† ˈthiefly, a. and adv. Obs.
[ME. þeoflich(e, þevelich:—OE. *þéofl{iacu}c, -l{iacu}ce: see thief and -ly1, -ly2.]
A. adj. Thief-like, stealthy, underhand.
| 1395 Purvey Remonstr. (1851) 11 It is theefli, fals and symonient. c 1422 Hoccleve Learn to Die 115 Ful vnwaar was Y of thy theefly breid. |
B. adv. In a thievish or thief-like manner; by stealth; stealthily, furtively.
| c 1290 St. Brandan 284 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 227 Ȝwan it is ov i-brouȝt, Þane ȝe it þeofliche nomen. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xviii. 336 Theuelich þow me robbedest. 1382 Wyclif Gen. xl. 15 Theuelich [1388 theefli] Y am had a wey fro the loond of Hebrew. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 63 (MS. α) Seynt Oswald his arm..was þeefliche [v.rr. þeevelich, þuefliche; Caxton theefly] i-stole out of þe olde restynge place. 1568 G. Skeyne The Pest A ij b, Ane feuir most wikit quietlie and thieflie strikis the patient. |