tewlyadj.
/ˈtjuːli/ Now dialect.
Weak, sickly, delicate; poorly, unwell.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > weak
unmightyeOE
unferea1060
unwieldc1220
fade1303
lewc1325
weak1340
fainta1375
sicklyc1374
unwieldyc1386
impotent1390
delicatea1398
lowa1398
unmighta1450
unlustyc1450
low-brought1459
wearyc1480
failed1490
worn1508
caduke?1518
fainty1530
weak1535
debile1536
fluey1545
tewly?1547
faltering1549
puling1549
imbecilec1550
debilitate1552
flash1562
unable1577
unhealthful1595
unabled1597
whindling1601
infirm1608
debilitated1611
bedrid1629
washya1631
silly1636
fluea1645
tender1645
invaletudinary1661
languishant1674
valetudinaire?c1682
puly1688
thriftless1693
unheartya1699
wishy-washy1703
enervate1706
valetudinarian1713
lask1727
wersh1755
palliea1774
wankle1781
asthenic1789
atonic1792
squeal1794
adynamic1803
worn-down1814
totterish1817
asthenical1819
prostrate1820
used up1823
wankya1825
creaky1834
groggy1834
puny1838
imbeciled1840
rickety-rackety1840
muscleless1841
weedy1849
tottery1861
crocky1880
wimbly-wambly1881
ramshackle1889
twitterly1896
twittery1907
wonky1919
strung out1959
?1547 J. Bale Brefe Comedy Tempt. Our Lorde sig. Diij Ye are but tuly, ye are no stronge persone doughtlesse.
1619 J. Dyke Caveat for Archippus 32 Timothy was surely weake, and but a sickely, tuely man.
1691 J. Ray S. & E. Country Words in Coll. Eng. Words (ed. 2) 117 Tewly or tuly, tender, sick.
1787 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. Tooly, tender, sickly. A tooly man or woman. Hampsh.
1898 Longman's Mag. Nov. 50 His head's wise enough, if his body be tewly.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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adj.?1547