holily, adv.
(ˈhəʊlɪlɪ)
Forms: see holy a.
[f. holy a. + -ly2.]
1. In a holy manner; with sanctity or devoutness.
| c 1200 Ormin 15920 Forr all þatt tatt teȝȝ halilȝ & dafftiȝ⁓like hemm ledenn. Ibid. 17282 To spellenn haliȝlike, and ec To wirrkenn hallȝhe tacness. 1340 Ayenb. 74 Þo þet..lokeþ holyliche hare herten. 1382 Wyclif 1 Thess. ii. 10 How hoolily, and iustli, and withouten querel..we weren. c 1386 Chaucer Merch. T. 211 And lyue in chastitee ful holily. c 1450 Mirour Saluacioun 777 Hire sawle with⁓inne woke than fulle halily. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 58 b, As longe as a persone is holyly occupyed, so longe he prayeth. 1605 Shakes. Macb. i. v. 22 What thou would'st highly, That would'st thou holily. 1754 Edwards Freed. Will iv. vii. 236 To act holily and wisely in the highest possible Degree. 1894 Athenæum 3 Mar. 276/3 With an eloquent impulsiveness becoming their holily emotional themes. |
2. Sacredly, scrupulously, inviolably; solemnly. Now rare or Obs.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. iii. pr. x. 70 (Camb. MS.) See now how þou mayst proeuen holyly and with-owte corupcion this þat I haue seyd. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. v. (R.), But I wil haue matrimony obserued more holyly & vndefyledly among them that professe the new lawe. 1577–87 Holinshed Chron. Scotl. (1805) II. 237 If the Scots would most holilie and handfastlie promise. 1651 Life Father Sarpi (1676) 41 And those that..had lived intimately with him, do most holily attest, that they were never able to observe any such defects in him. |