sikerli - Middle English Compendium

Middle English Dictionary Entry

sikerlī adv.

Entry Info

Forms	sikerlī adv. Also sikerlẹ̄, sicerli, sicor-, sicurelẹ̄, seker-, sekureli, cec(c)ur- & (errors) sicculy, sicutly, syrcurlice, silurly.
Etymology	From siker adj.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

(a) With certainty, without mistake, definitely, assuredly; really, actually, in fact; (b) without fail, on a guaranteed basis; (c) as a parenthetical asseverative, emphasizing the truthfulness of the statement: indeed, truly; (d) truthfully, truly, in a truthful statement.

Show 64 Quotations Hide 64 Quotations

Associated quotations

a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Elucid.(Vsp D.14)145/12 : Ðæt æreste þing, for þan þe þa apostles scolden witen sicerlice, þæt he arisen wæs of deaðe.
c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5322 : Te birrþ witenn sikerrliȝ..Þatt whase..Gaþ forþ to swelltenn bliþeliȝ Forr Crisstenndom..Þe maste lufe he shæweþþ.
a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)53/13 : Hit is sikerliche his flesc and his blod ðe scal all manken demen.
c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1139 : Nu þu miȝt wite sikerliche Þat þine leches boþ grisliche.
a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)91 : His hope is al to godeward & of his luue he lereð ðat is te sunne sikerlike; ðus his sigte he beteð.
c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)12 : He was..i-don In prisone..And i-wust wel sikerliche þat he ne scholde a-wei go.
c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)534 : Mi fader me haþ for lorn, Sir rohand, sikerly Þe best blower of horn And king of venery For þouȝt.
(1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)64/8 : Oþer huanne me zuereþ zikerliche of þinge þet me nis naȝt ziker yet þaȝ hit by zoþ.
(c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2338 : But nathelees if thow wene sikerly that thy biwreyyng of thy conseil to a persone wol make thy condicioun to stonden in the bettre plyt, thanne shaltow telle hym thy conseil in this wise.
(a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1427 : Piramus..Began his handes forto wringe, As he which demeth sikerly that sche be ded.
a1400 Cursor (Phys-E)19726 : Þai sumdel for him [Saul] war drede, And wende noȝte giet in þat siquare Þat sikirlic he cristin ware.
c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8309 : Troyens supposid sykerly Þat Philomene..Had be ded.
?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.10.280 : Thanne mowen we concluden sykerly, that the substaunce of God is set in thilke same good.
(1431) EEWills88/5 : Y will it be Frere William, if it be so that he haue sikerly leve of his Provyncyall.
(c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)132 : If a treuthe be knowen bi doom of resoun, thanne it is knowen..sikirli.
c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1454 : Levith well in certen, yeur wyff woll sikirliche Eche day for angir hir tuskis whet.
a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.180 : Ȝif þe soget knowe sykyrly þat hys byschop was mad be symonye, he shal raþere suffryn to ben cursyd of hym þan he schal takyn ordre of hym.
1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)372 : The tyme..steleth from vs so priuely That to vs semeth sykerly That it in one poynt dwelleth euer.

c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5754 : Þa shallt tu wurrþenn sikerrliȝ An off Drihhtiness chilldre.
a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1500 : Esau..gafe it [his birthright] him wel sikerlike.
(a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1564 : If thou go withoute red Thou schalt be sekerliche ded.
a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) John & Boy (Phys-E)p.115 : I sal prai godd for the And sikerlic I her the hyte God forgifnes of al thi plihte.
a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25162 : Wit þis word 'vrs' vnderstand Al sikernes of vr erand; For if þat he þus vrs be, Halden sikerlik es he Vs to here in vr mister In alkin rightwisnes praier.
a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)13327 : Fra þis time forþ saltowe [Peter] be porter of heyuen & erþ sicurele.
c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.547 : Conscience and kynde witte kenned me to his place And deden me suren hym sikerly to serue hym for euere.
?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)65/17 : Þei..tooken þe holy participacioun of my sones blood, which sikirly was þe wiin, þat þis soothfast vyne, my sone, brouȝte forþ to ȝou.
c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)439 : I sall hym sekyrly ensure, vndyre my seele ryche, To seege þe cetee of Rome wythin seuen wyntyre.
a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)52.840 : The leches..boden hem Abasched Nothing to be, For Al hol scholden they ben sykerle.
c1450 Upland R.(Dgb 41)103/62 : If þou..Can preue þis on oon of hem þat clepist my secte, And sicurly shalt þou haue of me an hundriþ pounde.
c1460 Ipom.(3) (Lngl 257)333/39 : If there be any manhede in him..sicurlie he woll be there.
c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)86/5 : It gouernyth vs sadly in cristis waye and confermyth vs sikerly þat we mow be godis childrin.
(a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)199/17 : Tresoure oute of numbir there mayste thou sykerly fynde.
c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)4.92 : Some..clappid more for þe coyne..Thanne for comfforte of þe comyne..And were be-hote hansell if þay helpe wolde To be seruyd sekirly of þe same siluere.
a1500(1471) *Ripley CAlch.(Ashm 1486)1759 : 10 yff yu multyplye in-to 10, 100 yt nombre wyll make sykerly.
1607 Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)477/336 : My folke shall doe..thinges that they ne know may to that mayden, by many waye, and her sonne, sickerlie.

