▪ I. dully, n. colloq.
(ˈdʌlɪ)
[f. dull a. + -y: cf. softy.]
A dull or stupid person.
| 1883 My Triv. Life & Misfort. xliv, I was lucky in my dully, since he could entertain himself. Most dullies can't! 1887 Poor Nellie (1888) 12 Any..gentleman or useful dully. |
▪ II. dully, a. poetic.
(ˈdʌlɪ)
[In sense 1, a Sc. variant of dolly, dowie, or of doly; in sense 2, f. dull a. + -y (cf. vasty).]
† 1. Doleful, gloomy, dreary. Sc. Obs.
| 1500–20 Dunbar Poems x. 37 Passit is ȝour dully nycht. Ibid. l. 15 Amang thai dully glennis. 1528 Lyndesay Dreme 320 That dully den, that furneis infernall. |
2. Faint, indistinct.
| 1832 Tennyson Pal. Art lxix, Far off she seem'd to hear the dully sound Of human footsteps fall. |
▪ III. dully, adv.
(ˈdʌllɪ)
[f. dull a. + -ly2.]
In a dull manner.
1. Without quickness of understanding; stupidly.
| 1533 More Debell. Salem Wks. 1029/1 In fayth that is spoken very dully. 1682 Shadwell Medal Ep. A, He..has perform'd it so dully, that if you put him away..No body else will take him. 1706 Hearne Collect. 7 Jan., A dully stupid Creature. 1895 M. Corelli Sorrows of Satan 7 So I thought, dully. |
2. Without energy or activity; sluggishly, inertly, drowsily.
| 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. i. i. 7 Liuing dully sluggardiz'd at home. 1698 Crowne Caligula v. Dram. Wks. 1874 IV. 419 They..in the lap of fortune dully dose. 1731 2nd Add. on Bowman's Serm. 6 Preaching the Word, not triflingly and dully, but with a warmth of affection. 1853 Kingsley Hypatia xi, He who cannot pray for his brothers..will pray but dully. |
3. Gloomily, sadly (obs.); with ennui; irksomely, tediously; without interest or enlivenment.
| 1599 Shakes. Much Ado ii. i. 380 I warrant thee Claudio, the time shall not goe dully by vs. 1699 Garth Dispens. v. 61 He's always dully gay, or vainly grave. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xx, All honest joggtrot men, who go on smoothly and dully. 1772 Mrs. Delany Lett. Ser. ii. I. 538 The park very fine indeed, the house dully magnificent. 1882 Stevenson New Arab. Nts. (1884) 76, I trust you did not find the evening hang dully on your hands. |
4. In reference to the bodily senses, or to physical qualities: Bluntly, indistinctly, obscurely, dimly; not keenly, clearly, or brightly.
| 1430–40 Lydg. Bochas i. xi. (1544) 23 a, He gan dully to heare their mocions. 1486 Bk. St. Albans D iij, And thay be brokyn thay wyll sowne full dulli. 1626 Bacon Sylva §375 The Aire, if it be Moist, doth in a Degree quench the Flame..and..maketh it burne more dully. 1658 Sir T. Browne Hydriot. ii. (1736) 18 Many urns are..dully sounding. a 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) II. 385 A Crocodile sees clearly in the Water, but dully on Land. 1879 Proctor Pleas. Ways Sc. i. 25 Dully glowing sodium vapour. |
▪ IV. dully
obs. form of duly.