a. Sc. Also 5 werty, 9 vertie, vairtie. [Aphetic f. AVERTY a.] Attentive to business; prudent, cautious, wide-awake, early, etc. In early use coupled with wise.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVIII. 439. King Robert … was Wis in his deid and ek verty.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. 3121. He wes wys and rycht werty.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 115. It efferis wele to a constable to be wys and verty, and wele avisit in all his dedis.
1804. Tarras, Poems, 2. Archic, fu’ vertie, owre the moorlan’ spangs Ilk strype and stank; nae doubt he itchin langs To crack wi’ San’.
1825. Jamieson, Suppl., Vairtie, early. Buchan.
Hence Vertyness. rare–1.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Bk. Knighthood, Wks. (S.T.S.), II. 54. A man can … mend ane evill fortune apperand be vertynasse.
