a. and adv. Obs. Also brodly, brothelych, brodelyche. [ME.: in sense a., f. BROTHE a. + -LY1, 2; cf. the northern form BRATHLY. Sense b. (only in Allit. Poems) may perhaps be a deriv. of BROTHEL.]
A. adj. Fierce, violent, angry.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 166. Fulle broþely & brim he kept vp a trencheour, & kast it at Statin.
b. Vile, bad.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 847. Þe worlde stynkes Of þe brych þat vpbraydez þose broþelych wordez.
B. adv. Quickly, hastily; violently, furiously.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 18918 (Trin.). Brodly [Cott. brathli] on þat hous hit brast.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 2377. Þenne he … Brayde broþely þe belt to þe burne seluen.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 1408. Þe embuschement of Bretons brake owte at ones, Brothely at banere.
a. 1400. Sir Perc., 2121. Percevelle … asked wherefore and why He banned it so brothely.
b. Vilely, in ill plight.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1256. Broþely broȝt to Babyloyn þer bale to suffer. Ibid., C. 474. [Jonah] blusched to his wodbynde þat broþely watz marred.
