seelyadj.

Brit.

/ˈsiːli/, U.S.

/ˈsili/

Forms: Middle English seoly, Middle English–1500s seli(e, zely, Middle English–1600s sely, Middle English sele ( celly, selli), Middle English cely, ( selly), Middle English cele, 1500s sealie, sealy, seally(e, seilie, seilye, selle, sellie, sel(l)ye, sielie, siely, zelie, 1500s–1600s seeley, seelye, 1500s–1600s, 1800s seelie, Middle English– seely. See also i-seli adj., and the later silly adj.

Etymology: Common West Germanic: Old English *sǽlig (implied in the synonymous gesǽlig i-seli adj., and in the adverb séliglíce seelily adv.) = Old Frisian sêlich (modern North Frisian salig , West Frisian sillich ), Old Saxon sâlig , Middle Dutch sâlech (Dutch zalig ), Old High German sâlig (Middle High German sælic , modern German selig ) < Germanic type *sǣligo- < *sǣli-z luck, happiness (Gothic sêls , Old English sǽl : see sele n.). In ordinary modern English the word is represented by silly adj., n., and adv., a form which arose in the 15th cent. from a shortening of the vowel, the pronunciation of which had changed from /eː/ to something approaching /iː/.

Obsolete (exc. dialect).

1. (Cf. sele n. 2). ? Observant of due season, punctual.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > punctuality > [adjective]

seelyc1200

critical1617

punctual1632

prepunctual1890

on time1891

punctiliar1906

c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 13 Ðe ðridde [werke of brihtnesse] is þat man be waker and liht and snel and seli and erliche rise and ȝernliche sech chireche.

2. Happy, blissful; fortunate, lucky, well-omened, auspicious.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > pleasure > happiness > [adjective]

eadyeOE

i-selic888

i-sundfulc1000

seelya1272

graciousa1387

brighta1413

happy1477

beneurous1483

benewred1483

feliciousc1485

sunshine1594

faust1676

roseate1787

as happy (or jolly, etc.) as a sandboy1821

felicitous1824

happy as Larry1905

a1272 Luue Ron 143 in Old Eng. Misc. 97 Nere he mayde ful seoly þat myhte wunye myd such a knyhte.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 31 Almigtin louerd,..Ðu giue me seli timinge To thaunen ðis werdes bigininge.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2546 Egipte folc adden nið, For ebris adden seli sið.

c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iv. 503 For sely is that deeth,..That, ofte y-cleped, cometh and endeth peyne.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3362 Til his behoue haue i þe soght, In seli time.

c1400 Melayne 392 The by-tide a cely chaunce, thi lyfe was savede this daye.

1423 Kingis Quair 185 In gude tyme and sely to begynne Thair prentissehed.

c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 452/1 Sely, or happy, felix, fortunatus.

1468 Medulla in Cath. Angl. 56 Felicio, to make sely.

1483 Cath. Angl. 56/1 Cele, vbi happy.

1496 Treat. Fysshynge wyth Angle in Bk. St. Albans (rev. ed.) sig. hj Who soo woll ryse erly shall be holy helthy and zely.

1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer ii. f. cccxlvi Than say I thou art blysful & fortunat sely, if thou knowe thy goodes that thou hast yet be loued.

3. Spiritually blessed, enjoying the blessing of God. Said of persons, their condition or experiences.

ΚΠ

a1225 Leg. Kath. 1421 Þurh seli martirdom.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 86 & þuseli ancre þet art his deore spuse leorne hit ȝeorne ed him þet [etc.].

a1240 Lofsong in Old Eng. Hom. 205 Bisech for me þine seli sune Milce and merci and ore.

c1340 Abbey of Holy Ghost in Hampole's Wks. (1895) I. 326 A Jhesu, blyssede [es] þat abbaye and cely es þat religione.

c1400 Primer in W. Maskell Monumenta Ritualia Ecclesiae Anglicanae (1846) II. 11 Resp: Cely [L. felix] art thou, hooli virgyne marie, and worthiest al maner preisyng.

c1480 (a1400) St. Alexis 74 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 443 In pathmos als þe angel brycht schawyt hyme ful sely sycht.