a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)26/34 : Sikerliche, vre vo..scheot..mo cwarreaus to one ancre þen to seo-uene & seouenti lefdies iþe worlde.
a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2319 : Sikerlike, Vp quam ðu it findes, witterlike He slagen and we agen driuen, In-to ðraldom euermor to liuen.
c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)146 : Ac to late þi sinne al onliche Nis noht inouh, sikerliche.
a1350 St.Alex.(1) (LdMisc 108)59/383 : Lordingges, sikerly [vr. sikerliche], Of swich ne wot I non.
?c1350 In sory tyme (PRO SC 2/175/41)p.287 : Y nam but lore hure loue to lenun & y ne may; for sykurlyche y wot hyt wel.
1372 In place (Adv 18.7.21)78 : Al beronnen with red blod, Among þe Iewes wilde and wod, He swounede sikirly.
(c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.137 : Ful semely after hir mete she [prioress] raughte, And sikerly she was of greet desport.
a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)12418 : Ȝitt souȝte þe folke..To sette ihesu to lore..Ioseph hem grauntide sikurlye.
c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)9.23 : Sykerliche, syre knyiȝt..Ich shal swynke and swete and sowe for us boþe.
c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4680 : Now, sekerly, þis is a wonder þing, How ȝour wisdam & ȝour avisenesse Ar blinded.
a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.520 : Sikirly, the soothe for to seyne, As I kan clepe ayein now to my mynde, Right thus to Love he gan hym for to pleyne.
a1425 This blessyd boke (LdMisc 286)23 : Rychard Hampole..Glosed the sauter that sues here in englysch song sykerly.
c1432 *SMChron.(Cmb Dd.14.2)282b : Aftur þees kynges ich haue of told Regned a kyng swyþe bold; Edward he hete silurly [read: sikurly].
a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)35.254 : Now have I ȝow told the Certeinte of that ȝe me han Axed ful sekerle.
a1450 Castle Love(1) (BodAdd B.107)1645 : Beforyn hym his iuggement sycorly Shall byn iwryten apertely, And allso his synnes ther shull be knowe.
a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)408 : For he knoweth my destynye And youres also, Sir, sekirlye.
a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)734 : Ther was no thing, syrcurliche [read: sycurliche], That the knyght lovyd so myche.
?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)57 : Diana, sicutly [read: sicurly], þe which is clepid in greke tonge Arthemesis, fonde up first þe vertues of this herbe.
c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.10 : In Pavie been his boones sikerlye.
c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)789 : Philippus Augustinus..Was Emperour..In whose tyme sikirlich þe vii sagis were In Rome.
a1475 Whane noþing whas (Brog 2.1)p.187 : Why, hit ys Non nodyre sekurely but weritus were-by domini.
a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)1939 : Thou artte of old auncetrye And wythholdon, cecurlye, A grette foys wyth the fere.
a1500(?c1400) EToulouse (Cmb Ff.2.38)952 : The marchande seyde sekyrlyke, 'Euyn thys day thre wyke.'
?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)262 : Sekyrly, master, no m[o]re ther shall!

c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)1694 : Þer he told him sikerly Of þe dragouns rede and white.
a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)1145 : Sikurly I telle þe here þou shal hit bye full selly dere.
?c1430(c1400) Rule & T.St.Francis(1) (Corp-C 296)42 : Where euere freris ben & fynden hem to-gidre, schewe þei hem homly bitwixe hem self, & sikyrly schewe eche to oþer his nede.
c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1666 : Yff yee have nede to eny maner thing And it be in my power..It shuld go riȝt wondir streyte, I sey ȝew sikirlich.
c1475 Earth(3) (Brog 2.1)26/66 : That myrth is withowttyn ende, I tel þe securlye.

