gradely

English

Alternative forms
  • grathely, graadly, greadly, greadley, graidly, graidely, graideley
  • graithly, grathly, graithlie, graithlye, grathlie, graythlie (Scotland)
  • graithly, grathly, graythely (obsolete)

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈɡɹeɪdlɪ/

Etymology 1

From earlier graithly, from Middle English graythely, greiþli, greiðlic, from Old Norse greiðligr,[1] equivalent to graith +‎ -ly.

Adjective

gradely (comparative gradelier, superlative gradeliest)

  1. (Northern England, of a person) decent, well-meaning, respectable
    • 1956, Gracie Fields, Lancashire Life:
      My work has meant travelling the world over, to great places and small, but home to me always means Rochdale and its gradely folk.
  2. excellent
    • 1881, Elizabeth Sophia Watson, Crabtree Fold: A Tale of the Lancashire Moors, page 53:
      Yo're well off to ha' Betsy Ogden comin' in; she's a gradely worker.
  3. handsome, fair
  4. real, proper

Etymology 2

From earlier graithly, from Middle English graythely, graydly, graitheli, graithlich, grathliche, graythelyche, from Old Norse greiðliga,[2] equivalent to graith +‎ -ly.

Adverb

gradely (comparative more gradely, superlative most gradely)

  1. properly, really
  2. (UK, regional, obsolete) readily, speedily

References
  1. “gradely”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
  2. “gradely”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
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