† featouslyadv.
Obsolete.
1. With respect to attire, or ornamentation: Beautifully, handsomely, elegantly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [adverb]
lieflyc900
merelyeOE
fairOE
lovelya1375
featously1377
belliche1394
finelya1400
buttylly1496
lovelilya1500
well-favouredly1528
beautifully1538
beauteously1592
bonnily1595
love-likely1621
bonny1650
beautiful1767
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. ii. 162 Fauel [sat] on a flat[er]ere fetislich atired.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 1462 Þe coperounes of þe canacles þat on þe cuppe reres, Wer fetysely formed out in fylyoles longe.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid iv. v. 163 Fetisly stekit with prynnit goldin thredis.
c1540 Pilgr. T. 180 His bottis sat cleyn and claspyd feytuosly.
1593 M. Drayton Idea viii. sig. J3 A hood..Ywrought full featuously.
2. With reference to actions: Cleverly, dexterously, nimbly, properly. Of speech: Elegantly, with correctness and propriety.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adverb] > with physical skill
listlyc1000
featouslya1375
featlyc1400
deftlya1500
expedient1509
deliverly1530
handsomely1530
courteouslya1533
neatlya1547
dexteriously1605
cleverly1614
featilya1640
dexterously1646
deft1805
neat1822
handily1832
as neat (also nice, right, etc.) as ninepence1857
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > elegance > [adverb]
featouslya1375
rhetoricly1481
elegantlya1492
facundiously1509
comptly1611
fine1735
posh1957
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 98 Þe herdes wif..fetisliche it [þat child] baþede, & wrouȝt wiþ it as wel as ȝif it were hire owne.
c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 124 And frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly.
c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn Prol. l. 141 The ffrere feynyd fetously the spryngil for to hold.
1595 E. Spenser Prothalamion 27 They..cropt full feateously The tender stalkes.
1613 F. Beaumont Knight of Burning Pestle iv. sig. I2v While Hobby-horse doth foote it feateously.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.a1375