Middle English Dictionary Entry
sẹ̄melī adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | sẹ̄melī adv. |
| Etymology | From sẹ̄melī adj.; also cp. ON: cp. OI sœmiliga. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Attractively, beautifully, handsomely, splendidly; (b) eloquently; (c) graciously, courteously; pleasantly, gracefully, daintily; (d) sweetly, gently.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.151 : Ful semely [vrr. semyly, semelich, semeliche] hir wympel pynched was.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8322 : It sal be precius and prude; þe werc he sal sua semele scrude.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9880 : A castell bath god and gett, Strenthed well and semili sett..es o luue and grace.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1442 : Þe jueles..wyth gemmes ful bryȝt Bi þe syde of þe sale were semely arayed.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3316 : The sexte hade a sawtere semliche bownden.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)12589 : Ful semly wyþouten bost Þey come rydyng al þorow þe host.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)249 : He syttyth semly here be my syde.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)994/31 : She..toke oute gurdils which were semely wrought [with] goldyn thredys.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)73/8 : Þe erthe..bycomes as a fair damoysele, a spouse semly dighte of ryche ornements.
- a1500 Tax has tenet (Dgb 196)39 : Savoy semely sette, heü funditus igne cadebat.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)728 : Þat grete god Amon..had seemelich isett silvern hornes.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)8/16 : A surgian..muste studie..in retorik þat techiþ him to speke semelich.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)57a/b : A surgian..muste studien..Jn rethorik þat techiþ him to speke semeliche.
c
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1432 : Þemperour ful semly seide to hem þanne, [etc.].
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.136 : Ful semely [vr. semelye] after hir mete she raughte.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)916 : Now schal we semlych se sleȝtez of þewez.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)452 : Semely..Decenter.
d
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1658 : Such semblaunt to þat segge semly ho made.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1796 : Sykande ho sweȝe doun & semly hym kyssed.
2.
(a) In a proper manner, fittingly, correctly, decorously; well; also, justly [quot.: a1400]; (b) with fine or precise technique, skillfully, expertly; (c) moderately.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)44/22 : Feierlec & strengðe beoð hise schrudes, & igurd he is ham on, þet a cumeliche fearen & semliche sitten.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1504 : Ðe firme sune at offrende sel Was wune ben scrid semelike and wel.
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)117 : Þat riche douke..prayd hem..þai schuld..lete her tvay sones fre In his seruise wiþ him to be, Semly [vr. comely] to fare bi his side.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.87 : Þe bisshop..schulde more skilfulliche and semeliche occupie hym self in Goddis service þan in þe kynges service.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)51b/b : The fyngres..ben semeliche I-sette & I-ioyned [L decenter iuncti existunt] & þey hauen among hamself a verrey nombre and a wel fair ordre.
- a1400(?a1325) Bonav.Medit.(1) (Hrl 1701)387 : Mannes soule, þat lyþ yn helle, May nat semely to blys be broȝt, But þey with hys blode be fyrst oute boȝt.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)865 : Ryche robes..renkkez hem [read: hym] broȝten..he on hent..Þat sete on hyn [read: hym] semly.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)888 : Seggez hym serued semly in-noȝe Wyth sere sewes.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)452 : Semely, or propyrly: Eleganter.
- a1450 Dux Moraud (BodPoet f.2)11 : Als ȝe are louely in fas, Set ȝow alle semly in plas.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)198 : Þai..ane ymage gert make..of blake stane..as it a kynge were..stallid him in a stoute stede..he was semely vp set with septour in hand.
b
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1718 : Þei..preiede here ful presteli to put hem þer-inne, so semli þat no seg miȝt se here cloþes.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.123 : Ful wel she soong the seruyce dyuyne, Entuned in hir nose ful semely.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)748 : Wel coude she synge and lustyly, Noon half so wel and semely.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)66 : Cemely, or sotely: Subtiliter.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)424 : Amon..asselis it [Olympias' womb] him selfe semely & faire With a rede golde rynge.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.72/19 : Þabbot and Couent..grauntid to þem..all þe forsaide parisshens And tithis..payng þerof ȝerely ij Serges of iij li. of waxe, þe which, semely made or diȝth, vppon þe Auter..þey ofte to Offer.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)65a/b : It bihoueþ þat þou take good kepe þat þi sewynge be maad..so þat euer þe more þe delicatloker & þe semeloker yt muste be sewid.
c
- c1450 Metham Palm.(Gar 141)90/17 : Yff this lyne be semely longe and pase noght the hylle off the schewyng ffynger, yt sygnyfyith hardynes.
3.
(a) With dignity or honor; (b) with reverence or solemnity.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8660 : Sauf..be king salamon, þat semeli sittand es in tron!
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)20.245 : How wole riche nouthe Excuse hem þat beþ vnkynde and ȝut here catel wonne With wiles..and ȝut wollen nat atemye To gon semliche ne sitte?
- a1500(c1400) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)35 : Erkenwolde..Syttes semely in þe sege of Saynt Paule mynster.
b
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)848 : The Sacrament so semly ys borne in syght.