English

Adverb

needly ‎(comparative needlier or more needly, superlative needliest or most needly)

1. (archaic) Zealously; carefully; earnestly.

Etymology 2

From Middle English needely, nedelich, from Old English *nīedlīċe ‎(“necessarily”), from nīedlīc ‎(“necessary”), equivalent to need ‎(“necessity, need”) +‎ -ly. Merged with Etymology 1 above. Cognate with Middle Dutch nodelike, Middle Low German nōtliken, Middle High German nōtliche.

Adverb

needly ‎(comparative needlier or more needly, superlative needliest or most needly)

1. (archaic) Necessarily; of necessity.
2. (archaic) Urgently.

Etymology 3

From needle +‎ -y.

Adjective

needly ‎(comparative needlier or more needly, superlative needliest or most needly)

1. (informal) Like a needle or needles.

   a needly horn; a needly beard

   (Can we find and add a quotation of R. D. Blackmore to this entry?)

Synonyms

• acicular