ruly

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English

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈɹuːli/
  • Hyphenation: ru‧ly
  • Rhymes: -uːli
  • Audio (UK):(file)

Etymology 1

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From Middle English rewly, ruly, rewely, reweliche, from Old English hrēowlīċ (grievous, pitiful, sad, wretched, cruel), equivalent to rue +‎ -ly.

Adjective

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ruly (comparative rulier or more ruly, superlative ruliest or most ruly)

  1. (obsolete) Pitiable; miserable.

Etymology 2

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From Middle English rewly, reoly, reowliche, from Old English hrēowlīċe (cruelly), equivalent to rue +‎ -ly.

Adverb

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ruly (comparative rulier or more ruly, superlative ruliest or most ruly)

  1. (obsolete) Pitiably; miserably.

Etymology 3

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Back-formation from unruly, or perhaps a continuation of Middle English rewly, ruly, reuli (subject to a religious rule, regular), equivalent to rule +‎ -ly, rule +‎ -y; or perhaps from Old French rulé, reulé, rieulé (ruled), past participle of rieuler (to rule). More at rule.

Adjective

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ruly (comparative rulier, superlative ruliest)

  1. (rare) Neat and orderly.
    • 2022, Jim Crace, eden, Picador, page 224:
      What is certain is that everything they see is strange: the lifeless neatness of the courtyard, the straightness of the paths, the ruly gang of labourers in their dull uniforms and with their ageless, polished faces.

Czech

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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ruly f

  1. inflection of rula:
    1. genitive singular
    2. nominative/accusative/vocative plural