ferly
Americannoun
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ferlies
plural
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something unusual, strange, or causing wonder or terror.
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astonishment; wonder.
adjective
adjective
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of ferly
First recorded before 900; Middle English fæ(i)rlich, feorlic(h), from Old English fǣrlīc, equivalent to fǣr “sudden danger” + -līc, adjective suffix; cognate with German gefährlich, Dutch gevaarlijk “dangerous”; see origin at fear, -ly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Many a ferly fares to the fair-eyed," quoth he; "and also I will tell thee in thine ear that this Lady may not be so great as her name is great.
From Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair by William Morris
He hailsed me with mikel pride; Ic haved wel mykel ferly wat he was; 15 I saide,—"Wel mote the betyde, That litel man with large face."
From English and Scottish Ballads, Volume I (of 8) by Various
A ferly strife fel them betwene,As they went bi the way;Litull Johne seid he had won v shyllyngs,And Robyn Hode seid schortly nay.
From A Collection of Ballads by Andrew Lang
My heart for parting ever burns with lowe; * My lids fiery with tear-floods ever flow: Ho thou in lover's loving ferly fair, * Cut is the road for those Love gars to glow.
From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 15 by Sir Richard Francis Burton
O rare the Ewer's form whereon must dote * Our hearts and pupils of our eyes fain gloat: Seems ferly fair to all admiring orbs * You seemly body wi' the slender throat.
From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 15 by Sir Richard Francis Burton
In saxty years o' care and toil, What ferlies do we see!
From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume III The Songs of Scotland of the Past Half Century by Charles Rogers
But look afore ye, True Thomas, And I shall show ye ferlies three; Yon is the gate leads to our land, Where thou and I sae soon shall be.
From A Book of Old Ballads — Complete by Beverley Nichols
The langer we live we see the mair ferlies.
From The Proverbs of Scotland by Alexander Hislop
I remember she used to tell us of a wonderful visit to London, and of how she came home sick at heart about leaving all the "ferlies," as she called them.
From Olivia in India by O. Douglas
Light down, light down, now, true Thomas, And lean your head upon my knee; Abide and rest a little space, 40 And I will shew you ferlies three.
From English and Scottish Ballads, Volume I (of 8) by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
