seely

American  

[see-lee] / ˈsi li /

adjective

Archaic.

1. insignificant or feeble; poor.

2. happy; auspicious.

3. good; pious; blessed.

4. foolish; simple-minded.

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Other Word Forms

• seelily adverb

Etymology

Origin of seely

before 1000; Middle English sely, Old English gesǣlig happy, equivalent to sǣl happiness + -ig -y ¹; cognate with Dutch zalig, German selig; akin to Old Norse sæll, Gothic sēls good, Old English sēl better; silly

Example Sentences

Therefore, Pan, if thou may'st be Made to listen unto me, Grant, I say, if seely man May make treaty to god Pan, That I, without thy denying, May be still to thee relying.

From A Defence of Poesie and Poems by Sidney, Philip, Sir

Let daffodills entwine The seely Shepherd's brow, A nobler wreath I'll win for mine, The Lawrel's manly bough.

From Notes and Queries, Number 33, June 15, 1850 by Various

But as it fell out on last Hallow-even, When the seely court was ridin’ by, The queen lighted down on a gowany bank, Nae far frae the tree where I wont to lye.

From Ballads of Mystery and Miracle and Fyttes of Mirth Popular Ballads of the Olden Times - Second Series by Sidgwick, Frank

Yea, except thou have a crew of seely knaves And sturdy rogues still feeding at my gate, There is no hospitality with thee.

From Sir John Oldcastle by Shakespeare (spurious and doubtful works)

The answer which is given is evidently an incorrect answer, it is "Ba, puericia with a horne added," and the Boy mocks him with "Ba most seely sheepe, with a horne: you heare his learning."

From Bacon is Shake-Speare by Durning-Lawrence, Sir Edwin