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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

thiefly en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • /ˈθiːfli/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈθifli/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English theefly; equivalent to thief + -ly.

Meanings

  1. (archaic) Like a thief; thievish.
    • Rogues are characters with some expertise in thiefly abilities and more specialized knowledge of arms than that possessed by Fighters. 1995, Coleman Charlton, Pete Fenlon, S. Marvin, Rolemaster Standard Rules, →ISBN:
    • Most patiently, with noiseless tread, I then did Make thro' those sumptuous halls my thiefly way, Until at last I reached the chamber splendid Where Hobart Chatfield Chatfield slumb'ring lay. 1893, “The Lay of a Lake Forest Burglar”, in Town Topics, the Journal of Society, volume 30, page 24:
    • It would be a sad thing to enter this dark time and then to have an eternal reality stolen and lessened in a thiefly sort of way at the door of death through a life that was lived in a less than honorable fashion. 2002, Milton Finch, Virginia Ward, Hello Again, Already!: A Book for the Spiritually-Minded Christian:
    • In bantering gusto he went right on with his thiefly enterprise. 1949, Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, The Improvement Era - Volume 52, page 378:
    • ...here he was, bent on one last thiefly act. 2011, Ed Greenwood, Elminster: Making of a Mage, →ISBN:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
thievely alternative, dialectal lexicographic
most thiefly Degree=Sup lexicographic
more thiefly Degree=Cmp lexicographic

thiefly en · ADV · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • /ˈθiːfli/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈθifli/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English thefly, þeefliche, þeofliche, equivalent thief + -ly.

Meanings

  1. (rare) Like a thief; thievishly.
    • Downyng described Sybbesoun as "a strong thief to Wood Mill, for truly he and his wife have procured my servant and my goods, that is to say wheat and rye by the bushel and the half, as thiefly and as un-truly as he might do." 2008, Derek G. Neal, The Masculine Self in Late Medieval England, page 43:
    • What great is living so thiefly!!! (Like a thief). 1983, David G. Smith, The Music Stops and the Waltz Continues, page 120:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
thievely alternative, dialectal lexicographic
most thiefly Degree=Sup lexicographic
more thiefly Degree=Cmp lexicographic