selly

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English selly, selly, sellich, from Old English sellīċ, seldlīċ (rare, strange, wondrous, extraordinary, wonderful; having unusually good qualities, excellent, admirable; select, better, superior, choice), from Proto-Germanic *seldalīkaz, equivalent to seld + -ly. Cognate with Scots selly, silly (approved, good, worthy), Old Saxon seldlīk (rare, wonderful), Gothic 𐍃𐌹𐌻𐌳𐌰𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌺𐍃 (sildaleiks, wonderful).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈsɛli/
  • Homophone: celly
  • Rhymes: -ɛli

Adjective

selly (comparative sellier or more selly, superlative selliest or most selly)

  1. (UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Rare; wonderful; admirable

Synonyms

Adverb

selly (comparative sellier or more selly, superlative selliest or most selly)

  1. (UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Wonderfully, wondrously.
    • 1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “(please specify the chapter)”, in [Le Morte Darthur], (please specify the book number), [London: [] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur [], London: David Nutt, [], 1889, →OCLC:
      His brother was [] selly sick and sore unsound.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Noun

selly (plural sellies)

  1. (UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) A marvel; wonder; something wonderful or rare
    • 1995, Robert J. Blanch, Julian N. Wasserman, From Pearl to Gawain:
      The line is a masterstroke of noncommitment, for the event is a "selly" in the sight of some unidentified readers.

Anagrams

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old English sellīċ, seldlīċ, syllīċ, from Proto-Germanic *seldalīkaz; equivalent to selde (uncommon) + -ly.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈsɛliː/, /ˈsɛliːtʃ(ə)/, /ˈsɛleː/

Adjective

selly

  1. weird, unusual, odd, bizarre
  2. strange, astounding, wondrous
  3. amazing, extraordinary, breathtaking
  4. many (in number); abundant.

Descendants

  • English: selly
  • Scots: selly

References

Adverb

selly

  1. weirdly, wondrously, oddly, surprisingly
  2. In a agile manner; speedily; with power and force.
  3. (By) a lot; extremely, to a great degree.

Descendants

References

Noun

selly (plural sellys)

  1. A wondrous or astounding happening or action.

Descendants

References

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