ferlyadj.n.
/ˈfəːli/ 1. Sudden, unexpected.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > immediacy > [adjective]
ferlyc893
cofc1000
swiftc1000
smarta1325
suddenc1390
undelayed1439
wightlaykec1450
short1480
present1489
indelayed1523
on or upon a (or the) sudden1558
immediate1569
instant1598
momentaneous1657
abrupt1725
presto1767
summary1771
momentary1799
pistolgraph1859
fast1863
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > suddenness > [adjective]
ferlyc893
sudden1340
subitane?a1425
subite?1483
starting1545
plunging1566
abrupt1576
subitany1603
subitaneous1645
surprising1645
subitous1657
extempore1755
extemporary1761
c893 tr. Orosius Hist. iv. v. §1 & him þær becom swa færlic yfel þæt [etc].
c1000 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 175 Imber, færlic ren.
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 61 Gif he þurh ferliche deð saule fro þe lichame deleð.
c1275 Long Life 15 in Old Eng. Misc. (1872) 157 Fox and ferlych is his [deþes] wrench.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Prov. i. 27 Whan shal falle feerli [L. repentina] wrecchidnesse.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3984 Þat ferli flode.
2. Dreadful, frightful, terrible.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of terribleness > [adjective]
eislichc888
eyesfulOE
awfulc1175
smarta1200
ferlya1225
sternc1275
grisea1300
uglya1300
dreadfula1325
fell?c1335
stout1338
perilousc1380
terriblec1400
ghastfulc1449
timorous1455
epouventable1477
bedreadc1485
dreadablec1490
dreadc1540
buggisha1555
dreaded1556
monster-like1561
dire1567
scareful1567
terrifying1577
scary1582
direful1583
affrighting1592
dismal1594
affrightful1603
diral1606
tirable1607
frighting1619
scaring1641
affrighteninga1651
formidolous1656
terrific1667
terrifical1677
atrocious1733
terrorful1789
orful1845
lurid1850
terrorsome1890
turble1893
timorsome1894
like the wrath of God1936
a1225 St. Marher. 23 Ich iseh hwer ha faht wið þe feorliche feont.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 12753 Feorlic [c1300 Otho feorlich] wes þat sweouen. þene king hit auerde.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 305 To se it was ferlike.
1460 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 252 Furres of ferly bestes.
a1577 G. Gascoigne Wks. (1587) 164 A fearly chaunce: whereon alone to thinke My hande now quakis.
3.
a. Strange, wonderful, wondrous, marvellous.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > quality of inspiring wonder > [adjective] > with quality of strangeness
selcouthc888
uncouthc900
sellya1000
ferly?c1225
strangec1374
nicec1395
ferlifula1400
monsterfulc1460
portentous1553
miraculous1569
vengible1594
strangefula1618
phenomenous1743
phenomenala1850
very like a whale1859
weird and wonderful1859
fourth-dimensional1902
out of this world1941
unreal1965
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 88 Þet nes nan feorli wunder.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 10863 He sal be of fulfarli fame.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 253 Wha herkned euere swilk a ferly thyng.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 4274 Þus fell þis ferly thing.
1549–62 T. Sternhold & J. Hopkins Audi Israel Attend, my people, and give eare, Of fearely things I will thee tell.
c1650 (a1500) Eger & Grime (Percy) (1933) 274 His steed was of a furley kinde.
b. Wonderfully great.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > vast, immense, or huge > and amazing
ferlya1400
wonderfulc1540
stupendiousa1549
portentous1553
stupenduous1610
stupendous1618
stupend1621
tremendous1813
awesome1838
devastating1889
dizzy1896
doozy1903
staggering1934
eyewatering1950
zonking great1958
stonking1980
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 12080 A maister was þar selcuth kene, At iesu was him ferli tene.
a1400–50 Alexander 5577 Ferly ferd of his folke was in þe fild strangild.
