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Webster 1913 Edition

Ruly

Rul′y

,
Adj.
[From
Rule
.]
Orderly; easily restrained; – opposed to
unruly
.
[Obs.]
Gascoigne.

Webster 1828 Edition

Ruly

RU'LY

,
Adj.
[from rule.] Orderly; easily restrained. [Not in use.] [See Unruly.]

Definition 2024

ruly

ruly

English

Adjective

ruly ‎(comparative rulier or more ruly, superlative ruliest or most ruly)

  1. Pitiable; miserable.

Etymology 2

From Middle English rewly, reoly.

Adverb

ruly ‎(comparative rulier or more ruly, superlative ruliest or most ruly)

  1. Pitiably; miserably.

Etymology 3

Back-formation from unruly, or perhaps a continuation of Middle English ruly, reuli ‎(“subject to a religious rule, regular”), equivalent to rule +‎ -ly, rule +‎ -y; or perhaps from Old French rulé, reulé, rieulé ‎(“ruled”), past participle of rieuler ‎(“to rule”). More at rule.

Adjective

ruly ‎(comparative rulier, superlative ruliest)

  1. neat and orderly

Etymology

From Middle English ruly, rewly, rewely, reweliche, from Old English hrēowlīċ ‎(“grievous, pitiful, sad, wretched, cruel”), equivalent to rue +‎ -ly.

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