(a) Fully, thoroughly, perfectly, well and truly, well; (b) boldly, confidently, with assurance, in an unworried manner; also, presumptuously.

Show 29 Quotations Hide 29 Quotations

Associated quotations

a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)27/4 : Þa stowwen hwar we ealle þos þing maȝe sycerlice [L diligenter] wyrcæn beoð þes mynstres claustren.
a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)233 : Ðe hert..drinkeð water gredilike til he is ful wel sikerlike.
(1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)125/8 : Ine none þinge he ne agelt þe laȝe to louie zikerliche.
(1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)195/5 : Þe lanterne þet me berþ be-uore þe manne him let bet and more zikerlaker þanne þe ilke þet me berþ behynde þe regge.
(a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.265 : Þanne wolde nouȝt here spouse Ioseph take here sikerliche to his wif, for sche was i-founde wiþ childe.
(a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2498 : Bot forto worche it sikirly Betwen the corps and the spirit, Er that the metall be parfit, In sevene formes it is set.
a1400(?c1300) LFMass Bk.(Roy 17.B.17)526 : Þer-fore I pray þe, god of myght, þou make my loue..sykerly [vrr. sikirly, Sikerliche, Sicurly] sett euer-ilk dele soueranly to loue þe wele.
a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)15015 : We sal þe honour sicureli for naþing wille we lette.
c1400 Bk.Mother (LdMisc 210:Everett)16/3 : How I myȝte most sikerly, vereily, and best worschipe þe as it were most to Gods worschipe.
c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8002 : Trusteþ sikerly, With-out skarmusche we may nat ariue.
c1425 Mirror LM&W (Hrl 45)122/27 : Þe secounde degre is truste, as whan a man..sikerliche truste in God.
(c1434) Drury Wks.(CmbAdd 2830)76/43 : For to knowe hem þe beter, sone, & þe more sekyrly to kepe hem in mynde, j ȝeue hem þe here, lo, in þis vers folwyng.
c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)192/15 : No man may deme hem sikerly till þat oure Lorde com to þe Dome.
(a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)222/18 : The kynge hymself pulled oute the truncheoune of the speare and made lechis to seche hym sykerly.
?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.68.46a : Soþli, noman may seien it sikirli bute he þat is perfitli and soþfastli meke.
a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)71/19 : Then they wolle deme hem to be made sikrely hole and riȝtid.

c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3931 : Welle broðer Nennius þat ich þe quic nabbe..siker-lichen we sculden uaren & fehten wið þon kæisere.
a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)147/30 : Ðanne ðu on michele niede gode wilt beseken, þanne..þin hierte bieð ðe gladdere, and ðe sikerliker ðu miht bidden.
c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)23/231 : Hwen ha felde meast sar, sikerlukest seide, 'Haldeð longe, ne leaue ȝe neauer.'
c1275 Ken.Serm.(LdMisc 471)220/187 : Grede we to him merci sikerliche, yef se deuel us wille a cumbri þurch senne.
c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)1997 : Porreus lai in bedde, and sikerliche he slepte; comes his moder..ȝeo carf him þane swere a-two.
a1325 SLeg.Patr.(Corp-C 145)652 : Þou most wende anon go uorþ a Godes name, And go sikerliche, for þe deuelen ne mowe þe do no ssame.
c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)8.142 : By so moche hit semeþ, þe sykerloker we mowe Bydde and by-seche þe..Þat ert..of flessh oure broþer.
a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3816 : He [Wicked-Tongue] swoore, affermyng sikirlye, Bitwene Bialacoil and me Was yuel aquayntaunce and pryue.
?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)104b/b : Þu maie more sikerlie repercusse a colerike enpostume wiþ pure repercussiues. But þu moste repercusse a sanguine enpostume wiþ gretter cautele.
?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)19 : Þei hopen to plese god more bi kepynge of here owne tradicions..and maken oþere more sikyrly to hopen þus þanne for kepynge of cristis gospel.
c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)56 : The burdoun hatteth esperaunce, whiche is good in eche sesoun, For thilke that leneth him sikerliche ther to may not falle.
c1450 Whanne marye was greet (Lamb 853)311 : Heere-aftir y hope ful sikirly For to come to þat blis ageyn.
c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)9 : Ilk man deme þe sikirliar þing þat semit to him.

