Able-bodied, good-looking, serviceable.
1454. The Duke of York … wole come with his houshold meynee, clenly beseen and likly men.—‘Paston Letters,’ i. 265. (N.E.D.)
1764. To be sold, the Hull of the very likely well built Brig, &c.—Boston Evening Post, Nov. 26.
1765. A likely capable Negro Girl, to be sold for no Fault, but only for want of Employ.—Boston-Gazette, May 27.
1766. A nice likely and well built Vessel for Sale.—Id., Dec. 22.
1768. To be sold, a very likely Negro Man.—Mass. Gazette, Nov. 28-
1768. Same advertisement, same day: Boston Post-Boy.
1774. A likely Male Negro Child to be given away.—Boston Evening Post, Feb. 14.
1774. To be sold, a healthy, likely negro boy, about four feet high.—Newport Mercury, Feb. 21.
1778. To be sold, a likely Negro Wench, about 14 Years of Age, can Spin and do House Work tolerably well.—Maryland Journal, March 24.
1784. Twenty Dollars Reward. Ran away from the Rope-Walk on the 27th ult., a Negro man named Ishmael…. He is the likely fellow.—Virginia Journal, June 24.
1784. Eight Dollars Reward. Ran away from Dumfries on the 17th inst. a very black likely Negro woman, named Beck.—Id., July 1.
1784. For Sale. A likely mulatto servant, who has been used to act as a Waiting-Man to Gentlemen.—Id., July 15.
1784. Stolen from the common of this town, a likely Grey Horse.—Id., July 15.
1788. Three likely Negro Men and a Girl, to be hired for the Year of Eighty-eight.—Maryland Journal, Jan. 4.
1790. In the northern states, the body of the people use likely as synonimous [sic] with ingenious, sensible, friendly, &c., and ugly as synonimous with ill-tempered, mean, or villanous.—Mass. Spy, Sept. 30: from the Am. Mercury.
1791. A likely Jackass for sale.—Id., July 14.
1793. To be sold, one very likely Jack.—Id., April 25.
1796. A likely, smart Negro Boy for sale at Mrs. Beatie’s in Penn Street.—The Aurora, Phila., Sept. 5.
1823. Notice. Will be sold at the mansion-house of John Vivion deceased, all the personal estate of said deceased, consisting of Seven Negroes…. Two likely young Girls, between the ages of 20 and 25. Two likely Boys, between the ages of 16 and 20. And one likely young Girl of the age of five years, &c., &c..—Missouri Intelligencer, Aug. 5.
1843. For Sale. A likely Negro Woman, 25 years old, having one child, a boy three years old.—Missouri Reporter, Jan. 17.
1843. I have for sale a very likely yellow woman, about 24 years of age…. She has between five and six years to serve. The balance of her time will be sold very low to a person in the city or country; she cannot be taken out of the state.—Id., Jan. 28.
1856. I ’ve lost horses, and I ’ve lost cows—and I ’ve lost likely calves and shoats.—Knick. Mag., xlviii. 426 (Oct.).
