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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rely, -ie, v. Also: -lye, -lay; raly(e, P.t. and p.p. relyit, -id; also relyt, releit, -leyt. [ME and e.m.E. rely, -ie (Manning), OF relier (c1185 in Larousse) to bind together, L. religāre. Cf. also OF ralier (1080 in Larousse) to rally, reassemble (troops).]In senses 1-3, only in early verse.

1. tr. To bring together (into one body or to one leader); to assemble.(1) 1375 Barb. vii 51.
With that relyit he his mengȝe & his way to the ost tuk he Ib. xix 584.
He blew his horne for to rely His men ?1438 Alex. ii 9376.
Salphadyne … maid sic disciplyne For to rely his folk that fled(2) 1375 Barb. iii 34.
His men till hym he gan rely Ib. ii 404.
Releyt ?1438 Alex. i 98.
His men to him he can relie c1475 Wall. ix 1071.
The twa feildys togiddyr relyt than Schyr Jhon Sewart

2. intr. To come, or draw, together (togidder); to assemble into a body; to rally to a leader.(a) 1375 Barb. vii 91.
Quhen the chasseris relyit [C. releit] war … He tauld … How that the king eschapyt was ?1438 Alex. i 1700.
Quhan he ‘Massidone!’ wald cry, The best to him wald ay rely Ib. 2540.
The furriouris out at ane syde Togidder relyit was that tyde 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 3226.
And all the prykaris to [the] king relyid [: cryit](b) 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 3745.
Thai gart crye That all men sould to Duke Bites raly Ib. 3992.
Ralye

3. To rely on, to advance or charge on (an enemy); to attack.For a similar sense development as that from 1 to 3 above, see Assembill v. 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 3692.
The Turkis agane on thame relyid, And thare ensenȝe … cryid

4. To depend on a person or thing with trust or confidence. 1665 Laing MSS I 345.
As one whom I presum to relay on 1667 Ib. 359.
For I doe relye intyrely upon your … freindship