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Webster 1913 Edition


Kindly

Kind′ly

(kīnd′ly̆)
,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Kindlier
(kīnd′lĭ-ẽr)
;
sup
erl.
Kindliest
.]
[AS.
cyndelic
. See
Kind
,
Noun.
]
1.
According to the kind or nature; natural.
[R.]
The
kindly
fruits of the earth.
Book of Com. Prayer.
An herd of bulls whom
kindly
rage doth sting.
Spenser.
Whatsoever as the Son of God he may do, it is
kindly
for
Him as the Son of Man to save the sons of men.
L. Andrews.
2.
Humane; congenial; sympathetic; hence, disposed to do good to; benevolent; gracious; kind; helpful;
as,
kindly
affections, words, acts, etc.
The shade by which my life was crossed, . . .
Has made me
kindly
with my kind.
Tennyson.
3.
Favorable; mild; gentle; auspicious; beneficent.
In soft silence shed the
kindly
shower.
Pope.
Should e’er a
kindlier
time ensue.
Wordsworth.
☞ “Nothing ethical was connoted in kindly once: it was simply the adjective of kind. But it is God's ordinance that kind should be kindly, in our modern sense of the word as well; and thus the word has attained this meaning.”
Trench.

Kind′ly

,
adv.
1.
Naturally; fitly.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
Examine how
kindly
the Hebrew manners of speech mix and incorporate with the English language
Addison.
2.
In a kind manner; congenially; with good will; with a disposition to make others happy, or to oblige.
Be
kindly
affectioned one to another, with brotherly love.
Rom. xii. 10.

Webster 1828 Edition


Kindly

KINDLY

,
Adj.
[See Kind, the noun.] Homogeneal; congenial; kindred; of the same nature. This Johnson supposes to be the original sense; but it is also used as a derivative of the adjective, in the sense of
1.
Mild; bland; softening; as kindly showers.

KINDLY

,
adv.
With good will; with a disposition to make others happy or to oblige; benevolently; favorably. Let the poor be treated kindly.
Be kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly love--Rom.12.
And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
Gen.1.

Definition 2024


kindly

kindly

English

Adjective

kindly (comparative kindlier, superlative kindliest)

  1. Having a kind personality.
    A kindly old man sits on the park bench every afternoon feeding pigeons.
    • Tennyson
      The shade by which my life was crossed [] has made me kindly with my kind.
  2. (obsolete) Favourable; gentle; auspicious; beneficent.
    • Alexander Pope
      In soft silence shed the kindly shower.
    • Wordsworth
      should e'er a kindlier time ensue
  3. (obsolete) natural
    • Book of Common Prayer
      the kindly fruits of the earth
    • Spenser
      an herd of bulls whom kindly rage doth sting
    • L. Andrews
      Whatsoever as the Son of God he may do, it is kindly for Him as the Son of Man to save the sons of men.

Translations

Adverb

kindly (comparative more kindly, superlative most kindly)

  1. In a kind manner, out of kindness.
    He kindly offered to take us to the station in his car.
    • 1900, L. Frank Baum , The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Chapter 23
      She was both beautiful and young to their eyes. Her hair was a rich red in color and fell in flowing ringlets over her shoulders. Her dress was pure white but her eyes were blue, and they looked kindly upon the little girl.
  2. in a favourable way.
    • 2011 October 29, Neil Johnston, “Norwich 3 - 3 Blackburn”, in BBC Sport:
      Aguero was quick to block Hennessey's attempted clearance and the ball bounced kindly to Dzeko, who had the simplest of tasks to put City ahead.
  3. Please; used to make a polite request.
    Kindly refrain from walking on the grass.
    Kindly move your car out of the front yard.
  4. (US) With kind acceptance; used with take.
    I don't take kindly to threats.
    Aunt Daisy didn't take it kindly when we forgot her anniversary.
    When I ask kindly, I don't expect to repeat myself.

Usage notes

  • (please): Kindly is used in a slightly more peremptory way than please. It is generally used to introduce a request with which the person addressed is expected to comply, and takes the edge off what would otherwise be a command.
  • (with kind acceptance): This sense is a negative polarity item; it is usually found in questions and negative statements, as in the above example sentences.

Synonyms

  • (in a kind manner): thoughtfully
  • (used to make polite requests): be so kind as to, please

Translations