The forsad Robert sall content and pay to me … fyif merkis … be ewynly portionys

b. Equal in character, size, or force. c1420 Wynt. v. 2626 (W).
Oure partiis baith ar now evinly 1513 Doug. v. viii. 2.
Eneas, than Twa evynly burdonys walyt, as cunnand man 1611-57 Mure Dido iii. 238.
The hudge armado … she remarkes Through Neptun's empires with ane evenly gale

2. Equitable, just. a1400 Leg. S. iii. 707.
Ewynly recompensacion 1533 Boece ii. iv. 62 b.
This man, … sobir of mynde and wele gevin, be grete discrecioun and evinly ballance vsit the authorite 1611 Edinb. Test. XLVI. 290.
Hir saidis bairnes … to sie the evinlie and equall distributioun of the forrsaidis guidis

b. Of persons: Impartial. 1453 14th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. iii. 9.
Gyf ony of thare men happins to debat or discord … that nouther of thaim sal tak part with thaire awyn men bot be euynly reddaris and stanchearis of euill 1488 Acts II. 210/2.
Personis of wisdome, prudence, & of gud disposicioun, & vnsuspect to his hienes, & evinly to all his liegis 1494 Acta Conc. 361/2.
The money … suld be … layit in an evinly manis hand to be kepit ay and quhill it be warit as said is 1526 Carnwath Barony Ct. 28.
My l. to cheis ane evinly man for thaim bath anent the party & debait Ib.
To tak ij gud evinly nychtboris & my l. to be owrisman 1550 Breadalbane P. (Reg. H.) No. 76.
The said Alexander … sall be ane ewinly man for baytht the parteis 1572 Buch. Detect. H. vij a.
I desyre the money to be consignit into ane euinly mans hand

3. Level; straight, regular. a1586 Lindsay MS. 1 b.
The feild and listis … salbe maid … in sa ewinly place, that nane … may haue avantage of vtheris Ib. 23.
The part of the fronte of the battell that is skalit & not ewinly wilbe soner slopit be thair innemeis