4. Pious, holy, good.

ΘΚΠ

society > faith > aspects of faith > holiness > [adjective]

hallowedc900

holyc1000

blessedc1200

blissfula1225

seelya1225

yblessed1297

sacred13..

saint1377

devoutc1380

divinec1380

consecratec1386

dedicatec1386

benedighta1400

happyc1405

sillya1450

sacrate?a1475

sanctificatec1485

sacrificed?1504

sacrea1535

religious1549

vowed1585

anointed1595

devote1597

devoted1597

consecrated1599

sacrosanct1601

sanctimonious1604

sanctified1607

dedicated1609

divined1624

sacrosanctious1629

reverend1631

celebrate1632

divinified1633

sacrosanctified1693

sanctimonial1721

sacramental1851

divinized1852

sacral1882

sanct1890

sanctifiable1894

sacramented1914

hierophanic1927

kramat1947

sacralized1979

society > faith > aspects of faith > piety > [adjective]

GodfrightOE

goodOE

ghostlyOE

Godfrightya1225

seelya1225

devout?c1225

piteousc1300

spiritualc1384

graciousa1387

godlyc1390

pitifulc1449

inwardc1450

piousc1450

evangelica1475

servantly1503

obedientiala1513

Christian1526

well-believing1529

God-fearing1548

resigneda1555

heavenly minded1569

timorate1570

Godfull1593

pious1595

fearful1597

devoutful1598

devotea1625

serious1684

unctuous1742

theopathetic1749

fire-spirited1845

theopathic1846

unctional1849

interior1854

devotionate1864

sacramental1874

pi1891

a1225 Leg. Kath. 1453 Tac read, seli meiden, to þe seoluen.

c1275 On Serving Christ 53 in Old Eng. Misc. 92 Þureh his [John the Baptist's] sely sermun serewe him wes by~þouht.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1986 Ðor was in helle a sundri stede Wor ðe seli folc reste dede;..Til ihesu crist fro ðeden he nam.

c1450 Mankind 426 in Macro Plays 16 Lady, helpe! sely darlynge, vene, vene!

absolute.?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 53 Þis is nu of þis wit inoch iseid to warni þe seli.Proverb.c1290 Beket 216 in S. Eng. Leg. 112 Seli child is sone i-lered.c1386 G. Chaucer Prioress's Tale 60 For sely [v.r. cely] child wold alday soone lere.a1450 Ratis Raving iii. 3265 For sely barnis are eith to leire.

5. Innocent, harmless. Often as an expression of compassion for persons or animals suffering undeservedly.

ΘΚΠ

society > morality > virtue > purity > innocence > [adjective] > innocent or harmless

loathlessc1050

seelyc1290

harmless1297

ill-lessc1650

c1290 S. Eng. Leg. 453/138 ‘Alas’, he seide, ‘þis seli best: þat no-þing ne doth a-mis!’

1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 6453 To þe king of hongri þis seli children twie He sende uor to norisi þat he wardede hom wel beye.

a1300 Havelok 499 With~drow þe knif, þat was lewe Of þe seli children blod.

c1386 G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale 584 Gret was..the repentance Of hem that hadden wronge suspecioun Vpon this sely Innocent Custance.

a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice 336 in Poems (1981) 143 Acab and quene Iesabell, Quhilk sely Nabot..For his wyne yarde wyth-outyn pitee sleue.

a1529 J. Skelton Colyn Cloute (?1545) sig. B.vi^v And thus the loselles stryues And lewdely sayes by Christ Agaynst the sely preest.

1545 G. Joye Expos. Daniel (vi.) f. 93 Sely innocent daniel was casten into the lyons.

1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia sig. Mii To see a seely innocent hare murdered of a dogge.

a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 114 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) And murther the poore and seely people, which God wot, meant no harme.

1884 J. A. Symonds Shakspere's Predecessors iii. 135 A racy sense of what such seely shepherds may have gathered from an angel's song.]

a. Deserving of pity or sympathy; pitiable, miserable, ‘poor’; helpless, defenceless. Cf. silly adj. 4, 2b.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > compassion > quality of exciting pity > [adjective] > deserving pity

seely1297

sillya1522

commiserable1592

1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 781 Þis word dude muche wo to þis seli olde king.

c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde ii. 683 To helpen sely Troilus of his wo.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 13972 A seli sin-ful sco was an, And first als a comun womman.

1423 Kingis Quair 44 Quhy lest god mak ȝou so, my derrest hert, To do a sely prisoner thus smert.

1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ii. l. 201 Sely Scotland, that of helpe has gret neide.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 323/2 Sely or fearfull, paoureux. Sely wretched, meschant.

a1542 T. Wyatt Coll. Poems (1969) 93 At the threshold her sely fote did tripp.

