Quaintly

adv. Forms: as QUAINT a. + 3–5 -lich(e, -lych(e, -li, 4–6 -lye, 4– -ly. Comp. 4 queyntlyer, 7 quaintlier. Sup. 4 queyntlokest, quoyntelucst. [f. QUAINT a. + -LY².]

  † 1.  Skilfully, cleverly, ingeniously, so as to accomplish some act or attain some end. Obs.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2324. Þo biþoȝte vortiger … hou he miȝte do quoyntelucst [v.r. queyntlokest] þat he him sulf were king.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 1128. Þe kynges brother & y Ar skaped out fol queyntely.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 164. Thus coyntly it kept was all with clene art.

1422.  trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 167. A newe Payne he founde, by the whyche fals Iuges queyntly he chastid.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, X. xi. heading, Juno rycht quayntly causis Turnus to flee.

1593.  R. Harvey, Philad., 21. He and his surveyed it quantitatively and queintly to the purpose.

1612.  Dekker, Lond. Triumph., Wks. 1873, III. 253. A song is heard; the musicke being queintly conueyed in a priuate room, and not a person discouered.

1708[?].  Prior, Turtle & Sparrow, 263. Those points, indeed, you quaintly prove, But logic is no friend to love.

1714.  Gay, Sheph. Week, I. 79. I queintly stole a kiss.

  † b.  Cunningly, craftily. Obs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 741 (Gött.). Quaintli taght he him þe ginne, Hu he suld at þe wijf bigine.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 137. Some men tolde þat þis Harold was a sowter sone, and queyntly [L. dolose] underput by þe forseide Elgiue.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 11228. Cast is hit cointly by thies kene traytours … pryam to lose.

  † 2.  With ingenious art, so as to produce something artistic, curious or elaborate. Obs.

a. 1300.  Leg. Rood (1871), 30 (Ashm.). Salomon it let velle and hewe as queinteliche as he miȝte.

13[?].  Coer de L., 1387. He leet mak a tour ful strong, That queyntly engynours made.

c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 833. Domus Dedali … Nas maad so wonderliche, y-wis, Ne half so queynteliche y-wrought.

c. 1440.  Ipomydon, 1641. He … shove hym bothe byhynd & byfore, Queyntly endentyd oute and in.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, V. vi. 125. A riche schield, wrocht quentlie.

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. v. 24. To carue out Dialls queintly, point by point.

1653.  Urquhart, Rabelais, I. lvii. I. 248. They could speak five or sixe several languages, and compose in them all very quaintly.

  † 3.  Finely, elegantly; in a pretty and attractive manner. Obs.

1340.  Ayenb., 47. Hy sseaweþ and diȝteþ ham þe more quaynteliche … uor to maki musi þe foles to ham.

a. 1366[?].  Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 783. Her-of lyth no remembraunce, How that they daunced queyntely.

c. 1430.  Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, I. cxxxix. (1869), 72. She hadde now arayed me queyntliche and nobleche.

1490.  Caxton, Eneydos, x. 40. Wyth the ladyes he byhaued him soo queyntli swete … and curtoys.

1592.  Greene, Upst. Courtier, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), II. 247. A murrey cloth gowne … which he quaintly bare vp, to shew his white taffata hose.

c. 1610.  Rowlands, Terrible Battell, 31. The quaintly suted Courtier in attyre.

  4.  In a curious, odd, or old-fashioned, but pleasing or attractive manner.

1782.  Cowper, Lett., 18 Nov. A tale ridiculous in itself and quaintly told.

1816.  J. Wilson, City of Plague, I. iii. 176. One quaintly apparell’d like a surpliced priest Led the procession.

1855.  Prescott, Philip II., I. I. ix. 129. His anger, as his secretary quaintly remarks, was more than was good for his health.

1867.  Trollope, Chron. Barset, II. xlv. 11. She had added the date in quaintly formed figures.

1870.  Lubbock, Orig. Civilis., iv. (1875), 178. A father’s sister, quaintly enough, is called father.