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Webster 1913 Edition


Loathly

Loath′ly

(lōth′ly̆)
,
Adj.
[AS.
lāðlic
.]
Loathsome.
[Obs.]
Loathly mouth.”
Spenser.

Loath′ly

(lōth′ly̆)
,
adv.
1.
Unwillingly; reluctantly.
This shows that you from nature
loathly
stray.
Donne.
2.
(lōth′ly̆)
So as to cause loathing.
[Obs.]
With dust and blood his locks were
loathly
dight.
Fairfax.

Webster 1828 Edition


Loathly

LOATHLY

,
Adj.
Hateful; exciting hatred. Obs.

LOATHLY

,
adv.
Unwillingly; reluctantly. [See Lothly.]

Definition 2024


loathly

loathly

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

loathly (comparative loathlier, superlative loathliest)

  1. loathsome; hideous
    • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene Volume 1:
      Her loathly visage viewing with disdaine, Eftsoones I thought her such, as she me told, And would haue kild her; but with faigned paine, The false witch did my wrathfull hand with-hold; So left her, where she now is turnd to treen mould.
    • 1885, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Idylls of the King:
      And Merlin answered, 'Overquick art thou To catch a loathly plume fallen from the wing Of that foul bird of rapine whose whole prey Is man's good name: he never wronged his bride.
    • 1922, T.S. Stribling, Birthright:
      This unremitting insistence on his color, this continual shunting him into obscure and filthy ways, gradually gave Peter a loathly sensation.

Etymology 2

From Middle English *lothli, loothly, from Old English lāþlīċe (hatefully), equivalent to loath + -ly.

Adverb

loathly (comparative loathlier, superlative loathliest)

  1. In a loathsome manner; disgustingly.
  2. Unwillingly; reluctantly.

Anagrams