kindly
Part of speech: adj
adv
Morphological type: derivation
Etymology: From Middle English kyndely, kyndeliche, from Old English cyndelīċ (“natural, kindly”); equivalent to kind + -ly.
Base: kind
Affixes: -ly
Inflected forms:
form: kindlier
pos: adj
tags: comparative
form: kindliest
pos: adj
tags: superlative
form: kindlier
pos: adv
tags: comparative
form: more kindly
pos: adv
tags: comparative
form: kindliest
pos: adv
tags: superlative
form: most kindly
pos: adv
tags: superlative
Senses:
gloss: Having a kind personality; kind, warmhearted, sympathetic.
pos: adj
examples: A kindly old man sits on the park bench every afternoon feeding pigeons.
The shade by which my life was crost, […] Has made me kindly with my kind
This was the first long train journey I ever took, and the details remain in my memory as sharply as if they had taken place last week. Hopping on the Circle Line to King's Cross, boarding the compartmentalised train, the kindly ticket inspectors, and every station where the Grimsby express stopped (in those days it didn't go through to Cleethorpes).
gloss: Favourable, gentle, pleasant, tidy, auspicious, beneficent.
pos: adj
tags: dated
examples: Ye Heav'ns! from high the devvy nectar pour, / And in ſoft ſilence ſhed the kindly ſhovv'r!
His Brothers' wisdom or their love— / But calmly from the spot withdrew; / The like endeavours to renew, / should e'er a kindlier time ensue.
Lead, kindly Light, amid th' encircling gloom, / ⁠Lead Thou me on
gloss: Lawful.
pos: adj
tags: archaic
gloss: Natural; inherent to the kind or race.
pos: adj
tags: obsolete
examples: the kindly fruits of the earth
An heard of Bulles, whom kindly rage doth sting,
[W]hatſoever as the Sonne of God, He may doe; it is kindly, for Him, as the Sonne of man, to ſave the ſonnes of men.
gloss: In a kind manner, out of kindness.
pos: adv
examples: He kindly offered to take us to the station in his car.
Because I could not stop for Death, / He kindly stopped for me; / The carriage held but just ourselves / And Immortality.
She was both beautiful and young to their eyes. Her hair was a rich red in color and fell in flowing ringlets over her shoulders. Her dress was pure white but her eyes were blue, and they looked kindly upon the little girl.
gloss: In a favourable way.
pos: adv
examples: Aguero was quick to block Hennessey's attempted clearance and the ball bounced kindly to Dzeko, who had the simplest of tasks to put City ahead.
gloss: Used to make a polite request: please.
pos: adv
examples: Kindly refrain from walking on the grass.
May we request that patrons kindly take their seats.
Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me / Who owns that horse outside the door where my old horse should be?
Please kindly bring your hardcopy of the Constitution to every class.
gloss: With kind acceptance; used with take.
pos: adv
tags: US
examples: I don't take kindly to threats.
Aunt Daisy didn't take it kindly when we forgot her anniversary.
gloss: Kind of, somewhat.
pos: adv
tags: dialectal
gloss: Readily.
pos: adv
tags: archaic
gloss: Naturally.
pos: adv
tags: obsolete
Synonyms: compassionate
benignant
good-hearted
kind
kindhearted
humane
softhearted
sympathetic
tender
tenderhearted
warmhearted
attentive
considerate
thoughtful
affable
benign
cordial
dear
friendly
gentle
good
good-natured
good-tempered
gracious
mild
nice
pleasant
clement
forbearing
forgiving
lenient
merciful
soft
patient
pitying
tolerant
understanding
altruistic
brotherly
generous
charitable
greathearted
humanitarian
magnanimous
noble
openhearted
philanthropic
unselfish
unsparing
Antonyms: mean
stern
hateful
malevolent
malicious
spiteful
virulent
barbarous
bestial
brutal
brutish
cold-blooded
cruel
hardhearted
inhuman
inhumane
insensate
savage
thick-skinned
Derived words: kindlily
kindliness
kindly tenant
overkindly
seakindly
sea-kindly
unkindly
take kindly
Translations: