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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1420, 1490-1513, 1571-1596
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Gretly, adv. Also: -le, -lie, -lye. [ME. gretly, -li, -liche (c 1200), f. Gret a. Cf. Gretely.] Greatly, to a great extent, in a great degree. 1375 Barb. i. 382.
He wes nocht sa fayr, that we Suld spek gretly off his beaute 1375 Ib. v. 576 (E).
That awaillyt hym gretle ther 1375 Ib. xv. 535.
He so gretly dred was than a1400 Legends of the Saints v. 71.
Drusiane … That quhylum gretly luffit thé 1405 James of Douglas Letter to Henry IV in Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 59.
Yhu mervalis gretly that my men … has byrnde the toun of Berwike c1420 Wynt. vi. 298.
He spendyd sa fast … , That hys gold begouth gretly to fayle c1420 Ib. viii. 6793.
The Frenche men ware prysit gretly c1420 Ratis Raving 426.
Temperans … A wertew gretly till alow 1490 Irland Mir. l. 122/23.
Dame Pes, that lauborit sa gretly in the concord of the hevinly wertuis 1492 Myll Spectakle of Luf 272/19.
A ȝoung squyar that was to gretly amorus 1513 Doug. i. iii. 56.
Neptune … Gretly commovit, out of the sey gan stair 1571 Satirical Poems xxix. 1.
First quhen the newis begouthe to ryse, gretly thai maid me wondre 1596 Dalr. I. 39/26.
Ane foul … that gretlie abhoris the presens of man
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"Gretly adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/gretly_adv>
