bonnilyadv.
/ˈbɒnᵻli/, U.S. /ˈbɑnəli/, Scottish English /ˈbɔnᵻlɪ/ Chiefly Scottish and English regional (northern).
Beautifully, finely, pleasantly; well, nicely. Also ironically.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [adverb]
lieflyc900
merelyeOE
fairOE
lovelya1375
featously1377
belliche1394
finelya1400
buttylly1496
lovelilya1500
well-favouredly1528
beautifully1538
beauteously1592
bonnily1595
love-likely1621
bonny1650
beautiful1767
1595 A. Duncan Appendix Etymologiae: Index in Latinae Grammaticae Scitè, eleganter, pretilie, bonnilie.
a1614 J. Melville Autobiogr. & Diary (1842) 437 He said, mirrelie, ‘Busk, busk, busk him as bonilie as ye can!’
1673 J. Dryden Assignation i. i. 1 I am glad to see you look so bonily to day.
1680 G. Hickes Spirit of Popery 29 The work of Reformation went Bonnily on.
1720 A. Ramsay Grubstreet nae Satyre (single sheet) John, Wha taught ye ilka Name, That shines sae bonnily in Fame.
a1743 J. Relph Misc. of Poems (1747) 95 Right bonnily he burnt nor flinch'd a-bit.
1786 R. Burns Cotter's Sat. Night iii, in Poems & Songs (1968) I. 146 His wee-bit ingle, blinkan bonilie.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian v, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. IV. 102 It was a goodly and pleasant land, and sloped bonnily to the western sun.
a1864 J. Clare Midsummer Cushion (1979) 200 Tawney white & red flushed clover buds Shine bonnily.
1876 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Words Whitby 23/1 It hurts me bonnily.
1922 Punch 13 Sept. 257/1 The wind was still safely north-east, and the Clio still rolled bonnily in the August rain.
1944 Times 5 Apr. 6/6 Miss Rosalind Iden is a blithe and bonny Viola, blithely and bonnily over-riding lines which speak of pensive charm.
2014 Aberdeen Press & Jrnl. (Nexis) 18 Jan. 48 I haard it play't on the organ at a funeral an at sae gently an bonnily.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.1595