▪ I. gradely, a. Now only dial.
(ˈgreɪdlɪ)
Also † graithly. Forms: α. 3 græi[þ]lich, greiðlic, 4 grathly, graythely, greiþli, 9 dial. grathely. β. dial. 8 greidly, 8–9 greadl(e)y, 9 graadly, graid(e)l(e)y, gradely.
[ME. greiðlic, a. ON. greiðlig-r, f. greið-r graith a. + -lig-r -ly1.]
1. Of persons, their actions and attributes. † a. in early use, with somewhat uncertain meaning: ? Ready, prompt. Obs.
| c 1205 Lay. 445 Þene king he grette mid greiðlicre speche. Ibid. 10039 Bruttes heo gretten mid græi[þ]lichen worden. a 1375 Joseph Arim. 88 Heo grauntede þenne to ben at his grace; And sone aftur þat gretnede þat greiþli mayde. |
b. in mod. dialectal use, a general term of commendation; chiefly with reference to character: Decent, respectable, worthy; occas. of a girl, comely, good-looking. Also, ‘regular’, thorough.
| c 1746 J. Collier (Tim Bobbin) View Lanc. Dial. Wks. (1862) 67 Yed's os greadly o Lad as needs t' knep oth' Hem of a keke. 1781 J. Hutton Tour to Caves Gloss., Greidly, well-meaning, or any thing good in its kind. 1790 Mrs. Wheeler Westmld. Dial. (1821) 48 Hees rackend a varra graadly man. 1840 S. Bamford Life of Radical xiii. 84 Yore a graidley felley for owt 'at I kno' to th' contrary. 1866 Waugh Home Life Factory Folk xi. 105 Thoose hens..rooten abeawt th' heawse just th' same as greadley Christians. 1877 F. H. Burnett That Lass o' Lowrie's (1887) 31 He's a graidely foo', he is. |
c. predicatively (cf. the adv.). Well in health.
| 1851 C. Brontë Let. in C. B. & her Circle (1896) 312 Her beloved papa and mama..are living and ‘gradely’. 1865 Laycock Mi Gronfeyther in Harland Lanc. Lyrics 192 He never wur gradely no moor. 1877 F. H. Burnett That Lass o' Lowrie's (1887) 170 I'm feelin' a trifle graidelier than I ha' done..Things is lookin up. |
2. Of things: a. Excellent, suitable, handsome.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 18409 Hu come þe sa grathli gode þat þou on schuldre bers a rode? ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 187 Gumbaldes graythely, fulle gracious to taste. 1863 Kingsley Water-Bab. 12 This is a hard road for a gradely foot like that. 1865 Hard Times in Harland Lanc. Lyrics 305 Th'art nooan so feaw, yet, wench, if thae'd gradely clooas to wear. 1877 F. H. Burnett That Lass o' Lowrie's (1887) 189 It's the graideliest book tha ivver seed. |
b. in mod. dial. use: Real, proper.
| 18.. Three Dial. by Toddle 19 My gradely name is Harry Shareall. 1865 Waugh Lanc. Songs 9 But aw've no gradely comfort, my lass, Except wi' yon childer and thee. 1865 Ramsbottom Gooin' to Schoo' in Harland Lanc. Lyrics 302 A gradely plague it's bin to me—It's been a gradely blessin' too. |
Hence † ˈgradeliness.
| c 1425 St. Elizabeth of Spalbeck in Anglia VIII. 115/30 Wiþ fulle deuoute sighynges and goostly greydlynes..abidynge mekely þe comynge of hir sauyoure. |
▪ II. gradely, adv. Now only dial.
(ˈgreɪdlɪ)
Also † graithly. Forms: α. 4 graitli, grayþ(e)ly, 4–5 grayth(e)ly, 4–6 grath(e)ly, 7 dial. greathly, (4 gra(i)þeli, graith(e)li, grathli, grayþliche, graytli, -ly, gre(i)þli, greythly, 6 Sc. graithlie). β. 4 graideli, 5 graidly, greidly, 8–9 greadly, 9 gradeley, graidely, 6– gradely.
[ME. grayþly, graydely, a. ON. greiðliga, f. greið-r graith a.]
† 1. Promptly, readily. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 741 Graitli taght he him þe gin How he suld at þe wif be-gin. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 341 Ful grayþely gotz þis god man & dos godez hestes. c 1350 Will. Palerne 948 But ȝe graunt him ȝour grace, him greiþli to help..his liif nel nouȝt for langour, last til to-morwe. c 1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 3208 Graithly hit he tham ogayn. 1450–70 Golagros & Gaw. 54 Grant me, lord, on yone gait graithly to gay. |
2. Carefully, exactly; properly; quite, really; well.
| 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 645 Behalde..graythely and loke. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xxi. 324 Hit is nat greythly getyn, ther gyle is þe rote. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xv. 70 Þe whilk..descryued me þe maners of oþer cuntrees..graythely and..verraily. c 1460 Towneley Myst. xv. 152 Tent thou to that page grathly. 1515 Barclay Egloges iv. (1570) c. iv/3 If thou haue all these thou mayst grathly carpe. 1585 Jas. I Ess. Poesie (Arb.) 14 Let Readers think they fele the burning heat, And graithly see the earth [etc.]. 1597 Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 327 Quhais schaddow is in the river schew, Als graithlie glancing, as they grew. 1674 Ray N.C. Words, Greathly, handsomely, towardly. c 1746 J. Collier (Tim Bobbin) View Lanc. Dial. Wks. (1862) 51, I cannaw tell thee greadly. 1850 N. & Q. Ser. i. II. 334/2 Most frequently it is precisely equivalent to ‘very’, as in the expression a gradely fine day. 1865 R. R. Bealey My Johnny in Harland Lanc. Lyrics 89 Aw dunnot like to think o' that, An' yet it's gradely true. 1865 Waugh Lanc. Songs 70 For when hoo's gradely donned, hoo'll look As grand as th' queen o' Shayba. |