sickerlyadv.
Now Scottish and northern dialect.† 1. With full certainty or conviction. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > [adverb] > with full certainty
sickerlyc1100
c1100 in A. S. Napier Contrib. Old Eng. Lexicogr. 57 For þan þe þa apostles scolden witen sicerlice þæt he arisen wæs of deaðe.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 5322 Te birrþ witenn sikerrliȝ forr goddspellboc itt kiþeþþ.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 327 As he which demeth sikerly That sche be ded.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 132 If a treuthe be knowen bi doom of resoun, thanne it is knowen or sureli and sikirli; or it is knowen oonli probabili and likeli.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) iv. 662 That ȝhe trow this sekirly, My twa sonnys with ȝow sall I Send.
1552 Abp. J. Hamilton Catech. Tabil sig. *.iv To trow sickirly that God is almychty.
1586 J. Ferne Blazon of Gentrie 22 But I holde full sickerlie..that he fyndeth but few gentlefolks [etc.].
2.
a. Without doubt; undoubtedly, certainly, decidedly, assuredly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > making certain, assurance > [adverb]
iwis?c1160
sickerlyc1175
wisc1175
wislyc1200
i-witterlic1275
sickerc1275
certc1300
hardilyc1300
hardlya1325
certain1330
tristilya1350
certainlya1375
redelya1375
redilya1375
surelyc1380
hand in handa1382
righta1393
assuredlya1400
surea1400
naturallyc1425
in certc1440
ascertainly1477
soverly1513
perqueer1568
really1604
assurelya1626
just1687
pos1710
besure1743
verdad1928
α.
β. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 5754 Þa shallt tu wurrþenn sikerrliȝ. An off drihhtiness chilldre.c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 3237 And meriadok sikerly, In his help gan he be.c1386 G. Chaucer Prol. 137 And sikurly sche was of gret disport, And ful plesant.1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) viii. l. 594 Iornay thai socht and sekyrly has found.1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Matt. vi. 44 That sikerly is true praise.c1580 in Montgomerie's Poems (S.T.S.) 279 I was applesit to pleiss ȝow sickerly.1736 W. Thompson Epithalamium xi. 5 Such colours, sikerly, suit Hymen best.1825 in J. T. Brockett Gloss. North Country Words 1876 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Words Whitby ‘Ay, ay, sikkerly’, yes, yes, assuredly.c1220 Bestiary 106 His hope is al to gode-ward,..ðat is te sunne sikerlike.
a1300 Havelok 2301 Lokes nou, hw he is fayr; Sikerlike he is hise eyr.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 114 Tho wiste he..That he was sikerliche ded.
b. Qualifying verbs of affirming: Positively.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > assertion or affirmation > [adverb]
sickerly1340
affirminglyc1475
affirmably1489
affirmatively1533
assertively1562
asseverantlya1575
really1604
thetically1657
assertorilya1680
asseveratingly1880
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 64 Huanne me zuereþ zikerliche of þinge þet me nis naȝt ziker.
c1440 Generydes 2095 The xijteward the kyng of Orkenaye.., I say yow sekerly.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. i. i. 15 Quha may sikkerlie afferme sa remote & vncouth historie?
3. With assurance; confidently.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > confidence > [adverb]
sickerlyc1275
feably1490
confidently1597
perfidently1650
confidentially1680
unhesitatingly1829
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > [adverb]
trulyOE
boldlyc1175
sickerlyc1275
tristly1340
redelya1375
redilya1375
surelyc1380
tristilyc1380
certainc1384
faithfullyc1384
trustilyc1390
certainlya1400
trustlya1400
undoubtinglyc1400
absolutely?a1425
positivelyc1443
assuredly1508
traist1508
traistfully1508
crousea1525
constantlya1538
resolutely1540
suredly1551
trestly1568
cocksure1579
resolvedly1610
assurantly1619
emphatically1629
decretorily1660
convincedly1812
unmisgivingly1842
solid1937
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 3931 Siker-lichen [c1300 Otho sikerliche] we sculden uaren & fehten wið þon kæisere.
c1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 2469 Na man may trayste sikerly In hys gude dedys, þat he dus here.
c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn l. 1542 In whom shuld the sone have trust & feith sikirly, If his ffadir faylid hym?
1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia sig. Fviiv Wherby I can not see what good they haue doone: but that men may more sickerlye be euell.
4. Without danger or harm; securely, safely.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > [adverb] > safely or securely
fasteOE
sickerc1275
sickerlyc1290
surelyc1330
surea1400
surefully1495
soverly1513
sover1575
secure1578
securely1587
snug1674
rug1714
c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 142 He chaungede is name þe sikerloker forto go.
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter lxv. 5 Þai sall pass in flode,..in meknes, for swa he passis sikirly.
c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 1093 The poore man slepith ful sikirly On nyghtes, thogh his dore be noght shit.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. i. xv. 84 Þe samyn thing..was possibill and mycht sikkirlie be done.
c1665 Livingstone in Sel. Biogr. (Wodrow Soc.) I. 268 How sickerly is that laid up from the reach of the roughest hands!
