Middle English Dictionary Entry
cǒuthlī(che adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | cǒuthlī(che adv. Also coutheli & cuþli(che. Comp. (early) cyðlicor. |
| Etymology | OE cūþlīce |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
In a friendly manner; politely, intimately, confidentially, affectionately.
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)2204 : He toc to frofrenn hire anann Cuþliȝ bi name.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)719 : Þu heom clepe to & cuðliche wið heom spec..'ibrout ich habbe þes kinges broþer Vt of þon quarcerne.'
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10879 : Coel and Maximen cuðliche speken & freondscipe makeden i-uastened mid treoðen.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)18857 : Of him solle gleomen couþliche [Clg: godliche] singe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)17696 : Þat it was iesus þan wist i wel, And cuthli [Ld: Cowthly; Trin-C: Couþely] for him can i knele.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)937 : Þe lorde..ledez hym to sytte, & couþly hym knowez and callez hym his nome, & sayde he watz þe welcomest wyȝe of þe worlde.
- c1450 PPl.B (RwlPoet 38)3.5 : Couthliche [Ld: I shal assaye hir myself and sothelich appose, What man of þis molde þat hire were leueste].
2.
Plainly, clearly, obviously.
Associated quotations
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)116/9 : Lucas þe godspellere hit sæȝð ȝyt cyðlicor. He sæȝð [etc.].
- a1450 WBible(2) Prol.Kings (NC 66)3 : The wordis of daies, the which more kouthly [WB(1): nameli] may be clepid the Cronycle of Goddis stories.
- ?c1450 Nicod.(1) (Sion Arc.L.40.2/E.25)228 : Ane horcop born in synne ffulle couthely we þe knawe.
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)98 : He has ben kynge of þis kithe, as couthely hit semes He lyes dolven þus depe.