idly, adv.
(ˈaɪdlɪ)
Forms: 1 {iacu}dellice, 4 ideliche, idillich, idili, ydilly, 6 idlelie, ydlelye, id-, ydelly, idiely, idlie, 6–7 idely, 6–8 idlely, 6– idly
[f. idle a. + -ly2.]
1. Vainly, in vain; uselessly; frivolously, carelessly, ineffectively (cf. idle a., senses 2–3).
c 825 Vesp. Psalter lxxxviii. 48 [lxxxix. 47] Nales soðlice idellice [L. vane] ðu ᵹesettes bearn monna. c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 341 Þanne Crist hadde died for nouȝt and ideliche, wiþouten cause. 1382 ― Deut. v. 11 Thow shalt not mystaak the name of the Lord thi God idillich. 1565 Jewel Def. Apol. (1611) 262 If ye list to cauill..and..idlely to play with the words and phrases of the ancient Fathers. 1625 Hart Anat. Ur. ii. xi. 122 [It] is not a thing so slightly to be passed ouer, as many may idlely imagine. 1700 J. A. Astry tr. Saavedra-Faxardo II. 89 When a Prince idlely squanders away his subjects fortunes. 1764 Goldsm. Trav. 256 Thus idly busy rolls their world away. 1807 G. Chalmers Caledonia I. i. iv. 121 Stukeley idly placed Colania, at Colechester, or Peebles. 1842 Mrs. Browning Grk. Chr. Poets (1863) 70 Our heart is stirred, and not ‘idly’. 1871 R. Ellis Catullus v. 11 Then once heedfully counted all the thousands, We'll uncount them as idly. |
† b. Incoherently (from affection of the brain), deliriously. Obs.
1565–73 Cooper Thesaurus, Aliena loqui,..to speake idiely in sickenesse. a 1601 ? Marston Pasquil & Kath. iii. 93 My brother will not liue long, he talkes idlely alreadie. 1632 tr. Bruel's Praxis Med. 399 They which talk idlely with amazednes..for the most part die. |
2. In an idle or lazy way; without working; inactively, indolently (cf. idle a., senses 4–6).
1375 Barbour Bruce iv. 411 Othir syndry ȝeid thame by, As thai war masteris, ydilly. 1528 Tindale Obed. Chr. Man Wks. (1573) 154/2 To get thee into a den, and lyue idlely, profitable to no man. 1547 Act 1 Edw. VI, c. 3 §10 Going loitering idlely about. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 309 They..live idly upon almes. 1651 Isaackson in Fuller's Abel Rediv., Andrewes (1867) II. 160 He lived not idlely. 1736 Franklin Ess. Wks. 1840 II. 81 He that idly loses five shillings' worth of time, loses five shillings. 1808 Scott Marm. vi. xx, And why stands Scotland idly now? 1874 Green Short Hist. iii. §5. 139 Sheriffs had stood idly by while the violence was done. |