1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia sig. Rviii But thies seilie poore wretches be presently tormented with barreyne & vnfrutefull labour.

1555 Pendleton in Bonner's Hom. 38 b The impudente procedars haue taught the zely people that euerye man..maye be a iudge of controuersyes.

1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 48 Grasse, thistle & mustard seede,..are very ill neighbors, to seely poore hop.

1592 Countess of Pembroke tr. R. Garnier Antonius iv. sig. M2 The seelie man [Fr. le miserable]..Me battaile gaue.

1602 R. Carew Surv. Cornwall ii. f. 112 The seely Gentlewomen, without regard of sexe or shame, were stripped from their apparrell to their verie smockes.

1610 Bible (Douay) II. Isa. x. 30 Attend Laisa, seelie poore [L. paupercula] Anathoth.

1858 C. Kingsley My Winter-garden in Misc. (1860) I. 148 The famous castle of Malepartus which beheld the base murder of Lampe, the hare, and many a seely soul beside.]

b. Often of the soul, as in danger of divine judgement.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > compassion > quality of exciting pity > [adjective] > deserving pity > specifically of the soul

seely1310

1310 St. Brendan (Bälz) 584 Þe develen come blaste To lede to helle þis seli [c1290 S. Eng. Leg. sori] gost.

c1330 Spec. Gy Warw. 576 Þu most..þenke þat god it þe sende, Þi seli soule to amende.

?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 54 My sely saull salbe saif quhen Sabot all iugis.

1529 T. More Supplyc. Soulys ii. f. xxix^v The paynys that sely [sowlys] feele when they be departed thense.

a. Insignificant, trifling; mean, poor; feeble.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > paltry, mean, or contemptible

unworthlyc1230

wretcha1250

seely1297

vilec1320

not worth a cress (kerse)1377

the value of a rushc1380

threadbarec1412

wretched1450

miserable?a1513

rascal1519

prettya1522

not worth a whistlea1529

pegrall1535

plack1539

pelting1540

scald1542

sleeveless1551

baggage1553

paltering1553

piddling1559

twopenny1560

paltry1565

rubbish1565

baggagely1573

pelfish1577

halfpenny1579

palting1579

baubling1581

three-halfpenny1581

pitiful1582

triobolar1585

squirting1589

not worth a lousea1592

hedge1596

cheap1597

peddling1597

dribbling1600

mean1600

rascally1600

three-farthingc1600

draughty1602

dilute1605

copper1609

peltry?a1610

threepenny1613

pelsy1631

pimping1640

triobolary1644

pigwidgeon1647

dustya1649

fiddling1652

puddlinga1653

insignificant1658

piteous1667

snotty1681

scrubbed1688

dishonourable1699

scrub1711

footy1720

fouty1722

rubbishing1731

chuck-farthing1748

rubbishy1753

shabby1753

scrubby1754

poxya1758

rubbishly1777

waff-like1808

trinkety1817

meanish1831

one-eyed1843

twiddling1844

measly1847

poking1850

picayunish1852

vild1853

picayune1856

snide1859

two-cent1859

rummagy1872

faddling1883

finicking1886

slushy1889

twopence halfpenny1890

jerk1893

pissy1922

crappy1928

two-bit1932

piddly1933

chickenshit1934

pissing1937

penny packet1943

farkakte1960

pony1964

gay1978

1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 2528 Of an holi prechors word hii nolde noȝt so ofte þenche As of þe murye word..of the seli wenche.

a1300 Expos. Cross 458 (Ashm.) in Leg. Rood (1871) 54 Vp an seli asse he rod.

a1400 Mandeville's Trav. (1839) xxix. 293 And for to apparaylle with oure bodyes wee usen a sely litylle clout, for to wrappen in our careynes.

1461 T. Denys in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 344 I se his slouthe and foly labour [margin which is no labour].

?c1550 tr. P. Vergil Eng. Hist. (1846) I. 193 Egbertus..in moste ample wise hadde enlarged the seelie littell kingdom.

1563 2nd Tome Homelyes Agst. Gluttony 107 Holophernes..hadde his head strycken from his shoulders by that sely woman Iudith.

1568 Newe Comedie Iacob & Esau ii. i. sig. C.j And not one siely bitte we got since yesterday.

1577 T. Kendall tr. Politianus et al. Flowers of Epigrammes f. 75^v Lerned Luther..how far doth he both twayn Surmount, who with his seely pen to yeld doth both constraine.

