Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Sely
Se′ly
,Adj.
Silly.
[Obs.]
Chaucer. Wyclif.
Definition 2025
sely
sely
English
Alternative forms
Adjective
sely (comparative selier, superlative seliest)
- Obsolete form of silly.
- (archaic) spiritually favored, blessed, holy, virtuous, righteous
- Sely is þe bareyn & þe vndefouled. — Wycliffite Bible (early version)
- (archaic) worthy, noble, fine, excellent;
- the sely man — the goodman, husband
- (archaic) fortunate, lucky, prosperous
- Now at erste shul ye here So sely an avisyon That..Scipion..Ne mette such a drem. — Chaucer,
- (archaic) happy, pleasant
- (archaic) wealthy (figurative)
- (archaic) innocent, harmless; good
- (archaic) simple, guileless; foolish, gullible; doting; ignorant
- for þis ende þise flatiryng gloosars ... cacchen awey þe goodis of þise celi widowis. — The Lantern of Light (Wycliffite tract), 1425
- (archaic) weak, helpless, defenseless, hapless
- (archaic) wretched, unfortunate, miserable, pitiable
- (archaic) humble, lowly, poor
- (archaic) worthless, trifling, insignificant
References
- Middle English Dictionary