† quicklyadj.
Obsolete. rare.
1. Living, vital.
ΚΠ
OE (Northumbrian) Liturgical Texts (Durham Ritual) in A. H. Thompson & U. Lindelöf Rituale Ecclesiae Dunelmensis (1927) 94 Tribue quesumus ut eiusdem uitalis signi [sc. crucis] tuitione ab omnibus muniamur aduersis : sel ue bid' þætte ðæs ilca cuiclic vel liflices becon' scildnise from allum ue sie gitrymmed uiðirwearðnisum.
2.
a. Lively.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective] > lively, vivacious, or animated > specifically of things
rattlinga1398
quickly1435
feverous1591
sprightful1595
sprightly1598
vegetea1643
bright-eyed1652
vivacious1670
sparkyc1865
R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle Fire of Love 96 If þou lufe in þis maner..to þat qwhikly syght þou salt be nere full glorius.
b. Lifelike.
ΚΠ
c1450 C. d'Orleans Poems (1941) 184 (MED) The gret kerver, the prince pigmalioun, Karfe in stoon so quykly a figure, The bewte of which so raught him his resoun That he hir lovid so hoot out of mesure.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
quicklyadv.
/ˈkwɪkli/, U.S. /ˈkwɪkli/ a. In a living or lively manner; with animation; vigorously. Also: with strong feeling; sensitively. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adverb] > in a lively manner
quicklyOE
heartilya1450
vively1471
sprightlya1584
sportively1597
sprightfully1597
spiritfully?1609
lifelike1637
sprightlily1739
vivaciously1815
rattlingly1824
friskily1862
spirity1865
sparklingly1879
the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > capacity for emotion > sensitiveness or tenderness > [adverb]
quicklyOE
tenderlya1400
tender1424
feelingly1706
susceptibly1785
sensitively1824
tinderly1825
soulfully1841
uncynically1895
the mind > emotion > excitement > excitability of temperament > spiritedness or liveliness > [adverb]
quicklyOE
heartilya1450
sprightlya1584
sprightfully1597
spiritfully?1609
lifelike1637
sprightlily1739
spiritedly1750
livelily1751
spirituously1751
good-temperedly1776
spiritly1796
vivaciously1815
animately1822
rattlingly1824
friskily1862
spirity1865
sparklingly1879
OE Paris Psalter (1932) cxviii. 37 Me on soðne weg þinne..læde cwiculice[L. in via tua vivifica me].
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 197 Ich wille gan nu toslepen & arise nunan & don cwicluker þet ich don schulde.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 318 Þa cnihtes of þan castle quic-liche[c1300 starcli] heom wið-stoden.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 6623 Be ȝe douhty & lere of armes & quicly defend ȝour harmes.
R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle Fire of Love 77 I suld more Ioy or ellis qwyklyar synge.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 47 It is quikli and smertli spoken.
?a1475 (a1396) W. Hilton Scale of Perfection (Harl. 6579) ii. xxviii. f. 99 Swilk a man..is so qwikly & so felendly inspired.
a1500 tr. A. Chartier Traité de l'Esperance (Rawl.) (1974) 59 The lawe that is wretyn is in himself but a ded thyng..But the prince and the lawe togethir maketh it to lyve quykly.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 153 Al his speiking euer taisted of heavinlines..to..steir thame vp quiklier, quha war in the gud way.
1755 W. Warburton Divine Legation Moses (ed. 4) I. ii. iv. 278 It was proper to represent a perfect Lawgiver as quickly touched with all the affections of humanity.
1800 in Spirit of Public Jrnls. (1801) 4 340 Ministers of state have a right to feel rather quickly upon the subject of character.
b. With quickness of perception; in an alert manner. Cf. quick adj. 24a. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > acuteness of physical senses > [adverb]
keenlyc1275
feelinglya1382
quicklyc1392
subtilelyc1450
keen1572
acutely1596
c1392 Equatorie of Planetis 40 (MED) Yit quykly vnderstond this canon.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 7668 Knyghtes of sonde I rede ȝe take bi þe se side quikly to wake, þat no Sesson on ȝow aryue.
1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. cviijv Of sharpenesse of hir corage and of hir lokyng quicly.
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour i. xxii. sig. Lvi It is a qualitie procedyng of witte and experience, by the whiche a man perceyueth quickly.