1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. H6^v Whilst the mountains doe trauell a seely mouse will be brought forth.

1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. M4 He with the Romains was esteemed so As seelie ieering idiots are with Kings, For sportiue words, and vttring foolish things.

1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. ii. xv. 358 There is a Nation, where the enclosures of Gardens and Fields, they intend to keep several, are made with a seely twine of cotton.

1613 W. Browne Britannia's Pastorals I. ii. 40 Hauing layne Her in a Boate like the Cannowes of Inde, Some seely trough of wood, or some trees rinde.

1642 D. Rogers Naaman 67 Commonly the Lord effects those things which are of greatest consequence, by poore and seely meanes.

1839 C. Kingsley In Illum. Missal in Poems 7 My love, my song, my skill, my high intent, Have I within this seely book y-pent.]

b. Frail, worn-out, crazy.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [adjective] > dilapidated or ruinous > rickety

seely1562

crazy1583

ramshackled1675

creachy1715

rickly1715

rickety1741

palsified1775

shackling1790

ramshackling1815

paralytic1824

rackety1824

rattletrap1824

cocklety1828

ramshackle1830

shickery?1833

shackly1843

shattery1844

shaky1850

ramshackly1857

cockly1859

rachitic1864

ruckly1866

tumble-over1883

palsied1889

rattle-bag1896

shauchly1896

bockety1902

ruggy1929

rickety-rackety1931

ropy1942

1562 W. Bullein Dial. Sorenes f. 24^v, in Bulwarke of Defence We see the like effecte in olde selie bodies whiche..bee continually eaten up of ulcers.

1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 5 The Pilot..Beset with stormes..knowes not howe to saue His sielie barke, but lets the rudder goe.

1847 C. Kingsley Red King in Poems 67 By Mary's grace a seely boat On Christchurch bar did lie afloat.]

8. Foolish, simple, silly.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > [adjective]

dizzyc825

unwisec825

redelessOE

unwittyc1000

daftlikec1175

witlessc1175

canga1225

adoted?c1225

cangun?c1225

egedec1225

cangeda1250

foola1250

snepea1250

aerwittec1275

sotlyc1275

unslyc1275

unwitterc1275

unwilya1300

nicec1300

goosishc1374

unskilfulc1374

follyc1380

lewdc1380

mis-feelinga1382

dottlec1390

foltedc1390

peevishc1400

fona1425

fonnishc1425

foliousa1450

foolisha1450

daft?c1450

doitedc1450

dotyc1450

daffish1470

insapientc1470

gucked?a1500

wanwittya1500

furious1526

insipient1528

seelya1529

dawish?1529

foolage1545

momish1546

base-wittedc1547

stultitiousa1549

follifulc1550

senseless1565

mopish1568

fondish1579

unsensiblea1586

fondly1587

dizzardly1594

follial1596

featlessc1598

fopperly1599

gowkeda1605

inept1604

simple1604

anserine1607

foppish1608

silly ass1608

unsage1608

wisdomless1608

fool-beggeda1616

Gotham1621

noddy1645

badot1653

dosser-headed1655

infrunite1657

nonsensicalc1661

slight1663

sappy1670

datelessa1686

noddy-peaked1694

nizy1709

dottled1772

gypit1804

shay-brained1806

folly-stricken1807

fool-like1811

goosy1811

spoony1813

niddle-noddle1821

gumptionless1823

daftish1825

anserous1826

as crazy as a loon1830

spoonish1833

cheese-headed1836

dotty1860

fool-fool1868

noodly1870

dilly1873

gormless1883

daffy1884

monkey-doodle1886

mosy1887

jay1891

pithecanthropic1897

peanut-headed1906

dinlo1907

boob1911

goofy1921

ding-a-ling1935

jerky1944

jerk1947

jerkish1948

pointy-headed1950

doofus1967

twitty1967

twittish1969

nerkish1975

numpty1992

a1529 J. Skelton Colyn Cloute (?1545) sig. D.vi Nor of theyr noddy polles Nor of theyr sely soules.

1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 18^v With these siely huswiues, no peny is found.

1583 G. Babington Very Fruitfull Expos. Commaundem. vi. 300 In pride wee speake it, or at least inwardlie thinke it, wee are not as those seelie Idiotes are.

1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 224 The fellow seemed but a seely soule, and sate still, and sayde nothing.

