Middle English Dictionary Entry
fellī(che adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | fellī(che adv. Also -lik(e. Comp. fellier, fellaker. |
| Etymology | From fel adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Treacherously, guilefully, wickedly; slyly, craftily; (b) sinfully, burdened with sin.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)49/83 : He was luþur ase Iudas þat so feolliche him custe.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)250/343 : He..feolliche dutte hine.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.317 : He byþouȝt hym felliche and gilefulliche to bere a doun þe children of Israel.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.32.12 : Fellich he hath ladde hem out, that he myȝte slee in the hilles.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)193 : The princes and pharisees..casten sotelly and felly to taken hym in worde..aȝenst her lawe.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.1986 : He..gan felli theron werche, Outher be fraude or sum compassid treyne To ligge await.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)48/27 : Þe moder..accusid hur son fellie, saying þat he wold hafe lyen by hur.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)311 : He..fond hir..with half sclepy eye Pourid fellich vnder hir hood..And lay ay still, as nauȝt she knewe, but feynyd hir scleping.
b
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)31/64 : Felly fare we bothe in feere.
2.
(a) Fiercely, angrily; cruelly, ruthlessly, severely; (b) rudely, bluntly.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)6902 : A strok he smot to sir Gij, & hewe on him ful felly.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)174 : Þe more he him smit þe more fellaker, huanne he him yziȝþ onlosti and sleauuol.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)9118 : Fellyche þou cursedest and ouer sone; Þou askedest veniaunce.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4143 : Ful fellik þai a-gain answard, 'Quar-for suld we of oght be ferd?'
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.3 : Sum men shal be dampnyd more felly for raveyne.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3251 : Daunger..Felly purposith thee to werreye, Which is ful cruel.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)42/22 : Ne þat sho [the abbess] ne chaste nan sa fellike, þat þai fle ne falle in wrang trouȝ.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.92 : Thanne gan faith felly þe fals iuwes dispise, Called hem caytyues acursed for euere.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)111b/a : Sich beþ Angrely or felly to be manassed þat þai hald gode gouernance.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)139/6 : Þe visage of a deuill..behaldez ilke man so scharpely and so felly..þat na man may suffere it.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.2753 : He goth to prisoun..As the statut felli dede ordeyne.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)8465 : Boþe partys ful felly [vr. felonly] hated.
b
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)613 : Full felly þe coupe he fett, Bifore þe Kynge þat was sett.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)2.173 : This lorell..was felliche ylauȝte and luggid full ylle.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)10889 : Quod he felly..'Yt ar but fantasmes that ye speke.'
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)906 : Messyngers..felly [vr. freschly] hym toldyn þat all þe erth of ermony..wald seke hym with armez.
3.
Of fighting: (a) fiercely, doughtily, bravely; (b) eagerly.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3451 : William & his burnes..so felly wiþ here fon fouȝt.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Petyt 511)15954 : Fellier [Lamb: þe hertiloker on þem he brak].
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)658 : Felly to fyȝte in þe feld.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6786 : Þen the troiens..tokyn þere hertes ffelly vnto fight, þat were fled er.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)215 : Whan the knyghtes of the rounde table approched the bataile, thei sprongen in a-monge hem so felly [etc.].
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8684 : To acheue þe fyn of her purpos Þei felly wrouȝt.
4.
As an adv. of degree: intensely, severely; (blow) hard; (suffer) greatly; (ponder) intently; very (loud).
Associated quotations
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)500 : E[d]ippus gan to wex pale..And felly musen in his owne thouȝt.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.m.3.13 : Yif the cloudy wynd Auster blowe felliche, than goth awey the fairnesse of thornes.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3647 : Oure mody kyng..þe myschefe be-haldis..& felly was greued.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)268/3 : A man..had..Morbus Elefanticus..so fellie þat it had distroyed his fete & his handis.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)488/11 : Dyogenes..was fellie vexid with þe fevurs..he was gretelie turment with þe sekenes.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)225 : And noyse was in þe cyte felly lowde.