Middle English Dictionary Entry
listelī adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | listelī adv. Also listli, listili. |
| Etymology | From list(e n.(1) & OE (rare & late) listelīce. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Skillfully, dexterously; readily, easily, without strain or effort, cautiously, carefully; also, cunningly, craftily.
Associated quotations
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)132/630 : Ne ches..to fere þen hokerfule lese mon for..he wole stelin þin haite & keren & listeliche onsuerren.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)25 : Þat litel child listely lorked out of his caue Faire floures forto fecche.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2355 : Buske þe of þis bere fel..& wende listly hennes &..saue þi-self.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2742 : He ful listli hem ledes to þat loueli schippe & tauȝt..hem to hude þere.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1190 : Þe ladi..boȝed to-warde þe bed; and þe burne schamed & layde hym doun lystyly & let as he slepte.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1334 : Þen brek þay þe bale, þe balez out token, Lystily for laucing & bere [read: þe lere] of þe knot.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)14/11 : Seest þou nouȝt how lystly [vr. lustlie] & how graciously he haþ pulled þee to þe þrid degre..of leuyng?
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)26/9 : Þou schalt step abouen it stalworþly, bot listely, wiþ a deuoute & a plesing stering of loue.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)87/7,16 : Wirche more wiþ a list þen wiþ any liþer strengþe; For euer þe more listly, þe more meekly & goostly; & euer þe more rudely, þe more bodely & beestly..leerne þee to loue listely.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)89/10 : Whiles oure desire is medelid wiþ any maner of bodelines -- as..whan we stresse & streyne us..as longe it is ferþer fro God..& it were done more deuoutly & more listely [vr. goostly] in sobirnes..& in depnes of spirite.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)144/27 : Al þis schal be done sodenly, listely, & gracyously, wiþ-outyn besines or trauaile of þi-self, only by þe mynistracion of aungelles.