B. n. Now chiefly Scottish and dialect.
1. Something wonderful, a marvel, wonder. no ferly: no wonder. what ferly: what wonder.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > lack of surprise [phrase]
it is great, little, small wonderOE
no selcoutha1250
no ferlyc1275
(and) no wonder!1390
no wonder that, if, or though1390
what ferlya1605
what wonder if1667
I shouldn't wonder1836
small wonder that1913
wouldn't you (just) know?1919
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > quality of inspiring wonder > [noun] > a marvel, object of wonder
wonderc700
wonderinga1100
selcouthc1175
sellya1200
ferlyc1275
wondernessc1275
wonder thingc1290
adventurec1300
marvelc1300
marvellingc1400
wonderelc1440
signc1450
admiration1490
wonderment1542
wondering stockc1555
miracle-worker1561
singularity1576
stupor mundi1587
miracle1595
marvellation1599
portent1607
astonishment1611
prodigy1616
magnale1623
magnality1646
mirable1646
phenomenon1741
gaping-stock1817
reacher1825
stunner1829
buster1833
caution1834
merry-go-rounder1838
knock-down1843
astonisher1871
marvelry1874
mazer1876
phenom1881
whizzer1888
knock-out1892
whizz1908
doozy1916
doozer1930
heart-stopper1940
blockbuster1942
ooh-ah1957
mind-blower1968
stonker1987
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 2684 Heom þuhte muchel ferlich.
1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 2955 If he þan haf drede, it es na ferly.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3280 Moche folk him folwed þat ferli to bi-hold.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 11 Of ferlijs þat his knigh[t]es fell.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 1023 Here a ferly þat befell.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 271 As for farleis richt few thairin he saw.
a1605 A. Montgomerie Devotional Poems in Poems (1910) vi. 45 Vhat ferly, freind, thoght thou be fleyd To go befor so grit a Iudge.
a1657 G. Daniel Poems (1878) I. 57 To let the world know of some Death Or novel ffarley.
c1720 Bewick & Graham xxvi, in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1890) IV. vii. ccxi. 147/1 To see what farleys he coud see.
1786 R. Burns Poems 77 Nae ferly tho' ye do despise The hairum-scairum, ram-stam boys.
1802 A. Wheeler Westmorland Dial. (ed. 2) 103 What saw yee else; onny new farly?
1808 J. Mayne Siller Gun (new ed.) i. 24 The ferly is..They wauk'd sae sicker!
1868 G. MacDonald Robert Falconer I. 12 ‘I'm no sic ferlie that onybody needs be frichtit at me.’
1935 C. Day Lewis Time to Dance & Other Poems 23 Those ferlies you'll not behold Till the guardians of that valley have crossed Your hand with fairy gold.
1962 N. Davis & C. L. Wrenn Eng. & Medieval Stud. 225 But for anthropology ‘we’ should have taken the ferlies in medieval romance like trivial excitements in a boy's blood.
1962 N. Davis & C. L. Wrenn Eng. & Medieval Stud. 227 The idea that ferlies are Jungian outcroppings from the collective unconscious.
2. Wonder, astonishment.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > [noun]
wonderc700
wonderingOE
ferlya1300
marvelc1330
stupora1398
admirationc1425
admirativec1487
amazement1576
mazement1580
stupefaction1592
amazedness1593
astonishment1594
stonishment1594
amaze1598
surprisal1652
staggerment1933
a1300 Floriz & Bl. 456 Þo nuste Floriz what to rede For þe ferlich þat he hadde.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xii. 228 Litel ferly ich haue.
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 1085 I stod as stylle as dased quayle, For ferly of þat freuch [printed french] figure.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 903 Now haue I ferlie, gif I fauour the ocht.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
ferlyv.
/ˈfəːli/ Obsolete exc. Scottish.
1.
a. intransitive. To wonder.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > be curious, wonder [verb (intransitive)]
ferlya1400
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > feel wonder, be amazed [verb (intransitive)]
wonderc888
awondera1250
amarvelc1330
muse1340
marvela1382
astone1393
ferlya1400
admirec1429
stun1533
marl1601
wonder-maze1603
strange1639
admirize1702
astony1850
mirate1893
a1400–50 Alexander 4761 Quen he had ferlied his fill.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) vi. 323 Yai..Farlyit and ȝarnyt hym for to se.
a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) 3117 That euery wight ferleit of his deid.
1553 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Eneados x. Prol. 86 Freynd ferly not.
1636 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae (new ed.) 846 None ferlies more than fulis.
