Boldly adv.

[f. BOLD a. + -LY².] In a bold manner.

  1.  Courageously, daringly, fearlessly.

a. 1000.  Juliana (Gr.), 492. Sume … ic bealdlice … minum hondum … sloʓ.

c. 1205.  Lay., 19923. Þer wes Bruttene weored; baldeliche isomned [c. 1275 boldeliche gadered].

c. 1305.  St. Christ., 36, in E. E. P. (1862), 60. Cristofre hem mette baldeliche.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, III. 14. He bauldly thaim abaid.

1480.  Robt. Devyll, 30. He thought boldlyer for to abyde.

1611.  Bible, Mark xv. 43. Ioseph of Arimathea … went in boldly vnto Pilate, and craued the body of Iesus.

1728.  Young, Love Fame, iii. (1757), 101. They who boldly dare, Shall triumph o’er the sons of cold despair.

1876.  Green, Short Hist., v. § 1 (1882), 223. The Prince seized the opportunity to fall boldly on their front.

  2.  In bad sense: With effrontery, impudently, shamelessly; presumptuously.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden, Rolls Ser. IV. 281. His sones … stryue þe boldloker [licentius].

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 108. Fro hem þat beggun wiþ out nede … or for oþer vndu caus beggen baldly.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 43. Boldely or malapertly, effronter, presumptuose.

1586.  Thynne, Animadv., Introd. 70. I have like blind baiard boldlie run into this matter.

a. 1656.  Bp. Hall, Rem. Wks. (1660), 150. He … that can sin the boldlyest.

1785.  T. Jefferson, Corr. (1830), 423. Their principle is to lie boldly that they may not be suspected of lying.

  3.  Confidently, with assurance; without doubt, without hesitation; assuredly.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 125. Alswa baldeliche mei þe wrecchesta mon cleþian drihtan him to federe.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3586. Baldlik þat dar i sai.

c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, 581. Be ful assured boldely I am thy frende.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 840. Ye shall boldly be blameles.

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 388. Wherfore y dar wryte and baldelyche say.

1563.  Homilies, II. Sacrament (1859), 442. So may we the boldlier have access thither.

1695.  Ld. Preston, Boeth., II. 48. I dare boldly affirm, that, [etc.].

1810.  Coleridge, Friend (1865), 138. To hope too boldly of human nature.

  4.  With bold expression or handling; strongly, vigorously, strikingly.

1762.  H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint., I. 158. Several other figures, boldly painted, but not highly finished.

1828.  Coleridge, Eolian Harp, 17. And now, its strings Boldlier swept, the long sequacious notes.