Forms: see KIND a. [OE. ʓecyndelíce, f. as prec. + -líce, -LY2.]
I. † 1. a. In accordance with nature; naturally; by natural disposition; characteristically. Obs.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxv. § 3. Ealla ʓesceafta ʓecyndelice … fundiað to cumanne to Gode.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 124. Þer ase muchel fur is, kundeliche hit waxeð mid winde.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9431. Þe first lagh was kald ‘o kind,’ Þat es to sai kindli to do, Al þat him was biden to.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 111. Þe kud king of Spayne was kindely his fader.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 114. Kepe þe fro a man þat kyndly is ȝalow and blew.
1575. Mirr. Mag., Fall blacke Smith, vi. Nature hath so planted in ech degree, That Crabs like Crabs will kindly crall and crepe.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia (1622), 248. Because that out of the circumstance of her present behauiour, there might kindly arise a fit beginning of her intended discourse.
b. In the way suitable or appropriate to the nature of the thing; properly, fittingly. In later use, esp. said of processes that successfully follow their natural course. Now rare.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1. Clannesse who-so kyndly cowþe comende.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, C j. Who so will that an hawke endure and mew kyndli.
1548–77. Vicary, Anat., v. (1888), 42. The Lippes … keepe the mouth close tyl the meate were kindly chewed.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 46. I vowd to be kindlye reuenged.
1641. H. Best, Farm. Bks. (Surtees), 50. It is a very rare thinge to see oates ripe kindely, for usually the ridges will bee ripe and ready to shake when the furres are greene.
1758. J. S., Le Dran’s Observ. Surg. (1771), 250. The Suppuration proceeding kindly, the Wound became a simple Wound.
1842. J. Aiton, Domest. Econ. (1857), 197. The butter and the cheese … are kindliest dealt with at home.
c. In an easy, natural way; readily; congenially; spontaneously. Now dial. or colloq.
14[?]. Sir Beues (MS. M), 95/1917. He gaue hym a dynt than, His sworde so kyndly yode, That at the breste the dynt stode.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 8601. Thay knew hym full kyndly be caupe of his sworde.
1563. Hyll, Art Garden. (1593), 5. Every ground doth not kindlie bring up Garden hearbes.
1658. Manton, Exp. Jude verse 2. As we say of children that take the dug kindly, they will thrive and do well enough.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 259. The ground chain now came in kindly.
1886. Sat. Rev., 6 March, 327/2. One often hears it said, ‘Such and such an animal knows So-and-so the moment he gets up, and always goes kindly with him.’
† d. Properly; thoroughly, exactly. Obs.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 221. If he hym-self knew kyndely, He suld haf knawyng of God almyghty.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 319. A wyndow wyd In þe compas of a cubit kyndely sware.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. VI. 29. I knowe him as kuyndeliche as Clerk doþ his bokes.
1401. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 65. Sich as ben gaderid in couentis togidere … this clepe we monasticall, that kendly is knowun.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., II. iv. 59. Rom. Meaning to cursie. Mer. Thou hast most kindly hit it.
II. 2. With natural affection, affectionately, lovingly; with sympathy, benevolence, or good nature.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2500. He it for-gaf hem mildelike, And luuede hem alle kinde-like.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1613. Eiþer oþer keste kindeliche þat time.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 657. The Knight was curtas, & kendly he saide:—‘Most louesom lady, your lykyng be done!’
1535. Coverdale, Bible, Prol. How kyndly and fatherly he [God] helpeth the.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., I. i. 144. I thanke thee for thy loue to me, which … I will most kindly requite.
1611. Bible, Gen. l. 21. Hee comforted them, and spake kindly vnto them.
1697. Dampier, Voy., I. 52. I was aboard twice or thrice, and very kindly welcomed both by the Captain and his Lieutenant.
1722. De Foe, Col. Jack (1840), 151. They would be … used kindlier.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xiv. Mr. Thornhill having kindly promised to inspect their conduct himself.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 206. I must earnestly request that you will kindly answer.
a. 1882. Abp. Tait, in Daily News (1891), 26 June, 7/2. Tell him he is an ass,—but say so kindly.
b. fig. Benignly, genially.
1792. Burns, Bessy & her Spinnin Wheel, ii. The sun blinks kindly in the biel’.
3. In a way that is pleasant or agreeable to the recipient or object; agreeably, pleasantly.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., Ind. i. 15. Let him come, and kindly.
1609. F. N., Fruiterer’s Secr., 19. There be pippins … that haue the warmth of the sunne … they last long and eate kindly.
1863. Kinglake, Crimea, I. xiv. 210. How it was possible … that the coarse Bonaparte yoke of 1804 could be made to sit kindly upon the neck of France.
1875. H. C. Wood, Therap. (1879), 688. Thus, purgatives act much more kindly when a number of them are united together.
4. Phrases.
a. To take kindly, to accept pleasantly, or as a kindness. b. To take kindly to, to be naturally attracted to or pleased with. c. To thank kindly, to thank heartily, with appreciation of the kindness shown.
a. 1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf. (K.O.), Take it kindely at your hands.
1677. Littleton, Lat. Dict., To take a thing kindly,… æquo, bono animo accipere.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 14, ¶ 1. I took his Admonition kindly.
b. 1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, X. x. ¶ 26. I took very kindly to my condition.
1866. Mrs. Gaskell, Wives & Dau., I. 330. They don’t take kindly to me … and so I suppose I’m not generous enough to take kindly to them.
c. 1662. in Chr. Wordsworth, Scholæ Acad. (1877), 293, note. Mother I kindly thank yo for yr Orange pills yo sent me.
1785. Burns, Ep. to Lapraik, II. v. Yet ye’ll neglect to shaw your parts, An’ thank him kindly!
1838. Jas. Grant, Sk. Lond., 207. I thaunk’d her kindly for her condescension, and hoped she was weel hersel’.
5. Comb. with pples, and adjs., as kindly-meant, -sheltering, -soft.
1599. H. Buttes, Dyets drie Dinner, Aa iv. Then Whiffe, and smoke Tobaccos antidot From out thy kindly traunced Chimny-head.
1868. J. H. Newman, Verses Various Occas., 36. In the Church’s Kindly-sheltering fold.
1885. Ruskin, Lett., in Pall Mall Gaz., 25 April, 2/2. Your kindly meant paragraphs on my resignation of the Slade Professorship at Oxford.
