a. Obs. Forms: 1 eʓeslíc, 2 eislic, 3 eiselich, 4 aisliche. [OE. ęʓeslíc, f. ęʓes-a terror (see EISFUL) + -líc, -LY1; cf. OS. egislîc, eislîc, OHG. ekislîh.] Fearful, terrible.

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c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxv. § 6. Ða wæs ðær eac swiðe eʓeslic geatweard, ðæs nama sceolde bion Caron.

2

c. 1000.  Wulfstan, Addr. Engl., in Sweet, Reader, 108. Eall ðæt sindon micle and eʓeslice dæda.

3

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 87. Eislic swei and blawende beman.

4

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 67. To beregen us … wið þe eiseliche shame.

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  Hence Eisliche adv. a. Fearfully; b. Timidly.

6

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 41. Heȝe treon eisliche beorninde etforen helle ȝete.

7

c. 1394.  P. Pl. Crede, 341. Þere y auntrede me in & ai[s]liche y seide.

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