adv. Forms: see STURDY a.; also 4–6 sturdely. [f. STURDY a. + -LY2.] In a sturdy manner; † with reckless daring (obs.); ruthlessly, cruelly, violently (obs.); † surlily, rudely, harshly, mutinously, rebelliously (obs.); obstinately, unyieldingly, resolutely.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Compl. Mars, 82. Til him fel a drede, Through Phebus, that was comen hastely Within the paleys-yates sturdely.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, II. 363. Thai … Swappyt owt swerdis sturdyly.
c. 1440. Partonope, 6154. The wind … blew so sturdely.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, II. 42. Full sturdely he coud befor him stand.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Toruè, sturdyly in looke.
1544. in Sel. Cases Crt. Requests (Selden Soc.), 107. The whiche to doo the said complaynaunte … obstynatly and sturdyly then & there refusyd.
1549. Cheke, Hurt Sedit. (1569), H ij b. What say ye to the number of vagabonds and loytring beggers, which … will … stande sturdely in Cities, and begge boldly at euery dore.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., x. § 68. The Scots now begun again to talk sturdily.
1674. Prideaux, Lett. (Camden), 13. I assure you they dispute the case most sturdyly.
1810. Scott, Lady of Lake, IV. xxv. It was a stag, a stag of ten, Bearing his branches sturdily.
1858. Froude, Hist. Eng., III. xvi. 456. Wyatt answered sturdily that Brancetor was his master’s subject.
1893. J. Edgar, Hist. Early Scott. Educ., 211. The University of Aberdeen held out sturdily against the reformers.
1901. Rashdall & Rait, New College, vi. 115. The soul of the sturdily Protestant Bishop Horne was moved by the tidings which reached him from Oxford.
