▪ I. pertly, adv.
(ˈpɜːtlɪ)
Forms: see pert a.; also 5 partly.
[f. pert a. + -ly2.]
In a pert manner.
† 1. Openly, without concealment; plainly; evidently, manifestly. (Opposed to privily.) Obs.
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 244 A payne þer-on put & pertly halden. c 1350 Will. Palerne 97 Þere pried he in priuely and pertiliche biholdes. 1468 Maldon Essex Liber B. lf. 13 b (MS.), Noo ducheman ner other alion shall bere no manere wepyn of werre, priuily ner pertly. 1533 in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 406 He..shuld buy or bargayne for the same hides pertly or oppenlye. a 1670 Spalding Troub. Chas. I (1829) 21 He began to kyth in Strathaven, and pertly and avowedly travelled through the country. |
† 2. Expertly, skilfully; cleverly, adroitly. Obs.
| a 1400 Pistill of Susan 355 Þis prophete so pertly proues his entent. a 1440 Sir Eglam. 753 The worme ys slayne, That hathe a knyȝt done hym selfe allone, Pertly be my fay. 1640 R. Baillie Canterb. Self-convict. ii. 11 In Edinburgh Master Sydserfe did peartly play his part. |
3. Smartly, sharply; briskly; promptly; readily; quickly. Now dial. and U.S. (chiefly in form peartly).
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. v. 23 How pertly afore þe poeple resoun gan to preche. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1033 To Pelleus pertly þen past he agayne. c 1450 Cast. Persev. 1598 Þerfor, spede now þy pace pertly to ȝone precyouse place. 1610 Shakes. Temp. iv. i. 58 Now come my Ariell, bring a Corolary,..appear, and pertly. |
| β 1515 Scot. Field 109 The King was glade of that golde,..And promised him full peertly, his part for to take. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. ii. 163 The Romanis persues peirtlie the flieris. 1856 G. D. Brewerton War in Kansas 383 To ‘get along’ in a happy-go-lucky sort of way, which he calls ‘a-doin'-right-peartly’. 1857 T. H. Gladstone Englishman in Kansas 46 I'll teach these..Free-soilers a lesson right peartly. |
4. In a forward saucy manner; boldly, audaciously; over-confidently.
| c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 11215 He sat pertly bolde vp-right As man that hadde ben In his myght. 1523 Coverdale Old God & New (1534) H, To se how pertely he percheth forth of his neste. 1540 R. Hyrde tr. Vives' Instr. Chr. Wom. ii. xi. §21 Any worde or dede of y⊇ childe, dooen lewdely,..naughtily, wantonly or piertlye. 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. iv. v. 219 Yonder wals that pertly front your Towne,..Must kisse their owne feet. 1699 Bentley Phal. Pref. 31 To my surprize he answer'd me very pertly. a 1748 Watts Educ. Children ix, The children of our age will pertly reply,..must we turn Puritans again? 1852 Thackeray Esmond i. xiii, The words were said lightly and pertly by the girl. 1874 C. Geikie Life in Woods iv. 68 They carry their heads so pertly. |
▪ II. † ˈpertly, a. Obs.
[f. pert a. + -ly1.]
? Experienced, skilled, expert.
| 1465 in Tytler Hist. Scot. (1864) II. 388 Lord fleming sal adwis the kyng at al his pertly power wytht his gud cunsail. 1589 Nashe Anat. Absurd. Wks. (Grosart) I. 51 Translated by his toyle from the Parrish good man Webbe,..to a pertly Gentleman in the Court. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. vi. 319 Duncan, King Malcolme his bastard sone, a man..stout, bauld and pertlie. |