headly
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English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From Middle English hedly, havedlich, from Old English hēafodlīċ (“at the top, principal, capital, deadly”), equivalent to head + -ly.
Adjective
[edit]headly (comparative more headly, superlative most headly)
- (archaic) Chief; principal; capital; (of sins) deadly.
- 1623, Shakespeare, King Henry V.:
- O'er blows the filthy and contagious clouds / Of headly murther, spoil, and villainy.
- (archaic) Heady; violent; impetuous.