ME. suffix, OE. -lǽwe, forming a few adjectives: OE. hungorlǽwe, ME. chekelewe, chokelewe, costlewe, drunk(e)lewe, gastlewe, siklewe, thurstlewe. The general sense is ‘affected by, liable to, or characterized by’ (something undesirable); in some of the instances above there are parallel and synonymous formations in -LY1. The etymology is obscure, no corresponding suffix being known in any other Teut. lang.; connection with Goth. lêw, occasion, may be suspected; cf. also LEW a.2
1433. Lydg., St. Edmund, II. 223. His wounde bloody, his face ded and pale, His eyen gastlewh reuersid bothe tweyne.
