† derflyadj.
Obsolete.
Grievous, terrible, dreadful; = derf adj. 3.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > mental anguish or torment > cause of mental anguish or torment > [adjective]
anguishous?c1225
wounding?c1225
asperc1374
derflya1400
rending?c1400
furiousc1405
fretting1413
piercingc1450
anguish1477
piquant1521
anguishing?1566
plaguing1566
asperous?1567
agonizing1570
tormenting1575
wringing1576
cutting1582
tormentous1583
tormentful1596
tormentuous1597
racking1598
torturous1600
lacerating1609
torturing1611
tearinga1616
heart-aching1620
breast-rending1625
crucifying1648
tormentative1654
martyring?a1656
tormentive1655
discruciating1658
cruciatory1660
anguishful1685
brain-racking1708
probing1749
agonized1793
anguished1803
harrowing1810
vulnerary1821
grinding1869
torturesome1889
wrenching1889
tortuous1922
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 1143 Þi derfli dede has liknes nan.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7182 To derfly ded þai suld him bring.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
† derflyadv.
Obsolete.
1. Boldly; fiercely.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > bravery or boldness > [adverb]
stronglyeOE
strongeOE
boldlyOE
wellOE
coflyc1000
keenlyc1000
moodilyOE
fastOE
derflyc1175
trustlya1200
hardilyc1225
trustilya1375
ketec1380
throa1400
strenglya1425
strongfullyc1425
roidlya1500
virtuouslya1500
hardyflyc1500
brave1590
bold1597
audaciously1598
bravely1600
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 9752 Forrþi toc hem sannt iohan Deorrflike to bigripenn.
c1220 Bestiary 411 For to winnen fode derflike wiðuten dred.
a1400–50 Alexander 2942 Þan has ser Dary dedeyne, & derfely [Dublin MS. darfly] he lokes.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 2334 How þat doȝty dredles deruely þer stondeȝ.
2.
a. Forcibly, violently.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > violent behaviour > [adverb] > with improper force
derflyc1175
perforcec1330
violentlya1387
forcibly1543
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 16195 Þatt tuss derrflike drifesst all. Þiss follc ut off þiss minnstre.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 19712 Þai toke þair rede Derueli [Fairf. derfli] do him to þe dede.
c1400 Melayne 1033 So darfely bothe thaire dynttis thay driste.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 41 Eolus..In Yrland cost rycht darflie did thame dryve.
a1605 Polwart Flyting with Montgomerie 542 To dreadfull dolour dearfly or ȝe dryue him.
b. Quickly, promptly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > immediacy > [adverb]
soonc825
ratheeOE
rathelyeOE
rekeneOE
rekenlyOE
thereright971
anonOE
forth ona1000
coflyc1000
ferlyc1000
radlyOE
swiftlyc1000
unyoreOE
yareOE
at the forme (also first) wordOE
nowOE
shortlya1050
rightOE
here-rightlOE
right anonlOE
anonc1175
forthrightc1175
forthwithalc1175
skeetc1175
swithc1175
with and withc1175
anon-rightc1225
anon-rights?c1225
belivec1225
lightly?c1225
quickly?c1225
tidelyc1225
fastlyc1275
hastilyc1275
i-radlichec1275
as soon asc1290
aright1297
bedenea1300
in little wevea1300
withoute(n dwella1300
alrightc1300
as fast (as)c1300
at firstc1300
in placec1300
in the placec1300
mididonec1300
outrightc1300
prestc1300
streck13..
