restinglyadv.
/ˈrɛstɪŋli/, U.S. /ˈrɛstɪŋli/ Restfully, peacefully; gently, without vigour or violence. Formerly also: †with confidence, definitely; (also) complacently (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > temporary cessation of activity or operation > [adverb] > in a resting manner
restingly?a1425
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 77 Somtyme forsoþ for to hoste or cogh mych þat lay in þe pacient particle, somtyme forsoþ for to stirre it or shake it restyngly [?c1425 Paris sobrely; L. quiescibiliter].
c1443 R. Pecock Reule of Crysten Religioun (1927) 299 (MED) A man may not make comparisoun bitwixe þe worþines of a noble and þe worþines of a grote..but if he knowe first and bifore þe worþ of þe noble in it silf, and but if he knowe þilk worþ restingly and absolutely.
?a1475 (a1396) W. Hilton Scale of Perfection (Harl. 6579) ii. xxi. f 85v (MED) Þu schalt make þi self nakid fro al þat þu hast..þat þer be no þinge of þin owne wirkynge þat þu wilt lene vpon restendly, bot ay desirend more grace of luf.
1582 T. Lupton Christian against Iesuite f. 52 You haue no great cause mockingly and restingly to call vs graue writers.
1834 Fraser's Mag. Nov. 549/1 He stopped and leaned, restingly, upon his thick short staff.
1894 G. D. Campbell Burdens of Belief 95 All nature lay as restingly As 'twere her second birth.
1907 F. G. Heath Our Brit. Trees 16 Each year the allotted task is performed—actively during the spring and summer, more slowly during the autumn, and restingly during the winter.
2005 K. Malmkjær Linguistics & Lang. Transl. iv. 84 Anna Marie so restingly [Danish hvilende] warm.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.?a1425