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loathly

1 American  
[lohth-lee, lohth-] / ˈloʊθ li, ˈloʊð- /

adverb

  1. reluctantly; unwillingly.


loathly 2 American  
[lohth-lee, lohth-] / ˈloʊð li, ˈloʊθ- /

adjective

Archaic.
  1. loathsome; hideous; repulsive.


loathly 1 British  
/ ˈləʊθlɪ /

adverb

  1. with reluctance; unwillingly

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

loathly 2 British  
/ ˈləʊðlɪ /

adjective

  1. an archaic word for loathsome

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of loathly1

before 1000; Middle English lothliche, Old English lāthlīce. See loath, -ly (adv. suffix)

Origin of loathly2

before 900; Middle English lothlic ( e ), Old English lāthlīc. See loath, -ly (adj. suffix)

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.

As if he thinks I am not loathly, as though he does not find my mortality contagious.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

She had re-membered the stories of her childhood, the most loathly and ancient bugaboo her nurse had ever frightened her with.

From "Beowulf: A New Telling" by Robert Nye

The viands of that infernal supper were all animals vile and most hideous in appearance; but nevertheless within, under the loathly covering and the shape of the pastry, were most delicate meats of many kinds.

From Lives of the most Eminent Painters Sculptors and Architects Vol 08 (of 10) Bastiano to Taddeo Zucchero by Vasari, Giorgio

It was as though the morning were caressing the loathly creature,—trying to heal with pitying touch his self-inflicted scars of yesterday.

From Lodges in the Wilderness by Scully, W. C. (William Charles)

“Come here, you infernal loathly brute!” he snarled, making an effort to recover the rein.

From In the Whirl of the Rising by Mitford, Bertram