Forms: α. 4 solemplike, -liche; 4–6 solemply (4 -lie, 5 -lye, sollemply); 4 solemliche, 6 -ly. β. 4 soll-, solempneliche; 4–6 solempnely (4 -lie, 5 -li), solempnly (6 -lie); 5–6 sollempn(e)ly. γ. 6 solemnelie, 6–7 -ly, 6– solemnly. [f. SOLEMN a. + -LY2. Cf. OF. sollempnement, L. sollemniter, MDu. solem(p)nelic, -lijc.] In a solemn manner, in various senses of the adj.; ceremoniously, formally; gravely, seriously, etc.
α. a. 1300. Cursor M., 6097. In mining sal ye hald þis dai,… Solemplike wit-in your lai.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 391. To brenne noble bodies whanne þey were dede, and kepe þe askes solempliche in solempne place.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 19. Solemplye [they] gan him conveye in dede Up into the chirche.
1473. Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879), I. 172. The forsad Robert and Thomas in the chapter made fath and swur sollemply vpon the haly wangelis.
1535. Coverdale, Judith xvi. 26. The daye wherin this victory was gotten, was solemply holden.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. IV., 22 b. The kyng … was by the senate and magestrates solemply receyued.
1565. Cooper, Thes., s.v. Celebro, To bryng solemly to buriynge.
β. a. 1325. MS. Rawl. B. 520, lf. 30 b. Þat te notes ant te fins … ben communeliche and sollempneliche i-radde.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 15401. He was byried ful solempnely.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 329. The hihe festes of Neptune … Sollempneliche thei besihe.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., IV. iv. 445. To whom Poul wrote more in quantite and more solempneli and oftir.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VIII. xxxvi. 328. They were wedded and solempnly held theyr maryage.
1513. More, Hist. Rich. III., Wks. 60/1. She was solempnely sworne to say the trouth.
1587. Greene, Euphues, Wks. (Grosart), VI. 177. Being sollempnly set in a coole Arbour.
γ. 1556. Robinson, More’s Utopia, II. (Arb.), 134. After that warre is ones solemnelie denounced.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., IV. (1586), 170 b. I founde of late … an Owle sitting solemnly in the nest.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 239. Eve … was not solemnly begotten, but suddenly framed.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1731. To fetch him hence and solemnly attend With silent obsequie.
1716. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett., I. iii. 12. The thick shade of the trees … is solemnly delightful.
1766. Goldsm., Vicar, i. I solemnly protest I had no hand in it.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, V. xli. Solemnly and slow … the wind bore that tumult to and fro.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xv. III. 507. The right of the people to resist oppression … had been solemnly recognised by the Estates of the realm.
1874. Green, Short Hist., vi. § 5. 315. Luther’s works were solemnly burnt in St. Paul’s.
