nycely

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From nyce +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈniːs(ə)liː/, /ˈniːs(ə)lit͡ʃ(ə)/

Adverb

nycely

  1. idiotically, ridiculously (in a way indicating idiocy)
  2. (rare) lazily, slothfully (in a way indicative of laziness)
  3. (rare) excessively, vainly, proudly
  4. (rare) immorally, carnally
  5. (rare) daintily
    • [1480], [William Caxton], [Chronicles of England], [folio 118, verso]:
      And the women moꝛe nyſely yet paſſed the men ın aray and coꝛıouſloker foꝛ they weꝛe ſo ſtꝛeẏt clothed that they let hang fox taılles ſowed byneth wythyn hır clothes foꝛ to hele and hıde heꝛ arſez the whıch dıſgnyſynges and pꝛıde ꝑauentuꝛe aftırwaꝛd brought foꝛth and encauſed meny myſhappes and meſchıefs ın the Reame of Englond
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Descendants

  • English: nicely
  • Scots: nicely

References