adv. arch. [f. FAST a. + -LY2. Now replaced by FAST adv.]
† 1. In a fixed or steady manner. Obs.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxix. § 7. Sio nafa … færþ micle fæstlicor … ðonne þa felȝan.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 234. Þet tu þerefter þe wisluker wite him, hwon þu hauest ikeiht him: & te uestluker holde.
1340. Ayenb., 166. Hit be-houeþ þet he hym hyealde vestliche ine his wylle.
1549–62. Sternhold & H., Ps. xxiv. 2. For he hath fastly founded it aboue the sea to stand.
† 2. Firmly, unwaveringly, steadfastly; with confidence. Obs.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 115. He scal … festliche winnan wið onsiȝendne here.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 77. Cumen festliche to ure saule leche and unhelen him ure saule wundes.
c. 1205. Lay., 13000. Imong þan eorlen he stod & fastliche hit wið-soc.
c. 1350. Prose Psalter, 196. Þe which bot if ich man haue bileued trewlich & fastelich.
c. 1440. Hylton, Scala Perf. (W. de W., 1494), III. xiii. Put forth fastely all thy good dedes to hym in as moche as they be good.
1513. More, in Grafton, Chron., II. 766. The Lord Hastinges … perswaded the lords to beleve that the Duke of Glocester was sure & fastly faithfull to his prince.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 306. Faith, that fastlie beleeveth sinnes to be forgiven freelie by Christ.
† b. Without intermission or cessation. Obs.
971. Blickl. Hom., 47. Gif þa lareowas þis nellaþ fæstlice Godes folce bebeodan.
a. 1000. Ælfric, Judg. iv. 24. Hiȝ fæstlice weoxon.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 237. Of þe folce we siggeð þat hit cumþ fastlice.
† 3. Closely, securely. Obs.
c. 1050. Lat. & A. S. Glosses, in Wr.-Wülcker, 354. Artius, fæstlicor.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 90. Cleue to his mercy & goodnes the more fastly.
1591. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. v. (1641), 42/2. A score of Anchors held her fastly bound.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. xxv. 174. At the first littering their eyes are fastly closed.
1800. Epistle to Sir Walter Farquhar, in The Spirit of the Public Journals (1801), IV. 175.
| By wicked, wilful men, who love their places … | |
| And fastly hold them with unblushing faces. |
1817. J. Scott, Paris Revisit. (ed. 4), 305. Their desires might bind them fastly to the Imperial cause.
4. Quickly, rapidly, speedily; hence, readily. Now rare.
c. 1205. Lay., 27774. Forð heo gunnen fusen … & fastliche heom to buȝen.
1597. Shaks., A Lover’s Complaint, 61.
| The swiftest hours, observed as they flew, | |
| Towards this afflicted fancy fastly drew. |
c. 1645. I. Tullie, Siege of Carlisle (1840), 13. Seeing them come fastly to her house.
a. 1806. H. K. White, Rem., II. 84.
| My moments now are few—the sand of life | |
| Ebbs fastly to its finish! |
1859. Cornwallis, New World, I. 207. During these twelve days the life of the child was fastly on the wane.
