Towardly a.

[f. TOWARD a. + -LY¹: cf. OE. tóweardlíc that is to come, future (which did not survive into ME.).]

  1.  Likely to lead to a desired result; promising success, propitious; helpful, favorable, advantageous; seasonable, befitting. (Cf. TOWARD a. 4 b.)

1520.  St. Papers Hen. VIII., II. 34. After ye shall have atteyned … any towardly comfourte, this yere, to bring our rebellious subjecttes there to summe obedience.

1644.  Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 69. What wants there to such a towardly and pregnant soile, but wise and faithfull labourers?

1704.  Swift, T. Tub, Concl. ¶ 6. I have observed many a towardly word to be wholly neglected.

1825.  Mrs. Carlyle, in Froude, Life Carlyle (1882), I. 322. Your circumstances … may be in the process of time rendered more towardly.

1884.  Athenæum, 15 March, 340. He must chose a towardly hour.

  2.  Promising, ‘hopeful,’ forward; apt to learn, docile: chiefly of young persons or their dispositions.

1528.  J. London, Lett. to Bp. Lincoln, 25 Feb., in Lett. & Papers Hen. VIII., XLVII. 90 (P.R.O.). Neuer … to calle hym nor any other cambridge manne vnto hys most towardely colledge [Christ Church, Oxford].

1561.  T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, I. (1577), C ij b. One of the best fauoured, and towardlyest personages in the worlde, deformed and marred in his greene age.

1587.  Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 959/1. They … rode to Enfield to see the prince,… greatlie reioising … to behold so proper and towardlie an impe.

1627.  Abp. Abbot, Narr., II., in Rushw., Hist. Coll. (1659), I. 451. He was my Pupil at Oxford, and a very towardly one.

1670.  Milton, Hist. Eng., V. Wks. 1738, II. 90. Them also I wish … mistaken, who write that Athelstan, jealous of his younger Brother Edwin’s towardly Virtues,… caus’d him to be drown’d in the Sea.

1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 263, ¶ 1. I am the happy Father of a very towardly Son.

1863.  Sat. Rev., 21 March, 368/2. He will be a towardly scholar under a willing teacher.

  b.  Of plants: Promising, forward. ? Obs.

1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 451. Easterly windes blasteth towardly blossoms.

1664.  Evelyn, Sylva (1776), 303. Purge them of all superfluous shoots and cions, reserving only the most towardly for the future stem.

1676.  Hale, Contempl., II. 98. Towardly Plants, are by Death Transplanted into another Region, a Garden of Happiness and Comfort.

  3.  Well-disposed, dutiful, tractable.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, III. viii. 70. Sen the sammyn four futtit beistis eik Bene oft vsit, full towartlie and meik, To draw the cart, and thoill bridill and renȝe.

1601.  R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 234. [A slave’s] faithfulnesse and towardly disposition.

a. 1629.  Hinde, J. Bruen, xx. (1641), 64. If hee saw them any more towardly, in duties of Religion.

1672.  Eachard, Hobbs’ State Nat. (1705), 13. I’le promise you to be very towardly for the future.

  b.  Favorably disposed, friendly, affable. (Cf. TOWARD a. 4.)

15[?].  in Maton, W. Counties (1797), I. 55. The ladi Elizabeth so towardli with the kinges honorable counselers.

1649.  Davenant, Love & Honour, III. iii. Good heart, it is As towardly an old thing!

a. 1674.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., XIV. § 41. England proved not yet so towardly as be expected.

1893.  Nat. Observ., 18 Feb., 340/2. The men … were very courteous, and the women very towardly.