fleshlyadj.adv.
/ˈflɛʃli/, U.S. /ˈflɛʃli/ A. adj.
I. Of or pertaining to the flesh, i.e. the body.† 2. Connected by, or based upon, ties of flesh and blood; natural. = carnal adj. 2. Obsolete.
1. † b. Sexual; = carnal adj. 3b. Obsolete.
a. Of or pertaining to bodily appetites and indulgences; carnal, lascivious, sensual. Rarely of persons: Given up to bodily lusts; = carnal adj. 3.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > [adjective] > of the nature of > body as seat of appetite or desire
fleshlyc888
carnala1400
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > sensuality > [adjective] > fleshly nature of man
fleshlyc888
lichamlyc888
belly-doctrine1528
fleshy1604
c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xxxi. §1 Hwæt godes magan we secgan on þa flæsclican unþeawas.
c1000 Ælfric Homilies II. 100 Unrihtlic bið þæt se cristena mann flæsclice lustas gefremme.
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 63 Wiðtieð ȝiu fro flesliche lustes.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) 1 Pet. ii. 11 Fleschly desijris..fiȝten aȝens the soule.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 26364 Flessely sin es lucheri.
c1440 W. Hylton Scala Perfeccionis (1494) ii. viii All the flesshly felynge of this synfull ymage.
?1531 J. Frith Disput. Purgatorye iii. sig. i3v Fleshlye men..that folowe theyr awne lustes and appetites.
a1592 H. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 410 The religion of Mahomet is fleshly, consisting in natural delights and corporal pleasures.
1602 J. Marston Antonios Reuenge iv. ii. sig. G3 Shall Iustice sleepe In fleshly Lethargie?
1717 A. Pope Epil. Jane Shore in Wks. 412 The godly dame who fleshly failings damns.
1826 W. Scott Woodstock III. v. 130 What he called a fleshly frailty..was in truth an attachment to strong liquors.
1872 R. Buchanan (title) The Fleshly School of Poetry and other Phenomena of the day.
1881 W. S. Gilbert Patience 1 Dram. Pers. Reginald Bunthorne a Fleshly Poet.
1882 W. Hamilton Aesthetic Movement 31 The leaders of the Æsthetic School in poetry have been styled fleshly poets, delighting in somewhat sensually-suggestive descriptions of the passions.
1961 Bible (New Eng.) John i. 13 Not born of any human stock, or by the fleshly desire of a human father.
ΚΠ
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 10874 Hu sal i brede, þat neuer hadd part of flessli dede of man?
1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) lvii. 82 [She] coueyted..to haue his flesshely companye.
1485 Act 1 Hen. VII c. 4 Advoutry, Fornication, Incest, or any other fleshly Incontinency.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > [adjective]
fleshlyc900
carnala1500
physical1778
sexual1809
pandemian1818
pandemica1822
sexful1894
sexy1923
bedroom1924
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > [adjective] > by blood-relationship
fleshlyc900
bloodyc1390
carnal1490
akinc1515
natural?1515
native1567
consanguine1613
consanguineousa1616
consanguineal1795
consanguinean1827
biological1926
c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (1890) i. xvi. [xxvii.] 68 Ða goodan fædras gewuniað heora flæslecu bearn.
a1225 Juliana 5 Hire fleschliche feder wes affrican ihaten.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 20068 Saint iohan þat was his flexsli kinesman.
14.. Prose Legends in Anglia VIII. 117 This mayden was his fleschly cosyn.
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 39/1 Fleshlye consanguinitye.
1578 Gude & G. Ball. (1868) 29 We our fleschely father dreid.
3. ‘Natural’, unredeemed, unregenerate; = carnal adj. 5.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > intrinsicality or inherence > [adjective] > innate or natural
i-cundeeOE
fleshly971
kindlyOE
kindc1175
naturalc1275
kindc1390
innatea1420
nativea1425
inborn1513
innative1513
habitual1526
ingenerate1531
instincta1538
innated1545
inset1545
of one's nativity1582
inbreda1592
connatural1599
prognatec1600
ingenious1601
ingenit1604
congenite1610
connativea1618
intuitive1621
infusive1630
habituous1633
veined1633
genial1646
connatea1652
relollacean1654
relollaceous1657
relolleous1662
congenial1664
complanted1668
ingrown1670
ingenerated1677
unborrowed1704
cogenite1712
born1741
naturable1771
unacquired1793
congenerous1813
congenital1848
ingrain1852
indigenousa1864
ingenital1886
wired-in1957
971 Blickl. Hom. 19 Þa flæslican willan.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 17276 To shæwenn himm whatt wise. Flæshlike mann maȝȝ wurrþenn gast.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Rom. viii. 7 That the flesshly mynde is enmyte against God.
