Etymology

Formed on loʒe; cp. further OIcel lágliga.

PGmc Ancestor

*lēga-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

lágr ‘low’, cp. lágliga 'lowly'
(ONP lágr (adj.), cp. lágliga (adv.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far lágur, Icel lágur, Norw låg, Dan lav, Sw låg

OE Cognate

Phonological and morphological markers

ON /ɑ:/ < PGmc */e:/ (1)

absence of palatalization of */ɡ/

Summary category

A1*

Attestation

Widespread in ME.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Gaw 851, 1960; Cl 614, 745; WA 3172

The instance at Cl 745 has been emended, depending on the interpretation of the alliteration, to boʒsomly (GollCl 574n) and hyʒly (Menner, see further Vantuono 28n), but others maintain the MS reading.

Bibliography

MED loulī (adv.) , OED lowly (adv.) , HTOED , Dance loʒly; See further loʒe (adj., adv.).