Sely

Quick meaning: Sely is an adjective meaning Obsolete form of silly, especially in its older senses like "innocent", "pitiable, poor", "trifling, insignificant", but also "foolish".

Meaning

Obsolete form of silly, especially in its older senses like "innocent", "pitiable, poor", "trifling, insignificant", but also "foolish".

Example Sentences

... for he, seeing his old and trusty servant so many years, with so extreme A.D. and many torments, broken and dried up, would in no wise heap so many sorrows upon one poor sely wretch, neither would commit him to the flames of fire[…]

... my poor sely maiden Maria; but I should find it hard to write a fourth within this palace. I may not make my letter much longer. Prithee tell me some news of England, if any be; and shouldst thou hear ought of my gracious mistress[…]

But the troubles of this "poor "sely innocent" were not yet over. The King's mother is indignant at so strange a marriage; and one day in his absence, and by her machinations, Constance and her young child are placed on board a ship to take her chance in the wild sea.

Word Forms

• selier
• seliest

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include dotardly, demiss, demissive, dotish, wretch, dotery.

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