Middle English Dictionary Entry
airlī adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | airlī adj. Also eirli, aierly, aerli(ch. |
| Etymology | From air n.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of air, air-like; of the atmosphere, atmospheric.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)18b/b : Fendes beþ I clepid aerliche bestes, for þey leueth in kynde of bodyes þat beþ aerliche, and tofalleþ nouȝt, noþir beþ vndo by deþ.
- (1445) ?Bokenham Claudian CS (Add 11814)261/28 : Example of this..he had by theirly fadir [L Etherei patris] him selfe, Whos thunder noise al thyng doundith.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)2217 : Aire in water was secrete incloside, whiche bare vp erth with his aerly might.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1484 7Planets (Trin-C R.14.52)687/15 : If he [Saturn] be in airely signe, signifieth grete cold and moche ise and frost.
Note: ?New sense, '~ signe' here denoting one of the signs of the zodiac associated with water (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius).
Note: Cf. wateri adj., sense 1.(d) 'astrol. the zodiacal signes associated with water'.
Note: New form.