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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.

Rich(e)ly, -lie, adv. and adj. Also: rych(e)-, ritch- and -lye. [ME and e.m.E. richeliche (c1205), richelie (a1300), OE ríclíce.]

A. adv. 1. Sumptuously; expensively; in a splendid or highly decorative manner; lavishly; abundantly. Cf. Rich(e adj. 3–7.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 1572.
& mad Sanct Moryse thare to ly Enbawmyt weile & richly Ib. xxxiv 41.
Wele arayt and rychely In clethinge that wes rycht costly c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2670.
Leorta … gart his brothire erd richely ?1438 Alex. i 1215.
His scheild was bordouret richely With gold and asure halely 1456 Hay I 43/15.
The quhilk was first that ever maid kynglyk habytis … of purpur richely c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 142/42.
Go se the birdis … Annamyllit richely with new asur lycht 1513 Doug. xii ii 95.
Hys halbryk fyne … schynand rychely Of fynast gold and quhitly alcomy 1533 Bell. Livy I 150/7.
The kingis scribe … was … richelie accutterit c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 121.
The reid skarlet … Of nedill wark richt richelie all resplaid c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1906.
Templis, that rychelie bene decorit, Ar brynt 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7141.
And cleith ȝow vp richelie 1603 Moysie 84.
Ritchly(2) ?1438 Alex. ii 7455.
Baith auld and ȝing Ressauit him full richely 1596 Dalr. II 59/14.
He thairfor receiuet her … rychlie as a frinde(3) c1420 Wynt. vii 430.
Coldyngame than fowndyd he, And rychely gert it dowyt be c1450-2 Howlat 147 (A).
Thir lordis … richely the harraldis rewardit ilkane a1500 Bk. Chess 1586.
No thing he dois richlye fer nor neir Bot efter his deid leiffand his gudis heire c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 136.
His purse pays richely in recompense efter 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2801.
Octauiane … in riches sa richelie did abound That [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. II 117/10.
Ane schip of Muscowe … richlie leidnit with all kynd of coistlie wairis 1596 Dalr. I 302/3.
Quhome he rychly rewardet(4) c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii 13.
The men quhome God hes rychelie dotit

2. Thoroughly, fully; severely. a1568 Bann. MS 32a/60.
I wes tane doun and woundit richelie Ib. 74a/3.
Gif he sendis thé pouerty Thank thow him richly

B. adj. Abundant. = Rich(e adj. 7. a1585 Maitl. Q. 113/32.
That same in ȝow dois moir abound With richlie opulence