English Explanatory Dictionary

headly

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Chief; principal; capital; (of sins) deadly.
  2. Heady; violent; impetuous.

Word forms

headly more headly most headly

Etymology

From Middle English hedly, havedlich, from Old English hēafodlīċ (“at the top, principal, capital, deadly”), equivalent to head + -ly. Cognate with West Frisian haadlik, Dutch hoofdelijk, Middle Low German hö̂vetlī̂k, Middle High German houbetlich (archaic German hauptlich). Piecewise doublet of chefly and chiefly.

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