agley \əˈglā, -lē, -lī, Scot usually -lē or -ləi\adverb alsoaglee\-lē\ Etymology: Scots, literally, squintingly, from English a- (I)+ Scots & dialect English gley, glee to squint, from Middle English (northern dialect) gleyen chiefly Scotland: against hope, expectation, or plan : awry, wrong < the best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley — Robert Burns >