sonsilyadv.
/ˈsɒnsᵻli/, U.S. /ˈsɑnsəli/, Scottish English /ˈsonsᵻlɪ/ Scottish. Now rare.
Heavily; palpably; amply. Also: in an attractive or appealing manner.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adverb]
hardlyeOE
strongeOE
hardOE
fastOE
starklyOE
stalworthlyc1175
starkc1225
mainlyc1300
fellc1330
snellc1330
stout1338
wightlya1340
sadlya1375
sharplyc1380
tough1398
stoutly1399
throa1400
wighta1400
lustilyc1400
sorec1400
vigourslyc1400
stiff1422
vigoriouslya1450
vigorouslya1450
actuallya1470
stourlyc1480
forcely?a1500
lustly1529
fricklyc1540
dingilya1555
livelily?1565
crankly1566
forcibly1578
crank1579
wightily?a1600
proudly1600
energetically1609
stiffly1623
ding-dong1628
greenly1633
hard and fast1646
slashingly1659
thwackingly1660
warmlya1684
robustly1709
sonsily1729
forcefullya1774
vim1843
zippily1924
vibrantly1926
punchily1934
zingily1951
1729 in J. O'Blair Donald of Glenisla (1931) 275 A big dog appeared and in passing by touched me sonsily on the thigh.
1873 A. A. B. Edwards Untrodden Peaks & Unfrequented Valleys ix. 191 A plump priest riding ‘sonsily’ on an ass, like Sancho Panza.
1901 ‘M. Harland’ In our Country vi. 210 She carried the pet name as naturally and sonsily as she wore the mop of her copper-coloured curls.
1926 Scots Mag. July 260 Her knees were sonsily happed over by a rich travelling-rug of plaid.
1978 D. Kerr Cameron Ballad & Plough vii. 66 Many of them were sonsily built, Rubensesque rather than creatures of frailty.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1729