Forms: 3–5 fals(e)-liche, (4 falslich, -lik, -lyche, valsliche), 3–5 falsli, 3–8 falsly, 4– falsely. [f. FALSE a. + -LY2.]
1. In violation of truth; untruthfully.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 725.
| Alle hys flesshë þan þou teryst | |
| Whan þou falsly by hym swerest. |
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 3054. Falsly canestow fayt.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxvi. 146. A man is accused falsly of a fact.
1841–4. Emerson, Ess. Spir. Laws, Wks. I. 66. When a man speaks the truth in the spirit of truth, his eye is as clear as the heavens. When he has base ends, and speaks falsely, the eye is muddy and sometimes asquint.
2. Erroneously, incorrectly, wrongly.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 23131 (Cott.). Falsli es he cristen calld.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), xii. 134. Thei seyn, that the Cristene men erren and han no gode knowleche of this, and that thei beleeven folyly and falsly, that Iesu Crist was crucyfyed.
1563. Winȝet, trans. Vincent. Lirin., xxvi. Wks. 1890, II. 54. O Timothe, saue that thing, quhilk is geuin the to keip, eschewand the prophane nouelteis of woceis, and the contradictioun of science falslie so callit, quhilk science quhen sum men promisis thai hef errit, as concernyng fayth.
1597. T. Morley, Introd. Mus., 183. Such things as I haue either left out or falsely set downe.
a. 1627. Sir J. Beaumont, Answ. Metrodorus, in Poems (1869), 240.
| All states are good, and they are falsly led, | |
| Who wish to be vnborne, or quickly dead. |
1727–38. Gay, Fables, I. x.
| How falsly is the spaniel drawn! | |
| Did man from him first learn to fawn? |
1809–10. Coleridge, The Friend (1865), 128. If I am in danger of offending them, it must arise from one or other of two causes; either that I have falsely represented his principles, or his motives and the tendency of his writings.
3. Wrongfully. a. Unjustly, for no sufficient cause, without justification. b. Dishonestly, fraudulently.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 5347.
| Ȝyf þou wyþ wrong ȝernede oþer mennys þyng, | |
| Or falsly purchasede,—þat ys grete synne. | |
| (c. 1330), Chron. (1810), 335. | |
| Grante him conquere his right Gascoyne & Normandie, | |
| Þat þe kyng of France chalanges falsly. |
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 5. Bretherhede be enpresoned falslich by enme.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, II. xiv. (1869), 80. Thou mesurest falsliche, and stelest folkes corn.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., II. iii. Wks. 1856, I. 98.
| Tis true, my sweetest breast, | |
| I must die falsely: so must thou, deare heart. |
1666. Dryden, Ann. Mirab., 675. By late success, which they did falsly boast.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 170, 14 Sept., ¶ 7. For such who are treated ill and upbraided falsely.
4. Deceitfully, treacherously.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 208. Falsliche igon to schrifte.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 818 (Gött.).
| Þe feind was wele mare to blame | |
| Þat sua falsli bigiled adam. |
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 693.
| A fewe | |
| Folwen fully þat cloþ · but falsliche þat vseþ. |
1401. Political Poems (Rolls), II. 41. Falselier than the fende.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xiv. 341. Kyng yon, that so falsli hath betrayed vs.
1503–4. Act 19 Hen. VII., c. 34, Preamb. Persones falsly and traiterously ymagynyng … the deth … of the Kinge.
1605. Camden, Rem. (1637), 253. John … falsely and unnaturally revolted unto the French king.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., vii. 478.
| See, the Third Witness laughs at Bliss remote, | |
| And falsly promises an Eden here. |
† 5. Improperly. Obs.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. X. 270. Ful meny fayre flus falsliche wasshe!
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, E vij b. The daughters of Moab were falsly engendryd and goten.
1529. More, Dyaloge, III. Wks. 208/1. The churche fell sodeinly down … was falsely wrought.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., V. iii. 251.
| A base foule Stone, made precious by the soyle | |
| Of Englands Chaire, where he is falsely set. |