1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue i. 127 Holding those that deale more honestly..to be..poore seely fooles, that want wit.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	seely
释义	seelyadj. Brit. /ˈsiːli/, U.S. /ˈsili/ Forms: Middle English seoly, Middle English–1500s seli(e, zely, Middle English–1600s sely, Middle English sele ( celly, selli), Middle English cely, ( selly), Middle English cele, 1500s sealie, sealy, seally(e, seilie, seilye, selle, sellie, sel(l)ye, sielie, siely, zelie, 1500s–1600s seeley, seelye, 1500s–1600s, 1800s seelie, Middle English– seely. See also i-seli adj., and the later silly adj. Etymology: Common West Germanic: Old English sǽlig (implied in the synonymous gesǽlig* i-seli adj., and in the adverb séliglíce seelily adv.) = Old Frisian sêlich (modern North Frisian salig , West Frisian sillich ), Old Saxon sâlig , Middle Dutch sâlech (Dutch zalig ), Old High German sâlig (Middle High German sælic , modern German selig ) < Germanic type sǣligo- < sǣli-z luck, happiness (Gothic sêls , Old English sǽl : see sele n.). In ordinary modern English the word is represented by silly adj., n., and adv., a form which arose in the 15th cent. from a shortening of the vowel, the pronunciation of which had changed from /eː/ to something approaching /iː/. Obsolete (exc. dialect). 1. (Cf. sele n. 2). ? Observant of due season, punctual. ΘΚΠ the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > punctuality > [adjective] seelyc1200 critical1617 punctual1632 prepunctual1890 on time1891 punctiliar1906 c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 13 Ðe ðridde [werke of brihtnesse] is þat man be waker and liht and snel and seli and erliche rise and ȝernliche sech chireche. 2. Happy, blissful; fortunate, lucky, well-omened, auspicious. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pleasure > happiness > [adjective] eadyeOE i-selic888 i-sundfulc1000 seelya1272 graciousa1387 brighta1413 happy1477 beneurous1483 benewred1483 feliciousc1485 sunshine1594 faust1676 roseate1787 as happy (or jolly, etc.) as a sandboy1821 felicitous1824 happy as Larry1905 a1272 Luue Ron 143 in Old Eng. Misc. 97 Nere he mayde ful seoly þat myhte wunye myd such a knyhte. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 31 Almigtin louerd,..Ðu giue me seli timinge To thaunen ðis werdes bigininge. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2546 Egipte folc adden nið, For ebris adden seli sið. c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iv. 503 For sely is that deeth,..That, ofte y-cleped, cometh and endeth peyne. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3362 Til his behoue haue i þe soght, In seli time. c1400 Melayne 392 The by-tide a cely chaunce, thi lyfe was savede this daye. 1423 Kingis Quair 185 In gude tyme and sely to begynne Thair prentissehed. c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 452/1 Sely, or happy, felix, fortunatus. 1468 Medulla in Cath. Angl. 56 Felicio, to make sely. 1483 Cath. Angl. 56/1 Cele, vbi happy. 1496 Treat. Fysshynge wyth Angle in Bk. St. Albans (rev. ed.) sig. hj Who soo woll ryse erly shall be holy helthy and zely. 1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer ii. f. cccxlvi Than say I thou art blysful & fortunat sely, if thou knowe thy goodes that thou hast yet be loued. 3. Spiritually blessed, enjoying the blessing of God. Said of persons, their condition or experiences. ΚΠ a1225 Leg. Kath. 1421 Þurh seli martirdom. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 86 & þuseli ancre þet art his deore spuse leorne hit ȝeorne ed him þet [etc.]. a1240 Lofsong in Old Eng. Hom. 205 Bisech for me þine seli sune Milce and merci and ore. c1340 Abbey of Holy Ghost in Hampole's Wks. (1895) I. 326 A Jhesu, blyssede [es] þat abbaye and cely es þat religione. c1400 Primer in W. Maskell Monumenta Ritualia Ecclesiae Anglicanae (1846) II. 11 Resp: Cely [L. felix] art thou, hooli virgyne marie, and worthiest al maner preisyng. c1480 (a1400) St. Alexis 74 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 443 In pathmos als þe angel brycht schawyt hyme ful sely sycht. 