Now dial. and U.S. [f. SOFT a.]
1. Of sound, etc.: Quiet, gentle, soft.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 276. Out of the hill ranne a pleasant spring, which made a gentle and softly sounde.
1653. Holcroft, Procopius, Gothic Wars, IV. 141. They … heare a softly voice calling them to the businesse.
1859. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Note-bks. (1872), II. 291. Their decorous and softly steps.
† 2. Soft; yielding to pressure. Obs.
1589. Fleming, Virg. Georg., III. 39. The fole or colt … laies down to rest his softly legs.
† 3. Of pace: Easy, slow, gentle. Obs.
1572. R. H., trans. Lavaterus’ Ghostes, 59. The image goeth before with a softely pase.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. vii. 6. The gentle Prince … they spyde, Ryding a softly pace.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., VI. lxxvii. 84. But see, the stealing night with softly pace.
1647. Trapp, Comm. Epist., 671. When God came to punish Adam, he came slowly…. He ran … with a softly pace and still voice.
† 4. Characterized by gentleness, weakness, simplicity or effeminacy. Obs.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], Lives Emperors, in Hist. Ivstine, H h 4. This was a prince of a softly wit.
1643. Baker, Chron. (1653), 46. The softly disposition of his son Robert.
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 83. A Person, as he saith himself, or such a tame and softly humour.
1740–2. Richardson, Pamela, IV. 258. The Viscount, whose softly Character, and his Lady’s … respectful Conduct to him, notwithstanding that, are both so well known.
5. Of persons: a. Slow in action; lacking in energy or enterprise.
1664. Verney Memoirs (1899), IV. 74. Many of them are very slow, and (as we call them) softly persons.
1687. Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. s.v., A softly man, a Man that lacks to be stirring.
1770. J. Adams, Diary, 8 July, Wks. 1850, II. 245. The softly people where I lodge, Don Webb and his wife, are the opposites of every thing great, spirited, and enterprising.
1869. Mrs. Stowe, Oldtown Folks, xxvii. 343. All that softly shiftless class, who … are never to be found with anything in hand at the moment that it is wanted.
b. Simple, foolish; soft-headed. Now dial.
1687. Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. s.v., A softly Man, a Nidget, or Ninny.
1715. Jane Barker, Exilius, I. 101.
| If Woman did not moderate his Rule, | |
| He’d be a Tyrant, or a softly Fool. |
1883. Almondbury Gloss., 124. Softly, soft-headed; foolish.