1550 R. Crowley One & Thyrtye Epigrammes sig. Dii That wyth theyr fleshly fansey they may make it [Scripture] agre.
1871 J. Ruskin Fors Clavigera (1872) xxiv. 10 Avaricious..in an instinctive, fleshly way.
4. Of or pertaining to the material body, mortal; material as opposed to spiritual; human as opposed to divine. the fleshly eye: the bodily eye. Now rare. = carnal adj. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > [adjective]
lichamlyc888
fleshlyc1175
outward?c1225
bodilyc1380
corporalc1400
personal?a1439
carnal1488
earthya1533
carrionc1540
corporatec1580
nervous1616
fleshy1630
somandric1716
physical1737
somatic1775
corporeal1795
psychosomatica1834
physico-mental1844
somal1900
the world > people > [adjective] > opposed to divine
fleshlyc1175
mortala1475
humanc1475
earth-born1596
the world > people > [adjective] > relating to mankind
mannisheOE
fleshlyc1175
manlya1225
fleshya1400
human1495
microcosmical1570
microcosmala1644
anthropic1816
microcosmic1816
humanitary1851
hominal1861
hominine1883
neanthropic1894
pan-human1900
sapient1971
the world > existence and causation > existence > materiality > [adjective] > material or not spiritual
fleshlyc1175
bodilya1340
temporalc1380
worldyc1380
claylya1400
elementaryc1440
mondiala1500
gross1509
fleshly-wise1542
elemental1574
outward1574
natural1581
terrestrene1599
elementated1605
sublunary1609
temporarya1616
subluminary1625
sublunar1625
outwardlya1642
material1843
intramundane1845
unethereal1861
naturistic1886
society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > unspirituality > [adjective]
worldlyOE
dryc1175
fleshlyc1175
of the world?c1225
secularc1290
timely1340
of hencec1384
uttermore1395
worldisha1400
profane1474
humanc1475
mundanec1475
mundial1499
carnal?1510
seculary1520
unghostly1526
worldly-minded1528
sensual1529
earthly-minded1535
civil1536
subcelestial1561
worldly-witted1563
secular-minded1597
ghostlessa1603
lay1609
mundal1614
non-ecclesiastical1630
unspiritual1643
wilderness1651
worldly-handed1657
outward1674
timesome1674
apsychical1678
secularized1683
hylastic1684
choical1708
Sadducee1746
gay1798
unspiritualized1816
secularizing1825
unreligious1832
secularistic1862
apneumatic1864
Sadduceeic1875
this-worldly1883
this world1889
the world > existence and causation > existence > materiality > [adjective] > material or not spiritual > of persons
fleshlyc1175
carnal?1510
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > eye > [noun]
eyeeOE
the fleshly eyec1175
balla1400
window1481
glazier1567
light1580
crystal1592
orb1594
glass1597
optic1601
twinkler1605
lampa1616
watchera1616
wink-a-peeps1615
visive organa1652
ogle1673
peeper1691
goggle?1705
visual orb1725
orbit1727
winker1734
peep?1738
daylights?1747
eyewinker1808
keeker1808
glimmer1814
blinker1816
glim1820
goggler1821
skylight1824
ocular1825
mince pie1857
saucer1858
mince1937
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 12112 Ne mihhte he nohht Þurrh flæshlic eȝhess sihhþe. Seon þære [etc.].
a1225 Leg. Kath. 914 Ðus he schrudde & hudde him..wið ure fleschliche schrud.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) 2 Chron. xxxii. 8 With hym is the fleschely arm; with us the Lord oure God.
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 1081 An-vnder mone so gret merwayle No fleschly hert ne myȝt endeure.
1413 Pilgr. Sowle (1859) i. i. 1 I had made an ende and fully fynyshed my fleshely pylgremage.
R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle Fire of Love 61 With fflescly eyn bodily þingis ar seyn.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. x. sig. Y3 Th'eternall Lord in fleshly slime Enwombed was.
1609 S. Rowlands Famous Hist. Guy Earle of Warwick 67 My golden Scepter, in a fleshly hand, Is taken from me by another King.
1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. iv. xiv. 237 I never imagined it cou'd be pretended, that we saw God with our fleshly Eyes.
1874 J. S. Blackie On Self-culture 10 The soul of a man underlies his features and his fleshly framework.
5. Pertaining to, concerned with, or influenced by the present life, and considerations connected with it; worldly. Now rare. = carnal adj. 4.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > materiality > [adjective] > material or not spiritual > merely material
worldlyOE
earthlyOE
fleshlyc1175
materialc1390
carnal1483
charnel1483
earthen1538
world-like1577
earthy1594
materious1611
cloddy1634
wormy1640
unangelicala1711
descendental1847
unangelic1890
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 4852 All flæshliȝ care. & serrȝhe.
1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) i. 33 The hartes..of flesshely people be harde.
