Middle English Dictionary Entry
gailī adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | gailī adv. Also gailẹ̄, gailiche, gali. |
| Etymology | From gai adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Cheerfully, joyously, jauntily; (b) beautifully, handsomely, splendidly, richly.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1625 : Alle þe genge of grece was gayli resseyued.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2591 : Eiþer gamliche gan greþe oþer gailiche þer-inne.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)961 : A grom gan gredyn gayly on grounde; of me, gay Glotoun, gan al hys gale.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)4/29 : He had gaylie farn att his meate, and his brether in þe covent had farn bod badlie & had little mete to ete.
b
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)263 : Goþ yond to a gret lord þat gayly is tyred.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3768 : Gailier greiþed were neuer gomes seie, of alle maner armure.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.97 : Þis Scipio sigh ones a childe gayliche arrayed.
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)42 : Þis dredful demers..þider drewe To go in his gardeyn, þat gayliche grewe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)71b/a : Wiþ heer gailich i-pinchind and i-wrolled.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)598 : Bi þat watz Gryngolet..gurde with a sadel, þat glemed ful gayly with mony golde frenges.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)141/278 : Þai set þaire maumettes þare bitwene Ful galy, als þai goddes had bene.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)1366 : Þre maumettes þer inne wore, Of gold gailich y-geld.
- c1450(?1436) Siege Calais (Rome 1306)40 : With many a proude pavis, Gailly paynted and stuffed wele.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3684 : Gomys gayliche clade englaymous the wapen.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)32 : Þei han be gaili apparailid wiþ curiose divisyngis.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)4350 : Thei..fonde..a passyngly greet sergeantes mace, In which ther gaily made was and I-wrought This same scripture.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10943 : Two spurres..were gaily ouer-gilt.
- c1475 7 Sages(1) (Eg 1995)158/3078 : Hyr hede he dyght fulle gaylyche With kerchyffes and with garlondes ryche.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)388 : This man..noryshed hem wele and arayed hem Gayle.
- a1500 Vnto you (RwlPoet 36)20 : Your Garmentes upon, you ful gayly they hynge, As it were an olde gose had a broke wynge.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(1438) GLeg.Luke (GiL149) (Eg 876) 772/241 : Seint Austin techithe..that it plese and that it apere and that it stere or meue. That it please, he shulde speke gaily [F aorneement]
- c1450(1438) GLeg.Luke (GiL149) (Eg 876) 772/247 : In that he saithe 'the preisinges of hym' is signified that he spake gaily.
Note: See MED gai adj., sense 3.(c) 'of words, literary style, a speaker..pleasing, skillful, eloquent'.
Note: New sense.