quaintly, adv.
(ˈkweɪntlɪ)
Forms: as quaint a. + 3–5 -lich(e, -lych(e, -li, 4–6 -lye, 4– -ly. compar. 4 queyntlyer, 7 quaintlier. superl. 4 queyntlokest, quoyntelucst.
[f. quaint a. + -ly2.]
† 1. Skilfully, cleverly, ingeniously, so as to accomplish some act or attain some end. Obs.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2324 Þo biþoȝte vortiger..hou he miȝte do quoyntelucst [v.r. queyntlokest] þat he him sulf were king. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 1128 Þe kynges brother & y Ar skaped out fol queyntely. c 1400 Destr. Troy 164 Thus coyntly it kept was all with clene art. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 167 A newe Payne he founde, by the whyche fals Iuges queyntly he chastid. 1513 Douglas æneis x. xi. heading, Juno rycht quayntly causis Turnus to flee. 1593 R. Harvey Philad. 21 He and his surveyed it quantitatively and queintly to the purpose. 1612 Dekker Lond. Triumph. Wks. 1873 III. 253 A song is heard; the musicke being queintly conueyed in a priuate room, and not a person discouered. ? 1708 Prior Turtle & Sparrow 263 Those points, indeed, you quaintly prove, But logic is no friend to love. 1714 Gay Sheph. Week i. 79, I queintly stole a kiss. |
† b. Cunningly, craftily. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 741 (Gött.) Quaintli taght he him þe ginne, Hu he suld at þe wijf bigine. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 137 Some men tolde þat þis Harold was a sowter sone, and queyntly [L. dolose] underput by þe forseide Elgiue. c 1400 Destr. Troy 11228 Cast is hit cointly by thies kene traytours..pryam to lose. |
† 2. With ingenious art, so as to produce something artistic, curious, or elaborate. Obs.
| a 1300 Leg. Rood (1871) 30 (Ashm.) Salomon it let velle and hewe as queinteliche as he miȝte. 13.. Coer de L. 1387 He leet mak a tour ful strong, That queyntly engynours made. c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame iii. 833 Domus Dedali..Nas maad so wonderliche, y-wis, Ne half so queynteliche y-wrought. c 1440 Ipomydon 1641 He..shove hym bothe byhynd & byfore, Queyntly endentyd oute and in. 1513 Douglas æneis v. vi. 125 A riche schield, wrocht quentlie. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen VI, ii. v. 24 To carue out Dialls queintly, point by point. 1653 Urquhart Rabelais i. lvii. I. 248 They could speak five or sixe several languages, and compose in them all very quaintly. |
† 3. Finely, elegantly; in a pretty and attractive manner. Obs.
| 1340 Ayenb. 47 Hy sseaweþ and diȝteþ ham þe more quaynteliche..uor to maki musi þe foles to ham. ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 783 Her-of lyth no remembraunce, How that they daunced queyntely. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode i. cxxxix. (1869) 72 She hadde now arayed me queyntliche and nobleche. 1490 Caxton Eneydos x. 40 Wyth the ladyes he byhaued him soo queyntli swete..and curtoys. 1592 Greene Upst. Courtier in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) II. 247 A murrey cloth gowne..which he quaintly bare vp, to shew his white taffata hose. c 1610 Rowlands Terrible Battell 31 The quaintly suted Courtier in attyre. |
4. In a curious, odd, or old-fashioned, but pleasing or attractive manner.
| 1782 Cowper Lett. 18 Nov., A tale ridiculous in itself and quaintly told. 1816 J. Wilson City of Plague i. iii. 176 One quaintly apparell'd like a surpliced priest Led the procession. 1855 Prescott Philip II, I. i. ix. 129 His anger, as his secretary quaintly remarks, was more than was good for his health. 1867 Trollope Chron. Barset II. xlv. 11 She had added the date in quaintly formed figures. 1870 Lubbock Orig. Civiliz. iv. (1875) 178 A father's sister, quaintly enough, is called father. |