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, 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
   • 1863, Charles Kingsley, The Water-Babies, A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby, page 13:

     This is a hard road for a gradely foot like that. Will ye up, lass, and ride behind me?

4. real, proper

Etymology 2

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

Adverb

gradely (comparative more gradely, superlative most gradely)

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