honeylyadv.
/ˈhʌnᵻli/, U.S. /ˈhənəli/ Now rare.
In a manner suggestive of honey; like honey, sweetly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [adjective] > like, as, or with honey
melcheOE
honey-sweetOE
honey?c1225
honily?c1425
mellifluec1429
mellifluous?a1475
honeyed1559
mellisha1577
honeysome1593
melled1606
honeyish1657
honeyly1864
the world > food and drink > food > additive > sweetener > honey > [adverb]
honeyly1864
1864 Dublin Univ. Mag. May 529 Near them hums the brown bee honeyly by.
1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems xcix. 2 Dear one, a kiss I stole..Sweet ambrosia, love, never as honily sweet.
1914 M. J. Cawein Poet & Nature 174 In her hand she folds the bee, crooning soft and honeyly.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1864