4. Pious, holy, good. ΘΚΠ society > faith > aspects of faith > holiness > [adjective] hallowedc900 holyc1000 blessedc1200 blissfula1225 seelya1225 yblessed1297 sacred13.. saint1377 devoutc1380 divinec1380 consecratec1386 dedicatec1386 benedighta1400 happyc1405 sillya1450 sacrate?a1475 sanctificatec1485 sacrificed?1504 sacrea1535 religious1549 vowed1585 anointed1595 devote1597 devoted1597 consecrated1599 sacrosanct1601 sanctimonious1604 sanctified1607 dedicated1609 divined1624 sacrosanctious1629 reverend1631 celebrate1632 divinified1633 sacrosanctified1693 sanctimonial1721 sacramental1851 divinized1852 sacral1882 sanct1890 sanctifiable1894 sacramented1914 hierophanic1927 kramat1947 sacralized1979 society > faith > aspects of faith > piety > [adjective] GodfrightOE goodOE ghostlyOE Godfrightya1225 seelya1225 devout?c1225 piteousc1300 spiritualc1384 graciousa1387 godlyc1390 pitifulc1449 inwardc1450 piousc1450 evangelica1475 servantly1503 obedientiala1513 Christian1526 well-believing1529 God-fearing1548 resigneda1555 heavenly minded1569 timorate1570 Godfull1593 pious1595 fearful1597 devoutful1598 devotea1625 serious1684 unctuous1742 theopathetic1749 fire-spirited1845 theopathic1846 unctional1849 interior1854 devotionate1864 sacramental1874 pi1891 a1225 Leg. Kath. 1453 Tac read, seli meiden, to þe seoluen. c1275 On Serving Christ 53 in Old Eng. Misc. 92 Þureh his [John the Baptist's] sely sermun serewe him wes by~þouht. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1986 Ðor was in helle a sundri stede Wor ðe seli folc reste dede;..Til ihesu crist fro ðeden he nam. c1450 Mankind 426 in Macro Plays 16 Lady, helpe! sely darlynge, vene, vene! absolute.?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 53 Þis is nu of þis wit inoch iseid to warni þe seli.Proverb.c1290 Beket 216 in S. Eng. Leg. 112 Seli child is sone i-lered.c1386 G. Chaucer Prioress's Tale 60 For sely [v.r. cely] child wold alday soone lere.a1450 Ratis Raving iii. 3265 For sely barnis are eith to leire. 5. Innocent, harmless. Often as an expression of compassion for persons or animals suffering undeservedly. ΘΚΠ society > morality > virtue > purity > innocence > [adjective] > innocent or harmless loathlessc1050 seelyc1290 harmless1297 ill-lessc1650 c1290 S. Eng. Leg. 453/138 ‘Alas’, he seide, ‘þis seli best: þat no-þing ne doth a-mis!’ 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 6453 To þe king of hongri þis seli children twie He sende uor to norisi þat he wardede hom wel beye. a1300 Havelok 499 With~drow þe knif, þat was lewe Of þe seli children blod. c1386 G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale 584 Gret was..the repentance Of hem that hadden wronge suspecioun Vpon this sely Innocent Custance. a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice 336 in Poems (1981) 143 Acab and quene Iesabell, Quhilk sely Nabot..For his wyne yarde wyth-outyn pitee sleue. a1529 J. Skelton Colyn Cloute (?1545) sig. B.vi^v And thus the loselles stryues And lewdely sayes by Christ Agaynst the sely preest. 1545 G. Joye Expos. Daniel (vi.) f. 93 Sely innocent daniel was casten into the lyons. 1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia sig. Mii To see a seely innocent hare murdered of a dogge. a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 114 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) And murther the poore and seely people, which God wot, meant no harme. 1884 J. A. Symonds Shakspere's Predecessors iii. 135 A racy sense of what such seely shepherds may have gathered from an angel's song.] 6. a. Deserving of pity or sympathy; pitiable, miserable, ‘poor’; helpless, defenceless. Cf. silly adj. 4, 2b. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > compassion > quality of exciting pity > [adjective] > deserving pity seely1297 sillya1522 commiserable1592 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 781 Þis word dude muche wo to þis seli olde king. c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde ii. 683 To helpen sely Troilus of his wo. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 13972 A seli sin-ful sco was an, And first als a comun womman. 1423 Kingis Quair 44 Quhy lest god mak ȝou so, my derrest hert, To do a sely prisoner thus smert. