Definitions For Agley

Adjective

(Scotland) wrong, wrong; askew.

Adverb

{{en-adv}} (chiefly, Scotland) wrong, wrong, awry, askew, amiss, or distortedly.

Usage notes

The word was popularised by {{w, Robert Burns}} in his 1785 scots poems “{{w, To a Mouse}}”, in the much-quoted line “The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft agley”. This line is often quoted, and the word agley is occasionally used in modern English, primarily in variants of this line, such as “our plans have gone agley” or “things went agley”.

Alternative forms

aglee gley

Etymology

From {{etyl, sco, en}} agley.

Anagrams

Galey, Gayle, gayle