1725 A. Ramsay Gentle Shepherd ii. iv Peggy. They'll wonder what can make us stay. Patie. And let them ferly.
1786 R. Burns Twa Dogs xviii, in Poems 16 They'll..tell what new taxation's comin, An' ferlie at the folk in Lon'on.
1826 J. Hogg Noctes Ambrosianæ xxv, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 756 He..sits down but to ferly.
b. quasi-transitive with sentence as object.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > feel wonder or astonishment at [verb (transitive)] > ask wonderingly
marvela1393
ferlyc1400
c1400 Melayne 1474 Thay ferlyde why he fewterde his spere.
a1513 W. Dunbar Ballat Abbot of Tungland in Poems (1998) I. 58 All fowlis ferleit quhat he sowld be.
1801 R. Gill Tint Quey in R. Chambers Misc. Pop. Sc. Poems (1862) 178 Ilk ane ferlied nae a wee, What luckless gate the chiel could be.
2. transitive. To amaze, astonish. Only impersonal and in passive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > surprise, astonish [verb (transitive)]
gloppena1250
abavea1400
ferlya1400
forferlya1400
supprisec1405
stonish1488
surprend1549
stagger1556
thunderbolta1586
admire1598
startle1598
thunderstrike1613
siderate1623
dumbfound1653
surprise1655
stammer1656
strange1657
astartlea1680
dumbfounder1710
knock1715
to take aback1751
flabbergast1773
to take back1796
stagnate1829
to put aback1833
to make (a person) sit up1878
to knock, lay (out), etc., cold1884
transmogrify1887
rock1947
to flip out1964
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 17361 Fulferlid all þan war þai.
a1400–50 Alexander 4991 Þe wale kyng..Was in þe figure of hire fourme noȝt ferlied a littell.
c1400 Melayne 552 Me ferlys of thy fure.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 2405 Na man be ferlyd, Bede biddes.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
† ferlyadv.
Obsolete.
1. Suddenly, unexpectedly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > immediacy > [adverb]
soonc825
ratheeOE
rathelyeOE
rekeneOE
rekenlyOE
thereright971
anonOE
forth ona1000
coflyc1000
ferlyc1000
radlyOE
swiftlyc1000
unyoreOE
yareOE
at the forme (also first) wordOE
nowOE
shortlya1050
rightOE
here-rightlOE
right anonlOE
anonc1175
forthrightc1175
forthwithalc1175
skeetc1175
swithc1175
with and withc1175
anon-rightc1225
anon-rights?c1225
belivec1225
lightly?c1225
quickly?c1225
tidelyc1225
fastlyc1275
hastilyc1275
i-radlichec1275
as soon asc1290
aright1297
bedenea1300
in little wevea1300
withoute(n dwella1300
alrightc1300
as fast (as)c1300
at firstc1300
in placec1300
in the placec1300
mididonec1300
outrightc1300
prestc1300
streck13..
titec1300
without delayc1300
that stounds1303
rada1325
readya1325
apacec1325
albedenec1330
as (also also) titec1330
as blivec1330
as line rightc1330
as straight as linec1330
in anec1330
in presentc1330
newlyc1330
suddenlyc1330
titelyc1330
yernec1330
as soon1340
prestly1340
streckly1340
swithly?1370
evenlya1375
redelya1375
redlya1375
rifelya1375
yeplya1375
at one blastc1380
fresha1382
ripelyc1384
presentc1385
presently1385
without arrestc1385
readilyc1390
in the twinkling of a looka1393
derflya1400
forwhya1400
skeetlya1400
straighta1400
swifta1400
maintenantc1400
out of handc1400
wightc1400
at a startc1405
immediately1420
incontinent1425
there and then1428
onenec1429
forwithc1430
downright?a1439
agatec1440
at a tricec1440
right forth1440
withouten wonec1440
whipc1460
forthwith1461
undelayed1470
incessantly1472
at a momentc1475
right nowc1475
synec1475
incontinently1484
promptly1490
in the nonce?a1500
uncontinent1506
on (upon, in) the instant1509
in short1513
at a clap1519
by and by1526
straightway1526
at a twitch1528
at the first chop1528
maintenantly1528
on a tricea1529
with a tricec1530
at once1531
belively1532
straightwaysa1533
short days1533
undelayedly1534
fro hand1535
indelayedly1535
straight forth1536
betimesc1540
livelyc1540
upononc1540
suddenly1544
at one (or a) dash?1550
at (the) first dash?1550
instantly1552
forth of hand1564
upon the nines1568
on the nail1569
at (also in, with) a thoughtc1572
indilately1572
summarily1578
at one (a) chop1581
amain1587
straightwise1588
extempore1593
presto1598
upon the place1600
directly1604
instant1604
just now1606
with a siserary1607
promiscuously1609