1897 E. W. Hamilton Outlaws of Marches iii. 27 There's nae a man in Liddesdale can sickerly lead a party at night thro' the Foulbogshiel.
5.
a. In a secure manner; firmly, fast.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fastening > condition of being fast bound or firmly fixed > [adverb]
fasteOE
fastlyeOE
hardOE
hetefastea1225
file-fasta1250
sickerlyc1275
stiff1525
tighta1625
soundly1632
starkly1819
tightlya1865
bracingly1874
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13377 Þer heo wel wusten. sikerliche to halden þene riche mon of Rome.
a1400–50 Alexander 2401 Þat Iowell..was full sekirly & soft all in silke falden.
c1480 (a1400) St. James Great 123 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 100 His handis bundyne sekyrly behynd his bak.
c1480 (a1400) St. Thais 125 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 218 [He] closit þe dure sekyrly, & selyt it with led.
a1810 J. Finlay in R. Ford in Harp Perthshire (1893) 419 What sorrow gars him haud it sae sickerlie?
1828 P. Buchan Anc. Ballads & Songs N. Scotl. I. 112 Twa for keepers o' the guard, See that to keep it sickerlie.
b. In the manner of an obligation; bindingly.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > [adverb]
steadfastlya1200
sickerlya1300
strictly1487
obligatorily1570
obligingly1655
a1300 Cursor Mundi 25162 Halden sikerlik es he Vs to here in vr mister.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 64 Huanne me behat zikerliche þet me naȝt not yef me hit may uoluelle.
?a1400 Morte Arth. 439 I salle hym sekyrly ensure, undyre my seele ryche, To seege þe cetee of Rome wyth-in sevene wyntyre.
6. In a stable or steady manner.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > initiating or causing to begin > [adverb] > in an established manner
sickerlyc1375
narrowlya1513
settledly1602
rootedlya1616
c1375 Lay Folks Mass Bk. (MS. B) 526 Þou make my loue..sykerly sett..to loue þe wele.
c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) i. civ. 56 Thilke that leneth him sikerliche ther to may not falle.
1552 Abp. J. Hamilton Catech. ii. viii. f. 144 Yat yu may be sickerly groundit in the trew faith of this sacrament.
1822 J. Galt Provost xiv. 111 [He] had again got himself most sickerly installed in the Guildry.
1895 S. R. Crockett Men of Moss-hags xlvi To learn ye how siccarly to sit your beast.
7. With certainty of result; efficaciously.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > efficacy > [adverb]
welleOE
sickerly1340
effectuallya1398
speedfully1398
effectuously1424
workingly?a1425
sickerc1450
trimly?a1513
trima1547
purposely1560
operatively1601
tightly1601
virtually1604
feckfullya1614
prevailingly1615
effectively1656
efficaciously1703
efficiently1828
tellingly1832
availingly1853
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > certain prospect or possession > [adverb]
(it is) no fail (but)1297
alsaufc1300
without lackc1300
without (any) faultc1325
sickerly1340
without lipsea1380
surelyc1380
for, without (any) failinga1382
sure?a1475
securely1597
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 195 Ase þe lanterne þet me berþ beuore þe manne him let bet and more zikerlaker þanne þe ilke þet me berþ behynde þe regge.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) v. xxviii No partie of the body toucheþ so sekerlich as þe hand.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. lxii We..shal ordaine for the gouernance of our sayd father sekyrly, louingly and honestly.
c1817 J. Hogg Tales & Sketches III. 71 I would have aimed as sickerly as possible.
8. Sharply, severely, smartly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > [adverb]
strongeOE
hotOE
unsoftOE
snellya1000
stitha1000
stronglyOE
woodlyc1000
hatelyOE
unridelyc1175
wood1297
mainlyc1300
dreec1330
spackly?c1335
brothelyc1340
bremelya1375
fiercelya1375
violentlya1387
throlyc1390
roughlya1400
snarplya1400
unrekenlya1400
dreichlyc1400
ranklyc1400
witherlyc1400
maliciouslya1450
fervently1480
roidlyc1480
thrafully1535
vehement?1541
toughly1589
sickerly1596
vengeously1599
virulently1599
rageously1600
ragefullya1631
churlishly1657
improbously1657
rampantly1698
fierce1771
savagerous1832
fulgurantly1873
franticly1883
society > authority > strictness > [adverb] > strictly or severely of rules, judgement, or discipline
sharplyc900
fasteOE
straitlya1340
severely1548
sickerly1596
severe1599
strictly1602
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 304 He first..mett sickerly with the Jnduellaris of Lochquhaber.
?1609 in J. Row Hist. Kirk Scotl. (Wodrow Soc.) 265 Whilk might make a few..conveen together..and censure sickerlie those corrupters of the Kirk.
1685 J. Renwick Choice Coll. (1776) 177 God shall make them pay sickerly for it.
1775 Baillie's Lett. & Jrnls. 1 384 Who spoke against conclusions, got usually so sickerly on the fingers that they had better been silent.
1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Sickerly,..smartly, severely; in relation to a stroke.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.c1100