† blethelyadv.
Obsolete.
(a) Gently, kindly, graciously, benevolently. (b) Blithely, gladly, fain.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > willingness > [adverb]
to goodeOE
thankc888
yernec888
lieflyc900
lovelyeOE
lustly971
willinglyOE
wilfullyc1000
with (also mid) heart and hand (also hands)OE
fainc1175
lustilya1225
lief1297
yfaȝea1300
blethelyc1300
goodlya1375
blelyc1380
willingc1384
bainc1400
acceptably1479
bainlya1500
cheerfully1523
towardly1523
desirously1531
pronely?1532
fainly1535
wilningly1597
bongre1598
libentiously1606
volently1614
propensely1648
easily1649
with (a) good grace1650
unreluctantly1655
with the best will (in the world)1814
unhesitatingly1829
unqualifyingly1841
unloathly1844
happily1889
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [adverb]
welleOE
blithec1000
blithelyc1000
goodfullya1300
blethelyc1300
milthlyc1300
kindlya1375
benignlyc1380
en-gree14..
homelya1425
benevolently1532
benign1535
obsequiously?1536
kindly1581
kind1592
propitiously1600
kindlily1625
well-meaningly1645
obligingly1646
candidly1650
beneficentlya1717
kindly-like1716
good-naturedly1725
benignantly1791
kindheartedly1803
c1300 Vox & Wolf 171 in Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) 63 Tho he herde speken of mete, He wolde bletheliche ben thare.
a1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 184 Many has lykyng trofels to here, And vanites wille blethly lere.
c1380 Eng. Wycliffite Serm. in Sel. Wks. I. 107 Jesus bleþeli dide mercy whan he was clepid David sone.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 11958 Iesus wel blethli wald þai warn.
a1430 How Wif taught D. 11 in Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) 180 Blethely ȝeue thi tythys..The pore men at thi dore..Ȝeue hem blethely of thi good.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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adv.c1300