goldenlyadv.
/ˈɡəʊld(ə)nli/, U.S. /ˈɡoʊld(ə)nli/ 1. In a highly satisfactory manner; exceedingly well; excellently, splendidly.Often after Shakespeare, in report speaks goldenly (also reports speak goldenly): see quot. a1616.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adverb] > and nobly or splendidly
micklelyeOE
highlyeOE
freelyOE
dearworthlyc1230
gloriously1393
dearworthilya1400
farrandlyc1400
stately?a1439
finely?1552
gallantly1552
goldenly1580
rarely1581
sightly1592
superbly1769
splendidly1774
splendiferously1841
swell1856
in there1944
1580 M. Outred tr. M. Cope Godly & Learned Expos. Prouerbes Solomon (xvii. 7) f. 350v The most foolishe doe thinke they speake goldenly.
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) i. i. 6 My brother Iaques he keepes at schoole, and report speakes goldenly of his profit. View more context for this quotation
1789 Morning Star 22 Aug. The young Duke of Rutland spends the summer at Green Grove Hill, near Barnet, ‘where report speaks goldenly’, of the proficiency he has made in his studies.
1840 T. Hood Miss Kilmansegg ii, in New Monthly Mag. 60 262 So the courtly dance was goldenly done, And golden opinions, of course, it won.
1889 J. R. Lowell Latest Ess. (1892) 137 A style..so parsimonious in the number of its words, so goldenly sufficient in the value of them.
1915 Rotarian Mar. 100/2 Thirty-five members went to the get-together meeting at Cincinnati and reports speak goldenly of the time they had.
2014 Observer (Nexis) 23 Mar. (Review section) 23 Not yet at her most goldenly relaxed best.
2. With a golden colour or lustre; so as to be like gold in appearance. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [adverb] > golden yellow
goldenly1803
1803 Lady's Monthly Museum July 61 The sands, too, beneath you, look goldenly bright.
1830 N. P. Willis in Atlantic Souvenir 132 The dreams Of her high heart came goldenly and soft.
1864 J. R. Lowell Fireside Trav. 313 The sunlight..hovered under the dome like the holy dove goldenly descending.
1930 Illustr. London News 24 Nov. 23/2 In the evening when the air was cool, and the moon had risen goldenly above the isthmus, they would sing to her their soft island songs.
2002 Church Times 1 Feb. 36/3 A dandelion blooms goldenly in the cracked platform.
3. With, or as though with, gold.
ΚΠ
a1849 T. L. Beddoes Second Brother iii. i, in Poems (1851) I. 43 Dropping with starry sparks, goldenly honied.
1859 D. M. Mulock Romantic Tales 1 Both are..written goldenly on this happy heart of mine.
1919 F. F. Shannon God's Faith in Man i. 18 He roofed it over with a goldenly fretted firmament.
2016 E. G. Wilson Melancholy Android ii. 49 This android, goldenly metallic and graced with crystalline eyes, has elevated the decaying body to an inorganic miracle.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adv.1580