† unlevelyadj.

Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to Old Frisian unlāwelik , Middle Dutch ongelovelijc , (rare and perhaps erroneous) onlevelijc (Dutch ongelofelijk ), Middle Low German ungelovelik , unlovelik , Old High German ungiloublīh , ungloublīh (Middle High German ungelouplich , German unglaublich ) < the Germanic base of un- prefix¹ + the Germanic antecedent of Old English gelēaflic believable, credible (cognate with or formed similarly to Old Frisian lauwelik , Middle Dutch gelovelijc , Middle Low German gelȫflīk , lȫflīk , Old High German giloublīh , all in the same sense < the Germanic base of yleve v. + the Germanic base of -ly suffix¹). In β. forms shortened < α. forms; compare leve v.² Compare levely adj. Compare also unleve adj. Compare also Old English ungelīefedlic and ungelīefendlic , both in sense ‘unbelievable’ ( < un- prefix¹ + gelīefed and gelīefende , respectively past participle and present participle of gelīefan yleve v. + -ly suffix¹).