at (in) one (an) instant1611
on (also upon) the momenta1616
at (formerly also on or upon) sight1617
hand to fist1634
fastisha1650
nextly1657
to rights1663
straightaway1663
slap1672
at first bolt1676
point-blank1679
in point1680
offhand1686
instanter1688
sonica1688
flush1701
like a thought1720
in a crack1725
momentary1725
bumbye1727
clacka1734
plumba1734
right away1734
momentarily1739
momentaneously1753
in a snap1768
right off1771
straight an end1778
abruptedly1784
in a whistle1784
slap-bang1785
bang?1795
right off the reel1798
in a whiff1800
in a flash1801
like a shot1809
momently1812
in a brace or couple of shakes1816
in a gird1825
(all) in a rush1829
in (also at, on) short (also quick) order1830
straightly1830
toot sweetc1830
in two twos1838
rectly1843
quick-stick1844
short metre1848
right1849
at the drop of a (occasionally the) hat1854
off the hooks1860
quicksticks1860
straight off1873
bang off1886
away1887
in quick sticks (also in a quick stick)1890
ek dum1895
tout de suite1895
bung1899
one time1899
prompt1910
yesterday1911
in two ups1934
presto changeo1946
now-now1966
presto change1987
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > suddenness > [adverb]
feringc1000
ferlyc1000
suddenlyc1290
feringlya1300
in a braida1400
sudden?1404
of (a) suddentyc1440
at a braid1549–62
on or upon a (or the) sudden1558
at a (orthe) sudden1562
in a sudden1562
abruptly1565
on or upon (a) suddenty?1567
of a sudden1570
upon a very great sudden1572
in or on a great, in sic a suddenty1587
plump1594
unaware1667
surprisedly1680
a-start1721
abruptedly1784
with a bump1872
just so1971
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [adverb] > hastily or hurriedly > suddenly
ferlyc1000
rushinglya1425
rackly?a1500
precipitately1615
precipitiously1653
precipitantly1656
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) ix. 39 & he færlice hrymð.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 89 On þisse deie..com ferliche muchel swei of heofne.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 665 Ȝiff þatt itt ohht færlike seþ Þe wlite off enngle kinde.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 299 Somme deyde verlych as hii vp ryȝt stode.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 130 Ase uayr weder went in-to rene and uerliche makeþ his blench.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Josh. x. 9 Josue felle on hem feerlich.
c1440 Generydes 5815 Eche vppon other ferly on they sett.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 176 In feir fairlie he foundis..Quhair the Coilȝear bad, sa braithlie he beird.
2. Dreadfully, frightfully, terribly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > [adverb]
frightilya1325
ferlyc1330
fearfully1526
frighteninglyc1854
fearsomely1876
scarifyingly1963
scarily1967
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 18 He felt him heuy & ferly seke.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 960 Al bi-rolled wyth þe rayn, rostted & brenned, & ferly flayed þat folk þat in þose fees lenged.
3. Wonderfully, marvellously, extraordinarily.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > quality of inspiring wonder > [adverb] > with a degree of strangeness
selcouthlyc1175
ferlyc1230
selcoutha1300
disguisilyc1325
ferlifula1400
ferlilya1400
sellylyc1400
miraculouslya1425
ferlifullyc1425
strangelya1450
strangefully1664
portentously1755
miraculous1781
like magic1783
phenomenally1878
out of this world1941
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 78 A feorli god word þet te hali iob seið.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2799 Ic sal werken ferlike strong.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3238 Þe horse..gan fare wiþ his fet & ferliche neiȝede.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4263 Ioseph was farli fair in face.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. vii. 64 I will you tell Tythyngys farly goode.
a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Lion & Mouse l. 1581 in Poems (1981) 63 Flouris ferlie sweit.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 42 Thocht tha war ȝoung, ȝit tha wer farlie fair.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.c893v.a1400
adv.c1000