gainlyadj.
/ˈɡeɪnli/ 1. Proper, suitable, becoming. Obsolete exc. Scottish dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adjective] > fitting or proper
methelyeOE
ylikeeOE
fairOE
i-meteOE
rightOE
becomelyc1175
proper?c1225
featc1325
conablea1340
rightful1340
worthyc1350
pursuanda1375
covenable1382
dignec1385
convenablec1386
thriftyc1386
sittingc1390
comenablea1400
gainlya1400
meeta1400
wortha1400
convenientc1400
meetlya1425
suinga1425
fitc1440
tallc1440
worthyc1450
good1477
dueful?a1527
beseeminga1530
fitting1535
straighta1538
decent1539
answerable1542
becoming1565
condecent1575
becomed1599
respective1605
befittinga1612
comely1617
decorous1664
shape-like1672
beseemly1737
farrantly?1748
fitly1840
in order1850
a1400 Sir Beues (A.) 3103 Þe mesager spak a gainli word before þemperur is bord.
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. at Gane Ganelie, proper, becoming, decent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [adjective] > gracious
holdc893
winsomec900
goodlyOE
esteOE
menskful?c1225
courteousc1290
besekandlika1300
buxom1362
graciousa1375
queemfulc1390
nighsomea1400
gainlyc1400
favourablec1503
handsome1528
suave?1553
boona1612
benedictive1660
sneerless1884
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 728 Þat nas neuer þyn note..Þat art so gaynly a god & of goste mylde!
3.
a. Of conduct: Graceful, tactful.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > elegance > [adjective] > graceful
gracious1340
gracefulc1449
elegant1483
nymphlike1567
flowing1619
gracely1648
leggiadrous1648
featly1801
gainly1871
svelte1909
1871 J. Hamilton in Bp. Hall's Medit. Life 24 By his prudent and gainly conduct he reclaimed all the refractory.
b. Of bodily form, attitude, or movement: The reverse of ungainly; graceful, shapely.
ΚΠ
1855 H. Mayhew Wonders Sci. (1862) xiv. 317 The curls..had now been displaced, and the hair twisted into the more womanly, but less gainly, protuberance at the back.
1886 C. Gibbon Clare of Claresmede II. i. 8 She remembered a tall, gainly youth, with dark hair and eyes.
Derivatives
ˈgainliness n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > elegance > [noun] > gracefulness
gracea1382
gracefulnessa1586
graciousnessa1662
gainliness1886
willowiness1972
1886 C. Gibbon Clare of Claresmede II. xii. 195 There was as little goodness in his spirit as there was gainliness in his appearance.
1894 G. Du Maurier Trilby iii. 142 The symmetry and the gainliness of the athlete.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
gainlyadv.
/ˈɡeɪnli/ Obsolete exc. dialect.† 2. Thoroughly, completely; very (with adjectives).
1. Suitably, fitly, conveniently, readily.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > convenience > [adverb]
gainlyc1175
covenablyc1384
goodlyc1405
commodiously1420
handsomely1538
gainfully1549
conveniently1633
cleverly1697
commodely1749
commody1766
handily1793
accommodatingly1796
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 18084 Þatt wass inoh geȝȝnlike don. & all wiþþ godess wille.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 744 Whan he geinliche was greiþed he gript his mantel.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 476 He glent vpon sir Gawen, & gaynly he sayde.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. (1609) i. xxxiv. 25 An eagle set it [his bonnet] gainly and handsomely on his head againe [L. capiti apte reponit].
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 13 Conuenient allies betweene to giue..passage for men to come and goe gainely.
1876 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Words Whitby Gainly, adv. eligibly situated.
1882 W. Worc. Gloss. Gainly, quickly, handily.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > [adverb]
fullyeOE
allesOE
fullOE
rightc1175
everydealc1300
wholec1300
whollya1325
finelyc1330
fairly1340
completec1374
gainlya1375
clearly1377
freelya1393
plaina1393
entire?a1400
entirelyc1400
oddlyc1400
sufficientlyc1440
expressc1475
totally1509
completely1526
finec1530
exactly?1531
sincerely1576
start1599
fillingly1611
circularly1618
solid1651
out-over1745
rotundly1775
roundedly?1802
whole hog1840
clear-away1883
whole cloth1917
righteous1948
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > very
tooc888
swith971
wellOE
wellOE
fullOE
rightc1175
muchc1225
wellac1275
gainlya1375
endlyc1440
hard?1440
very1448
odda1500
great1535
jolly1549
fellc1600
veryvery1649
gooda1655
vastly1664
strange1667
bloody1676
ever so1686
heartily1727
real1771
precious1775
quarely1805
murry1818
très1819
freely1820
powerfula1822
gurt1824
almighty1830
heap1832
all-fired1833
gradely1850
real1856
bonny1857
heavens1858
veddy1859
canny1867
some1867
oh-so1881
storming1883
spanking1886
socking1896
hefty1898
velly1898
fair dinkum1904
plurry1907
Pygmalion1914
dinkum1915
beaucoup1918
dirty1920
molto1923
snorting1924
honking1929
hellishing1931
thumpingly1948
way1965
mega1966
mondo1968
seriously1970
totally1972
mucho1978
stonking1990
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3553 Þer-of þe king was geynli glad & graunted his wille.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 636 I schal þurth craft þat ich kan keuer ȝou, I hope, Mow I geten a grece þat I gaynli knowe!
1646 H. More Democritus Platonissans 9 A while this Universe here will we feigne Corporeall, till we have gainly tride, If ought that's bodily may infinite abide.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.a1400adv.c1175