a. Obs. [f. WILE sb. + -LY1.] = WILY. (Also in comb.)

1

1556.  J. Heywood, Spider & F., xxiv. 10. The faughter herin, so wilely witted, To saue his lyfe, apealth to be repride.

2

1572.  in D. Digges, Complete Ambass. (1655), 219. Your Mr. Worseley, whom I found wilely and wilful.

3

1675.  H. More, in R. Ward, Life (1710), 276. ’Twill find a Million of Tergiversations and wilely Reasonings to excuse a Man from his Duty.

4

1709.  Sacheverell, Serm. 5 Nov., 21. The Crafty Insidiousness of such wilely Volpones.

5

1793.  W. Roberts, Looker-on, No. 79 (1794), III. 248. Son of Henry Waldron,… under the wilely alias of George Barrington.

6