Middle English Dictionary Entry
thẹ̄flī adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | thẹ̄flī adv. Also (SW) thueflich. |
| Etymology | From thẹ̄f n.(2). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
In the manner of a thief; by stealth or deceit; furtively, surreptitiously.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)290 : Drinkez nouþe i-novȝ In charite of þulke welle..Betere it is drinke in charite..Þane ȝe it þeofliche nomen.
- c1330 Iesu þat for vs (Auch)67 : Þefliche we habben þing istole And oþer mannes þefte ihole.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.40.15 : Þeflich I am had awey from þe lond of hebrew & here a innocent.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.155 : Þe peple com þeefliche be nyȝte [L nocturno furto] and took awey his gybet..as it were holy relikes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)146b/a : Þe rauen..is a gileful bridde and takeþ awey þinges þeofliche and lyeþ and hideþ hem.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.336 : In persone of an addre, Falseliche þow fettest þere þynge þat I loued..Theuelich thow me robbedest.
- c1400 *Trev.Higd.(Tbr D.7)185a : Seynt Oswold hys arm..was þueflich y stole out of þe olde restyngis plase.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.251 : Þis þeef is þe fend..for if he take þeefli virtues fro þis man in hour of hise deeþ, he doiþ þise þefte moost.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.54/16 : Whan they saylid forth, he slepyd, his money layid vndir his hede; In the meyn whyle oone that wente with hym conceyuyd hit, And he, ouercummen with desire of that money, theyfly withdrew hyt.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1781 : In he cometh into a prive halke, And in the nyght ful thefly gan he stalke, Whan every wight was to his reste brought.
- (1447-8) Paston2.329 : William Sybbesoun..hath ben..a strong thef to Wood Mylle for trewly he hath..procuryd besyly as theffly and as vntrewly as he myte do.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.196r : William was excellent in worthy hardynesse and manlichnesse, whiche by processe of tyme he aderked with his to muche sternenesse. So into his breste, as theflich, vices for vertues gonne crepe, that me ne myght deme in him the trawthe fro the fals.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)176/2 : Kynge Dary slough prestez of glotony that priuely and thefly stalen a-way sacrifiez.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)389 : Wiþdrawynge of þes lordeschipis from þe clergi..schuld not be callid robbery of holy chirche..but raþer riȝtwise restitucioun of goode wrongfully and þeuely wiþholde.
- (c1462) Stonor1.57 : The seid Baron and Peperell have sklaunder me that I schuld sende divers men to the hous of the seid Thomas and..the seid persons..schuld take theefly xxvj s. viij d. of the godis of the seid John Peperell.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)82b/b : A wood hound..halt his tail bitwene hise þies..þeefly and priuyly he wolde bite alle men.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)10 : Who so withdraweþ ony thing thefly, he purposith not to bere it aȝen.
- a1500 Discip.Cler.(Wor F.172)34 : Every nyght thow art wont thiefly to go from me and go to thi strumpettis.