1574 J. Baret Aluearie S 477 He hath a very good nose: or he can smell very quickly.
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. xiv. 249 There are beasts which do here, see, smell, taste, and feele much better and quicklyer than man doth.
c. In a lifelike manner; to the life. Cf. quick adj. 9. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [adverb] > closely (of resemblance) > with lifelike representation
livelyc1405
livinglyc1475
quickly1477
to the quick1531
livelily?1565
to the life1604
naively1640
1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 84 An ymage of fyn golde so quickly made after the facon of appollo that it semed proprely his persone.
1523 J. Skelton Goodly Garlande of Laurell sig. C A lybbard..As quikly towchyd as it were flesshe and bones.
a1529 J. Skelton Phyllyp Sparowe (?1545) sig. D.iiv Handes soft as sylke..That are so quyckely vayned.
a1605 Bankis Helicon 41 in A. Montgomerie Poems (1887) 274 Not abill, in tabill, With colours competent, So quiklie or liklie A form to represent.
2. Rapidly; with haste or speed.
a. Denoting that there is little or no interval between a given point in time and the doing of an act or happening of an event (frequently also implying sense 2b or 2c); without delay; very soon, shortly.
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 world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [adverb]
quickly?c1225
hastilyc1275
hastlya1375
speedilya1400
subito?a1640
handy1832
jildi1919
ricky-tick1978
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 181 In alle ouwer neden sendeð cwicliche anan þeose sonden towart heouene.
c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 7809 (MED) Soriandes..oȝain ferd Forto taken quiclike Þe children.
c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xxi. 76 (MED) Quikliche cam a cacchepol and craked a-two here legges.
c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn 1106 When þe Emperour knewe al hir determinacioune, Quiklich in his mynde he had Imaginacioun.
1539 R. Taverner tr. Erasmus Prouerbes sig. D.iv He gyueth twyse, yt gyueth quyckely.
1585 R. Parsons Christian Directorie ii. iii. 268 Quickly commeth on olde age, which riueleth the skinne.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iv. iii. 201 If it be mine Keepe it not from me, quickly let me haue it. View more context for this quotation
1666 J. Bunyan Grace Abounding §29 But quickly after this, I fell in company with one poor man.
1702 C. Mather Magnalia Christi vii. 44/1 Captain Patrick, and quickly after him Captain Stoughton, were now come into those Parts of the Country.
1781 S. Johnson Mallet in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets X. 8 He was then exerting upon..the series of great men, quickly to be exhibited.
1847 L. H. Kerr tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Servia 308 Retaliation and vengeance quickly followed.
1888 Pall Mall Gaz. 12 Dec. 12/1 Quickly afterwards a Conservative member..carried it off.
1946 A. Christie Hollow xvi. 140 Gerda said: ‘That awful inquest!’ and half shut her eyes. ‘Terrible for you, darling,’ said Elsie Patterson quickly.
2005 M. David Slow Down Diet iv. 94 Every time he slipped back into a frenzied..lifestyle, his symptoms quickly returned.
b. Denoting that the whole of an action or process is begun and ended within a comparatively short space of time.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > swift movement of time > [adverb] > quickly
soonc825
quicklyc1300
rifelya1375
swiftlya1400
hourly1529
apace1535
in less than a lightning1591
quick time1816
succinctly1837
quickstep1855
c1300 All Souls (Laud) 272 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 428 (MED) Þis þreo-manere men ne mouwen nouȝht in purgatorie bi-leue, Ake smitez þoru-out quiclokur þane þe leyte doth an eue.
R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle Fire of Love 81 Now qwhykliar, now slawlyer it warmes.
tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) vi. 122 (MED) So smyte hem of quycly that hit be do.
?1543 T. Phaer tr. J. Goeurot Regiment of Lyfe iv. f. xxix A lytle good wyne..is the chefe thyng that quycklyest restoreth hym.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 95 Breid wil thay make quiklier..[in this way] nor vthirwyse.
1629 J. Earle Micro-cosmogr. (ed. 5) xxxiv. sig. G5 A man quickly fired, and quickly laid downe with satisfaction.
1677 Mr. Johnson Let. 16 Apr. in J. Ray Corr. (1848) 128 Possibly their stomach may digest very quickly.
1747 J. Wesley Primitive Physick 114 This quickly heals even cut Veins, or Sinews.
1811 A. T. Thomson London Dispensatory iii. 577 On this account decoctions should be quickly made.
1861 F. Nightingale Notes on Nursing (new ed.) 41 Leave the sick room quickly and come into it quickly, not suddenly, nor with a rush.