1531 W. Tyndale Expos. 1 John (1537) 38 They preach hym falselye vnto theyr fleshly vauntage.
a1591 R. Greenham Short Form Catech. in Wks. (1599) 418 Fleshly hatred of our enemies.
1648 O. Cromwell Let. 25 Nov. in Ann. Reg. (1765) 52 Our fleshly reasonings ensnare us.
1798 Missionary Mag. No. 24. 217 Simplicity and godly sincerity, as opposed to fleshly wisdom, strongly marked his character.
1875 H. E. Manning Internal Mission of Holy Ghost i. 22 The man of flesh and blood, of fleshly reasons.
II. With reference to flesh (as a substance).† 6. Well furnished with flesh; fat, plump; = fleshy adj. 1. Obsolete.† 8. Of a hound: Fond of flesh. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > bodily shape or physique > broad shape or physique > [adjective] > fat or plump
fatc893
frimOE
fullOE
overfatOE
greatOE
bald1297
roundc1300
encorsivea1340
fattishc1369
fleshyc1369
fleshlyc1374
repletea1398
largec1405
corsious1430
corpulentc1440
corsyc1440
fulsome1447
portlyc1487
corporate1509
foggy fata1529
corsive1530
foggish?1537
plump1545
fatty1552
fleshful1552
pubble1566
plum1570
pursy1576
well-fleshed1576
gross?1577
fog1582
forfatted1586
gulchy1598
bouksome1600
fat-fed1607
meatified1607
chuff1609
plumpya1616
bloat1638
blowze-like1647
obese1651
jollya1661
bloated1664
chubbed1674
pluffya1689
puffya1689
pussy1688
sappy1694
crummy1718
chubby1722
fodgel1724
well-padded1737
beefy1743
plumpish1753
pudsy1754
rotund1762
portable1770
lusty1777
roundabout1787
well-cushioned1802
plenitudinous1803
stout1804
embonpointc1806
roly-poly1808
adipose1810
roll-about1815
foggy1817
poddy1823
porky1828
hide-blown1834
tubby1835
stoutish1836
tubbish1836
superfatted1841
pottle-bodied1842
pincushiony1851
opulent1882
well-covered1884
well-upholstered1886
butterball1888
endomorphic1888
tisty-tosty1888
pachyntic1890
barrel-bodied1894
overweight1899
pussy-gutted1906
upholstered1924
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iii. 1199 (1248) Her sidis longe, fleishely, smoothe, and white He gan to stroke.
1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. (1898) 226 Men whyche haue fleshly theghes and not bony.
1562 W. Turner Bk. Natures Bathes Eng. f. 8v, in 2nd Pt. Herball They are good for them that are to fatt and fleshlye.
1651 J. Saint-Amard tr. F. Micanzio Life Father Paul sig. O6v Looking him in the face you would rather have thought it fleshly than otherwise.
1694 Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) ii. 92 They are very good Food..fleshly and fattish.
7. † c. Of a leaf: = fleshy adj. 2d. Obsolete.
a. Consisting of flesh: = fleshy adj. 2 ? Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > bodily substance > flesh > [adjective]
fleshyc1400
liry1483
fleshen1538
fleshly?1541
flesh-like1552
carnose1562
carnous1577
carneous1578
incarnate1598
incardinatea1616
carnified1826
sarcous1840
?1541 R. Copland Guy de Chauliac's Questyonary Cyrurgyens ii. sig. Eiv Substaunce flesshely, bony, and cartilagynous.
1591 E. Spenser Prosopopoia in Complaints 1090 The Tygre, and the Bore..seeking to take occasion Upon his fleshly corpse to make invasion.
1654 R. Vilvain tr. Enchiridium Epigr. v. lxxx. 116 b Caling such Animals as liv on Land Flesh; and thos that dwel in Water Fish; yet in Nature the Bodies of both are Fleshly.
1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. xlvi. 423 A smiling country, like a smiling face, needs some provision of fleshly integuments.
b. esp. of the heart: Soft, as opposed to ‘stony’; tender; = fleshy adj. 2c.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > tenderness > [adjective]
nesheOE
softc1175
mild-hearteda1200
fleshlyc1384
tendera1400
fleshy1526
warm1526
tender-hearted1539
meltingc1565
nice-hearted1571
soft-hearted1571
effeminate1594
tenderful1901
the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > seat of the emotions > [adjective] > tender (of the heart)
fleshlyc1384
fleshy1526
unpetrified1735
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Cor. iii. 3 Not in stoony tablis, but in fleischly tablis of herte.