titec1300
without delayc1300
that stounds1303
rada1325
readya1325
apacec1325
albedenec1330
as (also also) titec1330
as blivec1330
as line rightc1330
as straight as linec1330
in anec1330
in presentc1330
newlyc1330
suddenlyc1330
titelyc1330
yernec1330
as soon1340
prestly1340
streckly1340
swithly?1370
evenlya1375
redelya1375
redlya1375
rifelya1375
yeplya1375
at one blastc1380
fresha1382
ripelyc1384
presentc1385
presently1385
without arrestc1385
readilyc1390
in the twinkling of a looka1393
derflya1400
forwhya1400
skeetlya1400
straighta1400
swifta1400
maintenantc1400
out of handc1400
wightc1400
at a startc1405
immediately1420
incontinent1425
there and then1428
onenec1429
forwithc1430
downright?a1439
agatec1440
at a tricec1440
right forth1440
withouten wonec1440
whipc1460
forthwith1461
undelayed1470
incessantly1472
at a momentc1475
right nowc1475
synec1475
incontinently1484
promptly1490
in the nonce?a1500
uncontinent1506
on (upon, in) the instant1509
in short1513
at a clap1519
by and by1526
straightway1526
at a twitch1528
at the first chop1528
maintenantly1528
on a tricea1529
with a tricec1530
at once1531
belively1532
straightwaysa1533
short days1533
undelayedly1534
fro hand1535
indelayedly1535
straight forth1536
betimesc1540
livelyc1540
upononc1540
suddenly1544
at one (or a) dash?1550
at (the) first dash?1550
instantly1552
forth of hand1564
upon the nines1568
on the nail1569
at (also in, with) a thoughtc1572
indilately1572
summarily1578
at one (a) chop1581
amain1587
straightwise1588
extempore1593
presto1598
upon the place1600
directly1604
instant1604
just now1606
with a siserary1607
promiscuously1609
at (in) one (an) instant1611
on (also upon) the momenta1616
at (formerly also on or upon) sight1617
hand to fist1634
fastisha1650
nextly1657
to rights1663
straightaway1663
slap1672
at first bolt1676
point-blank1679
in point1680
offhand1686
instanter1688
sonica1688
flush1701
like a thought1720
in a crack1725
momentary1725
bumbye1727
clacka1734
plumba1734
right away1734
momentarily1739
momentaneously1753
in a snap1768
right off1771
straight an end1778
abruptedly1784
in a whistle1784
slap-bang1785
bang?1795
right off the reel1798
in a whiff1800
in a flash1801
like a shot1809
momently1812
in a brace or couple of shakes1816
in a gird1825
(all) in a rush1829
in (also at, on) short (also quick) order1830
straightly1830
toot sweetc1830
in two twos1838
rectly1843
quick-stick1844
short metre1848
right1849
at the drop of a (occasionally the) hat1854
off the hooks1860
quicksticks1860
straight off1873
bang off1886
away1887
in quick sticks (also in a quick stick)1890
ek dum1895
tout de suite1895
bung1899
one time1899
prompt1910
yesterday1911
in two ups1934
presto changeo1946
now-now1966
presto change1987
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > [adverb] > swiftly and urgently
belivec1175
hyinglya1225
hastilyc1275
rapelya1300
hastivelyc1300
hotfootc1300
foot-hotc1330
derflya1400
post1549
hastyc1550
post-haste1597
hastefully1813
a1400–50 Alexander 3006 Derfly on þe toþir day a douth he assembles.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 1641 Derfly þenne Danyel deles þyse wordes.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 798 To the Montane he maid him full boun..Derfly ouir Daillis.
3. Grievously, terribly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > mental anguish or torment > cause of mental anguish or torment > [adverb]
unsoftOE
sharplya1023
derfly?c1225
derfc1325
pinefullyc1390
anguishouslyc1440
heinouslya1555
tormentingly1575
keenlya1593
cuttingly1611
torturingly?a1625
stingingly1667
severelya1682
piercingly1781
harrowingly1799
excruciatingly1808
martyrly1819
pinchingly1825
crucifyingly1826
torturously1857
woundingly1887
scarifyingly1921
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 91 Þus wes Iesu crist..in alle his fif wites deorfeliche ipined.
?a1400 Morte Arth. 3278 And there-fore derflyche I am dampnede for ever!
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.a1400adv.c1175