adv. Forms: see WILY; also 5 wilele, 6 wylely, -ie, wilely. [f. WILY a. + -LY2.] In a wily manner; craftily, cunningly, by stratagem.
a. 1400. Pistill of Susan, 213. Wylyliche heo wyled hir wenches away.
c. 1400. Anturs of Arth., 575 (Douce MS.). Wilele þes wighte mene þaire wepenes þey welde.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc., 15. If perauenture þe pacient haue wilyly broȝt in with hym any leche for to aspye.
1531. Tindale, Expos. 1 John (1538), 44. Antichrist disgysed hymselfe … & preached Christ wylyly, bryngyng in now thys tradicion, and now that.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 268. Wittilie and wylelie tuecheng the king.
1611. Bible, Josh. ix. 4. They did worke wilily, and went and made as if they had beene embassadours.
1682. Bunyan, Holy War, 243. ’Tis you Mr. Carnal Security that have wilily stripped Mansoul, and driven her glory from her.
1724. Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc. (1733), I. 85. And wylily they shot the lock.
1847. Gosse, Birds Jamaica, 412. A flock of swimming Pelicans, wilily endeavouring to approach some unwary one.
1885. W. Ross, Aberdour & Inchcolme, i. 23. Having married the daughter of the third Earl, he wilily succeeded to his title and estates in 1553.