1541 R. Barnes Wks. (1573) 362/2 Then taketh hee awaye our stony hart, and geueth vs a fleshly hart.
1590 C. Marlowe Tamburlaine: 2nd Pt. sig. G5 Can there be such..treason in the fleshly heart of man.
1856 E. B. Browning Aurora Leigh iv. 177 Enough for me and for my fleshly heart To harken the invocations of my kind.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > types of softness > [adjective] > pulpy
mashy1585
pulpy1587
pulpous1601
fleshly1657
pultaceous1668
mushy1768
pulpose1858
pobby1937
squidgy1973
1657 W. Coles Adam in Eden lxviii The common Orpine riseth..with fat and fleshly Leaves.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > hound > [adjective] > having other characteristics
fleshly1575
1575 G. Gascoigne Noble Arte Venerie xi. 25 You should not feede haryers with fleshe..for if you do, they will become fleshly, and gyuen to hunte great beastes of chace.
1.
a. In bodily form, corporeally; as regards the body, ‘in the flesh’; = carnally adv. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > [adverb]
lichamlyc900
fleshlyc1230
bodilyc1370
(to raise or rise) in flesh and fellc1375
after the fleshc1384
outwardc1390
in flesh and bonea1400
naturally1439
corporally1483
corporate1495
corporatelya1513
animally1535
carnally1539
in flesh and blood1598
physicallyc1600
fleshlily1614
body-wise1620
all over1633
in (the) flesh1651
corporeally1664
body-like1674
somatically1847
bodily-wise1869
c1230 Hali Meid. 19 Þat ȝet þer he wuneð fleschliche on eorðe.
c1250 Old Kentish Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 27 And offre we Gostliche to ure lorde, þet [h]i offrede flesliche.
c1440 York Myst. xlvi. 77 To rise flesshly, i-wis.
b. In a material or physical sense or manner; materially as opposed to spiritually.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > materiality > [adverb]
fleshlyc1175
temporallyc1380
materiallya1398
naturallya1513
carnally1527
physically1583
grossly1585
worldwarda1617
terrenelya1638
elementarily1643
crassly1664
tangibly1847
incarnately1856
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 16257 Flæslike follc. i flæshliȝ lif Flæshlike all unnderrstodenn. Þe laferrd cristess word. tatt wass. Gastlike tunnderrstanndenn.
c1386 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale ⁋259 Of þilk adam..flesschly descendit be we alle.
1635 E. Pagitt Christianographie (1636) i. iii. 196 If any man taketh it fleshly; it profiteth nothing.
2.
a. Carnally, sensually.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > sensuality > [adverb]
fleshly?c1225
sensuallyc1450
voluptuously1532
epicurishly1548
epicurely1599
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 49 Þu þet dest ani þing þet mon is þorch fleschliche ifonded.
c1386 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale ⁋128 Children that whylom loueden so fleshly euerich other.
1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus ii. 4 Nature can loue naturally, that is, fleshly..but not holily.
b. In the way of sexual intercourse, sexually; = carnally adv. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > [adverb]
fleshlyc1175
carnally1474
cardinallya1616
sexually1655
venereally1945
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 77 Na mon mine likame irineð ne mid me flesliche nefde to donne.
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 2009 Ȝyf þou euer þy wyfe lay by Yn tyme of penaunce, to seye flesshely..Þou synnest gretly.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. ccx. f. cxxxv He put her nat from his bedde, Nor yet delte wt her Flesshely.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iv. xxxiii. 155 b If.. he was found not able to live with her so fleshly, as his youth required.
Compounds
fleshly-wise adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > materiality > [adjective] > material or not spiritual
fleshlyc1175
bodilya1340
temporalc1380
worldyc1380
claylya1400
elementaryc1440
mondiala1500
gross1509
fleshly-wise1542
elemental1574
outward1574
natural1581
terrestrene1599
elementated1605
sublunary1609
temporarya1616
subluminary1625
sublunar1625
outwardlya1642
material1843
intramundane1845
unethereal1861
naturistic1886
1542 T. Becon Newe Pathway vnto Praier xviii. sig. I Seme it neuer so godlye, vertuous and good in the syght of fleshly wyse men.
Special uses
fleshly-minded adj., fleshly-mindedness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > sensuality > [adjective] > absorbed in sensual matters
fleshly-minded1528
carnal-minded1664
sensuala1676
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > sensuality > [noun]
delice?c1225
delicacya1393
sensualityc1425
voluptuousness1508
sensualness1530
luxuriousness1542
deliciousness1548
epicurism1570
epicurity1574
carnal-mindedness1607
Epicureanism1726
sensualism1760
pleasurehood1842
fleshly-mindedness1846
apolausticism1883
sensism1890
1528 W. Tyndale Parable Wicked Mammon in Wks. I. 105 Were altogether worldly and fleshly-minded.
1632 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 4) iii. iv. ii. i. 686 They are in a reprobate sense, meere carnalists, fleshly minded men.
1846 J. C. Hare Mission of Comforter I. 77 In every man there is a root of carnal or fleshlymindedness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.adv.c888