Obs. Forms: 1 wærlic, 5 warli, waarly, 4–5 warly. [OE. wærlic, f. wær WARE sb.1: see -LY1. Cf. ON. varligr.] Of a person, his actions, etc.: Cautious, circumspect, prudent.
a. 900. Cynewulf, Elene, 544 (Gr.). Wisdomes beðearf, worda wærlicra, & witan snyttro, se ðære æðelan sceal and wyrde aʓifan.
a. 1000. Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 201/40. Cauta, wærlic, sollicita.
c. 1000. Laws of Æthelred, VI. xxxiii. (Lieberm.). Wærlic bið, þat man æʓhwilce ʓeare sona æfter eastron yrdscipa ʓearwiʓe.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 242. For knowynge of perels makiþ men warlyer to flee hem.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 649. I wull send to you sone by a sure maydon: Bes wakond and warly.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (Verse), 453. Bot first hir-self,… Sal councel þam,… Bi wordes warli anes or twis.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W., 1495), II. 178/2. Men ought to thynke dyscretly and by waarly delyberacyon; yf a thynge is lawfull to be doon.
