† seemlilyadv.
Obsolete.
In a seemly manner; so as to present a seemly appearance; pleasingly, handsomely, nobly, elegantly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adverb]
fairlyOE
comelyOE
hendly?c1225
goodlyc1275
seemlya1325
sweet1338
quaintly1340
properlyc1390
well?a1400
comelilyc1400
seemlilyc1400
jollilyc1426
formally1548
handsomely1560
sightly1592
handsome1600
winsomely17..
nicely1714
in one's best (also worst) looks1816
presentably1848
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 622 He braydeȝ hit by þe baude-ryk, aboute þe hals kestes, Þat bisemed þe segge semlyly fayre.
c1400 Sc. Trojan War (Horstm.) i. 96 Thane to þe messenger ine hye He turnyt ande saide hyme semblely [etc.].
c1420 Anturs of Arth. 24 (Thornton) Hir sadille..Semelely sewede with sylke.
1567 T. Drant tr. Horace Pistles in tr. Horace Arte of Poetrie sig. Fv Who can then the more semelely Thy manlike armoure weelde?
1615 W. Bedwell tr. Mohammedis Imposturæ i. §6 He is also that word or soule which created the heauens vaultwise most seemlily.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.c1400