† eathlyadj.adv.
Obsolete.
A. adj.
1. Easy, not difficult.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > easy to do or accomplish
eathlyc1000
lightOE
eathc1175
easyc1380
facile1484
good1490
easy (also simple, etc.) as pie1890
untroublesome1894
potty1899
sitting1932
cake1968
slow-pitch1981
renable1995
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xix. 26 Ealle þing synt mid Gode eaðelice [c1160 Hatton æðelice].
c1160 Hatton Gosp. Matt. xix. 24 Æþelicor beoð þam olfende to ganne þurh nædle eaȝe.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 135 Of ane eðeliche dede.
2. Inconsiderable, slight, trifling. Often in antithesis to eche (= eternal): Of short duration.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > small or trifling in amount or degree
eathlyc890
littleOE
slender1530
foolish1533
triflinga1538
paltry1565
puny?1594
mean1599
minikin1617
unconsiderable1643
inconsiderable1648
punctilio1660
sneaking1703
insignificant1748
flimsy1756
peppercornish1762
peppercorn1791
microscopic1798
pindling1861
midget1879
diddly1893
scroddyc1909
chickenshit1934
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > of little importance or trivial
eathlyc890
lighteOE
littleOE
small?c1225
singlec1449
easy1474
triflous1509
naughty1526
slender1530
slight1548
shrimpish1549
slipper1567
truanta1572
toyous1581
trivious1583
mean1585
silly1587
nicea1594
puny?1594
puisne1598
pusill1599
whindling1601
sapless1602
non-significant1603
poor1603
unsignificant1603
flea-bite1605
perishing1605
lank1607
weightless1610
fonda1616
penny farthing1615
triviala1616
unweighty1621
transitory1637
twattling1651
inconsiderate1655
unserious1655
nugal1656
small drink1656
slighty1662
minute1668
paddling1679
snitling1682
retail1697
Lilliputian1726
vain1731
rattletrap1760
peppercornish1762
peppercorn1791
underling1804
venial1806
lightweight1809
floccinaucical1826
small-bore1833
minified1837
trantlum1838
piffling1848
tea-tabular1855
potty1860
whipping-snapping1861
tea-gardeny1862
quiddling1863
twaddling1863
fidgeting1865
penny ante1865
feather-weighted1870
jerkwater1877
midget1879
mimsy1880
shirttail1881
two-by-four1885
footle1894
skittery1905
footery1929
Mickey Mouse1931
chickenshit1934
minoritized1945
marginal1952
marginalized1961
tea-party1961
little league1962
marginalizing1977
minnowy1991
c890 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. ii. v. (Bosw.) Gif ðu ne wilt us geþafian in swa æðelicum þingo.
c1176 Cott. Hom. 221 Mid þare aeðelice hyrsumnesse þu ȝearnest hefen rices merhðe.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 207 An eðelich stiche oðer eche Makeð to understonden hu lute prude is wurð.
3.
a. Of a person: Low in station; mean in character.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > the common people > low rank or condition > [adjective]
leasteOE
wokec897
littleOE
lowc1175
eathlyc1200
smallc1275
simplec1300
meana1375
humblec1386
ignoble1447
servile1447
base1490
slighta1500
sober1533
silly1568
unresponsal1579
dunghilled1600
villainous1607
without name1611
woollena1616
dunghilly1616
unresponsible1629
under-stateda1661
low-down1865
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 35 Ne was þe engel isend ne to kinge..ac to loȝe and eðeliche men alse heordes buð.
b. Of a thing: Of small value.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > of little worth > of small value
eathlya1300
cheap1597
a1300 Floriz & Bl. 274 Abute þe orchard is a wal; Þe eþelikeste ston is cristal.
B. adv.
a. Easily, without difficulty.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > [adverb]
lighteOE
eathOE
eathlyc1000
wellc1325
easilyc1384
easy1400
mackly1440
of light?c1450
facilely1490
facile1524
handsomely1538
eaths1594
simply1681
unproblematically1771
slick1825
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) xviii. 25 Eaðelicor mæg se olfend gan þurh are nædle eage.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 12534 Soþ godd..mihhte stanndenn æþeliȝ Ȝæn himm.
c1600 Diurnal of Remarkable Occurrents (1833) 249 His lyik eithlie culd not heirtofoir be fundin.
1737 A. Ramsay Coll. Scots Prov. Ded. You may eithly make yoursells master of the hale ware.
1813 J. Hogg Queen's Wake i. viii. 76 The rein-deer dun can eithly run, Quhan the houndis and the hornis pursue.
1872 J. S. Blackie Lays of Highlands 71 This only lore my beggar wit Could eathly understand.
b. At an easy price, cheaply.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > low price or rate > [adverb] > cheaply
eathly?c1225
good cheap1420
a good pennyworth1466
cheaply1552
cheap1569
affordably1775
on the cheap1859
keenly1928
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 215 Ne sulle þu neauer se eðeliche..his deorewurðe spuse.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online December 2019).
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adj.adv.c890