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ii. l. 201 Sely Scotland, that of helpe has gret neide. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 323/2 Sely or fearfull, paoureux. Sely wretched, meschant. a1542 T. Wyatt Coll. Poems (1969) 93 At the threshold her sely fote did tripp. 1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia sig. Rviii But thies seilie poore wretches be presently tormented with barreyne & vnfrutefull labour. 1555 Pendleton in Bonner's Hom. 38 b The impudente procedars haue taught the zely people that euerye man..maye be a iudge of controuersyes. 1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 48 Grasse, thistle & mustard seede,..are very ill neighbors, to seely poore hop. 1592 Countess of Pembroke tr. R. Garnier Antonius iv. sig. M2 The seelie man [Fr. le miserable]..Me battaile gaue. 1602 R. Carew Surv. Cornwall ii. f. 112 The seely Gentlewomen, without regard of sexe or shame, were stripped from their apparrell to their verie smockes. 1610 Bible (Douay) II. Isa. x. 30 Attend Laisa, seelie poore [L. paupercula] Anathoth. 1858 C. Kingsley My Winter-garden in Misc. (1860) I. 148 The famous castle of Malepartus which beheld the base murder of Lampe, the hare, and many a seely soul beside.] b. Often of the soul, as in danger of divine judgement. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > compassion > quality of exciting pity > [adjective] > deserving pity > specifically of the soul seely1310 1310 St. Brendan (Bälz) 584 Þe develen come blaste To lede to helle þis seli [c1290 S. Eng. Leg. sori] gost. c1330 Spec. Gy Warw. 576 Þu most..þenke þat god it þe sende, Þi seli soule to amende. ?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 54 My sely saull salbe saif quhen Sabot all iugis. 1529 T. More Supplyc. Soulys ii. f. xxix^v The paynys that sely [sowlys] feele when they be departed thense. 7. a. Insignificant, trifling; mean, poor; feeble. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > paltry, mean, or contemptible unworthlyc1230 wretcha1250 seely1297 vilec1320 not worth a cress (kerse)1377 the value of a rushc1380 threadbarec1412 wretched1450 miserable?a1513 rascal1519 prettya1522 not worth a whistlea1529 pegrall1535 plack1539 pelting1540 scald1542 sleeveless1551 baggage1553 paltering1553 piddling1559 twopenny1560 paltry1565 rubbish1565 baggagely1573 pelfish1577 halfpenny1579 palting1579 baubling1581 three-halfpenny1581 pitiful1582 triobolar1585 squirting1589 not worth a lousea1592 hedge1596 cheap1597 peddling1597 dribbling1600 mean1600 rascally1600 three-farthingc1600 draughty1602 dilute1605 copper1609 peltry?a1610 threepenny1613 pelsy1631 pimping1640 triobolary1644 pigwidgeon1647 dustya1649 fiddling1652 puddlinga1653 insignificant1658 piteous1667 snotty1681 scrubbed1688 dishonourable1699 scrub1711 footy1720 fouty1722 rubbishing1731 chuck-farthing1748 rubbishy1753 shabby1753 scrubby1754 poxya1758 rubbishly1777 waff-like1808 trinkety1817 meanish1831 one-eyed1843 twiddling1844 measly1847 poking1850 picayunish1852 vild1853 picayune1856 snide1859 two-cent1859 rummagy1872 faddling1883 finicking1886 slushy1889 twopence halfpenny1890 jerk1893 pissy1922 crappy1928 two-bit1932 piddly1933 chickenshit1934 pissing1937 penny packet1943 farkakte1960 pony1964 gay1978 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 2528 Of an holi prechors word hii nolde noȝt so ofte þenche As of þe murye word..of the seli wenche. a1300 Expos. Cross 458 (Ashm.) in Leg. Rood (1871) 54 Vp an seli asse he rod. a1400 Mandeville's Trav. (1839) xxix. 293 And for to apparaylle with oure bodyes wee usen a sely litylle clout, for to wrappen in our careynes. 1461 T. Denys in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 344 I se his slouthe and foly labour [margin which is no labour]. ?c1550 tr. P. Vergil Eng. Hist. (1846) I. 193 Egbertus..in moste ample wise hadde enlarged the seelie littell kingdom. 1563 2nd Tome Homelyes Agst. Gluttony 107 Holophernes..hadde his head strycken from his shoulders by that sely woman Iudith. 1568 Newe Comedie Iacob & Esau ii. i. sig. C.j And not one siely bitte we got since yesterday. 1577 T. Kendall tr. Politianus et al. Flowers of Epigrammes f. 75^v Lerned Luther..how far doth he both twayn Surmount, who with his seely pen to yeld doth both constraine. 