Lifely

adj, adv

adj, adv ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Of, pertaining to, or endued with life; living; vital; essential.

    "But since there is no other universal language of grammar, a middle course can be taken, and the English grammar may be taught according to a more lifely classification, and in a more lifely language; […]"

Adverb
  1. 1
    In a lifelike manner. archaic

    "Unslain fro thee, which ay us lifely herteth, With books of his ornat enditing That is to all this land enlumining."

Synonyms

All synonyms
vital

Example

More examples

"But since there is no other universal language of grammar, a middle course can be taken, and the English grammar may be taught according to a more lifely classification, and in a more lifely language; […]"

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English lifly, lyfly, lyflich, from Old English līflīċ (“living; vital”), equivalent to life + -ly. Doublet of lively and lifelike.

Etymology 2

Compare English lively.

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.