(a) In safety, in security, safely, securely; (b) secretly.

Show 20 Quotations Hide 20 Quotations

Associated quotations

c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)20/185 : Ȝef we hire [the middle way] haldeð; þenne ga we sikerliche.
a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)114/401 : Frendchipe owerlde fairest to wurchen wid pouere & wid riche, wid alle men iliche, þanne maist þu sikerliche..faren ouer londe.
c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1252 : He chaungede is name þe sikerloker forto go.
c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.68 : Antecristes deciples..ne mowen nouȝth fleiȝen heiȝe þorouȝ riȝth vnderstondyng, ne gon sikerlich [F fermement] þorouȝ gode werkes.
(a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Par.16.1 : Baȝa, king of israel, steȝede vp in to Judam &..he enuyrownede rama, þat no man sikerli [L tute] myȝte gon out or coomyn in.
(a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.469 : We Bragmanes haveþ overcome þe ynnere batailles of oure owne membres, and resteþ sikerliche and haveþ no bataille outward.
(a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)102b/a : Medicynes may neuer be sikerliche I-take ȝif þe cause of þe euel is vnknowe.
c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)5.51 : Ich dar nouht for his felaweshepe..Bere sikerlich [vr. sikurly] eny seluer to seint gyles doune.
?a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.2 Kings (Cld E.2)8.6 : Settide strengthe, that is, werriours in a strong hold, that men of Sirie schulden beholdun sikirliere vndur tribute.
c1425 Castle Love(2) (Eg 927)373 : Seuen barbicans are sette so sekirly aboute That no maner of shoting may greue fro withoute.
a1450 *Aelred Inst.(2) (Bod 423)306 : Fastynge be the Duke and the leder of al religioun, with-out whom chastite may not sikerly be kepte.
c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2401 : A Ientill man þat Iowell [a crown] enioyned was to kepe, Þat was full sekirly [Dub: sarkenly] & soft all in silke falden.
c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)152/6 : Such on slepith ful sikerly with oute any naturel abundauns, withoute foule ymaginaciouns or illusiouns.
a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)8/36 : Sheepe byne left in þe fold sekurly in þis Ile, wtoutene kepynge.
a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.238 : Ȝif we wil ben sekyr at þe laste doom and comyn sekyrliche aforn our souereyn iuge þat knowith al, us must demyn wel ourself in þis world.
a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)2206 : Or we wyll the walles kepe, The sekyrlyar may we slepe.
a1500 Þis endyr day (StJ-C S.54)p.308 : I trow he cowd of gramery; I xall now good [s]kyll wy: For qwat I hade sicculy [read: siccurly], To warne hys wyll had I no may.
a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)68/34 : Ther-after he puruyed how he myght sykyrlychest kepe Irland.

c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)847 : Þe fende..com þan swiþe; Ouer alle hir chaumber in he miȝt, For þer nas no merk of our Driȝt; To þis maiden sikerliche He com þo and lay flescheliche.
a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)5538 : He most dele with all so sekerly That no man knowe it save he and ye and I.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

?a1450 Poem Hawking (Yale 163)367 : Vse here on the wyse þat Y for sayde. It woll be cause sekerly Þat may foule to dethe shall be layde.

Note: Additional quote(s)

Supplemental Materials (draft)

c1500 Tan.407 Artist.Recipes (Tan 407) 313/26 : And þan it is good inke, sekerly.
a1525 BodEMus.52 Artist.Recipes (BodEMus 52) 189/13 : Wryte þerwith in yryne or stell or what metall þat þu wylte, and yt schall schowe wonder fayre and yt wyll not awaye, sekyrlyche.

Note: Additional quots., ?prob. sense 1.(c). New spellings (sekerli & sekirliche).