1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. H6^v Whilst the mountains doe trauell a seely mouse will be brought forth. 1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. M4 He with the Romains was esteemed so As seelie ieering idiots are with Kings, For sportiue words, and vttring foolish things. View more context for this quotation 1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. ii. xv. 358 There is a Nation, where the enclosures of Gardens and Fields, they intend to keep several, are made with a seely twine of cotton. 1613 W. Browne Britannia's Pastorals I. ii. 40 Hauing layne Her in a Boate like the Cannowes of Inde, Some seely trough of wood, or some trees rinde. 1642 D. Rogers Naaman 67 Commonly the Lord effects those things which are of greatest consequence, by poore and seely meanes. 1839 C. Kingsley In Illum. Missal in Poems 7 My love, my song, my skill, my high intent, Have I within this seely book y-pent.] b. Frail, worn-out, crazy. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [adjective] > dilapidated or ruinous > rickety seely1562 crazy1583 ramshackled1675 creachy1715 rickly1715 rickety1741 palsified1775 shackling1790 ramshackling1815 paralytic1824 rackety1824 rattletrap1824 cocklety1828 ramshackle1830 shickery?1833 shackly1843 shattery1844 shaky1850 ramshackly1857 cockly1859 rachitic1864 ruckly1866 tumble-over1883 palsied1889 rattle-bag1896 shauchly1896 bockety1902 ruggy1929 rickety-rackety1931 ropy1942 1562 W. Bullein Dial. Sorenes f. 24^v, in Bulwarke of Defence We see the like effecte in olde selie bodies whiche..bee continually eaten up of ulcers. 1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 5 The Pilot..Beset with stormes..knowes not howe to saue His sielie barke, but lets the rudder goe. 1847 C. Kingsley Red King in Poems 67 By Mary's grace a seely boat On Christchurch bar did lie afloat.] 8. Foolish, simple, silly. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > [adjective] dizzyc825 unwisec825 redelessOE unwittyc1000 daftlikec1175 witlessc1175 canga1225 adoted?c1225 cangun?c1225 egedec1225 cangeda1250 foola1250 snepea1250 aerwittec1275 sotlyc1275 unslyc1275 unwitterc1275 unwilya1300 nicec1300 goosishc1374 unskilfulc1374 follyc1380 lewdc1380 mis-feelinga1382 dottlec1390 foltedc1390 peevishc1400 fona1425 fonnishc1425 foliousa1450 foolisha1450 daft?c1450 doitedc1450 dotyc1450 daffish1470 insapientc1470 gucked?a1500 wanwittya1500 furious1526 insipient1528 seelya1529 dawish?1529 foolage1545 momish1546 base-wittedc1547 stultitiousa1549 follifulc1550 senseless1565 mopish1568 fondish1579 unsensiblea1586 fondly1587 dizzardly1594 follial1596 featlessc1598 fopperly1599 gowkeda1605 inept1604 simple1604 anserine1607 foppish1608 silly ass1608 unsage1608 wisdomless1608 fool-beggeda1616 Gotham1621 noddy1645 badot1653 dosser-headed1655 infrunite1657 nonsensicalc1661 slight1663 sappy1670 datelessa1686 noddy-peaked1694 nizy1709 dottled1772 gypit1804 shay-brained1806 folly-stricken1807 fool-like1811 goosy1811 spoony1813 niddle-noddle1821 gumptionless1823 daftish1825 anserous1826 as crazy as a loon1830 spoonish1833 cheese-headed1836 dotty1860 fool-fool1868 noodly1870 dilly1873 gormless1883 daffy1884 monkey-doodle1886 mosy1887 jay1891 pithecanthropic1897 peanut-headed1906 dinlo1907 boob1911 goofy1921 ding-a-ling1935 jerky1944 jerk1947 jerkish1948 pointy-headed1950 doofus1967 twitty1967 twittish1969 nerkish1975 numpty1992 a1529 J. Skelton Colyn Cloute (?1545) sig. D.vi Nor of theyr noddy polles Nor of theyr sely soules. 1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 18^v With these siely huswiues, no peny is found. 1583 G. Babington Very Fruitfull Expos. Commaundem. vi. 300 In pride wee speake it, or at least inwardlie thinke it, wee are not as those seelie Idiotes are. 1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 224 The fellow seemed but a seely soule, and sate still, and sayde nothing. 1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue i. 127 Holding those that deale more honestly..to be..poore seely fooles, that want wit. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.c1200
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