a. and adv. [OE. cildlíc, f. cild, CHILD + lic, -LY; cf. manly, kingly. Often used in 19th-c. literature, after having been obsolete since 16th c.] A. adj.
1. Of, belonging to, or natural to a child or childhood; childish.
c. 890. K. Ælfred, Bæda, IV. viii. (Bosw.). For ðære cildlican yldo.
c. 1369. Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 1095. After my yong childely wit.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., 119. I thought me past al chyldly ygnoraunce.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 464. Because of their childlie age.
1818. Todd, Childly … Not in use.
1827. Hare, Guesses (1876), 374. Their childly brains are bewildered.
1843. Ld. Houghton, Mem. Many Scenes, Mart. St. Christina. Beautiful-wingèd childly shapes.
1851. Westcott, Introd. Study Gosp., vi. (ed. 5), 338. A perfect plan with childly simplicity.
1864. Tennyson, Aylmer’s Field, 181. A childly way with children.
† 2. Becoming or proper to a child (as related to parent); filial. Hence Childly fear.
a. 1400. Cov. Myst., ix. Mary in Temple. A childely fer in dede, With a longyng love in oure Lorde.
1548. R. Hutten, Sum Divinitie, G iv b. This faieth also maketh dyfference betwene seruile feare and childelye feare.
a. 1555. Latimer, Serm., 24th Sunday aft. Trin., II. 207. [To] stir up a childly love in our hearts towards him.
1563. Nowell, Hom. Just. of God, in Liturg. Serv. Q. Eliz. (1847), 496. Chyldelie and reuerent feare to his maiestie.
1583. Golding, Calvin on Deut., xlviii. 285. Ought wee not to yield him childely obedience?
B. adv. In a childish or childlike manner.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xii. 65. [They] glorien full veinli and ful childli and lewdeli in tho iij. textis.
1483. Cath. Angl., 63. Childely, pueriliter.
18[?]. Mrs. Browning, Lady Geraldine, xvii. Then she smiled around right childly.