1937 Amer. Home Apr. 150/2 (advt.) With the Jacobsen..power mower, your lawn is mowed, rolled and trimmed—all in one operation—quickly—inexpensively.
1988 D. Rowe Successful Self v. 131 Some couples fall out of love as quickly as they had fallen in.
2001 R. W. Cahn Coming of Materials Sci. ii. 24 Chemists were mostly incurious about such matters as the nature..of the chemical bond or how quickly reactions happened.
c. Describing the rate of progress of a movement, action, or process, without consideration of the time at which it begins and ends: speedily, at a rapid rate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > [adverb]
yeverlyeOE
cofeOE
snellya1000
whatlichea1000
swiftlyc1000
yernea1023
skeetc1175
swithc1175
whatec1175
lightly?c1225
tidelyc1225
fastlyc1275
swithc1275
fastc1300
quickc1300
titec1300
quicklya1325
rada1325
snellc1330
titelyc1330
swithly?1370
hastlya1375
ketlya1375
ketec1380
speedlyc1380
speedfully1398
keenlya1400
skeetlya1400
speedilya1400
swiftc1400
yederlyc1400
apacea1423
rasha1475
runninglyc1475
speedful?c1480
rackly?a1500
rashly1533
stiffly1535
roundly1548
post1549
fleet1587
fleetly1598
speedy1601
raptly1646
fastisha1650
wingedly1651
rapidly1653
rapid1677
velociously1680
express1765
quicklike1782
spankingly1803
spankily1842
fleetingly1883
quick-foot1891
on the quick-foot1894
zippily1924
a1325 (c1280) Southern Passion (Pepys 2344) (1927) 492 (MED) Riȝt as..þe liȝtnyng smyt to grounde, As quyklich godes sone shal adoun liȝte in a stounde.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 7455 His folc quicliche to þe bataile sscet.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 1414 Sum braidis to þar bowis..Quethirs out quarels quikly [v.r. whikly] betwene.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. NNv We may fele our pulses beate quickely & contynually.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. l He..folowed so quickely that the Frenchmen turnyng to flight, ranne [etc.].
1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. ix. 42 Dead water..followes the sterne of the ship, not passing away so quickly as that [which] slides by her sides.
1719 Foreign Tales 135 The French walk quickly; the Spaniard walks gravely.
1780 W. Smellie tr. Comte de Buffon Nat. Hist. Gen. & Particular VI. 70 He has..less resistence to overcome, and, consequently, is enabled to swim more quickly.
1846 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. in Wks. II. 111/1 We..throw them down in the dirt to make them follow us the quicklier.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. i. 226 The wings of the small insect vibrate more quickly than those of the larger one.
1915 J. Turner Let. July in C. Warren Somewhere in France (2019) 16 You see, things happen—and happen very quickly out here. No reasons given.
1967 J. D. O'Connor Better Eng. Pronunc. iii. 78 A rolled sound in which the tip of the tongue flaps very quickly..against the alveolar ridge.
2001 Guardian 16 July ii. 4/1 She whizzes us off to the tiny changing room she shares with two other presenters. She talks quickly, walks quickly, does everything quickly.
3. With participial adjectives, as quickly aging, quickly gone, quickly growing, quickly-speaking, quickly working, etc.
ΚΠ
1597 J. Gerard Herball Table Eng. Names Quickly gone flower, that is Uenice Mallow.
a1627 T. Middleton Chast Mayd in Cheape-side (1630) iv. 50 (song) Can there be any part of blisse, In a quickly fleeting kisse.
1771 J. H. Wynne Prostitute 12 The fleeting race of quickly-dying hours.
1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xxxiii. 370 Pickwick..gazed at the foreman with an agitated countenance and a quickly beating heart.
1859 G. Wilson & A. Geikie Mem. E. Forbes iv. 106 Quickly-collected, yet trustworthy data.
1870 W. D. Christie in Dryden's Wks. (Globe) p. xv An active and quickly working brain.
1874 L. Carr Judith Gwynne I. i. 44 The quickly-speaking eyes of the dashing warrior.
a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) I. ix. 165 Arrow-Worms..are quite transparent, lightly built, quickly moving.
1948 G. D. H. Bell Cultivated Plants Farm x. 80 (plate 18) As a group, turnips are more quickly growing than swedes.
1993 Online Access Sept. 21/2 Adaptive..thinkers able to function in a very different world from their quickly aging technophobic parents.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.OE
adv.OE