† Craftly adv. World English Historical Dictionary

† Craftly adv. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1893, rev. 2025. † Craftly adv.

Obs. [f. CRAFT sb. + -LY2: cf. OHG. kraftlîcho, OS. craftlîco. See also craftely under CRAFTILY.] Craftily, skilfully, cunningly.

1

c. 1050.  Suppl. Ælfric’s Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 178/40. Affabre, cræftlice uel smicere.

2

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2549. Bute if we craf[t]like hem for-don.

3

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 3828. William … cumfort hem craftli with his kinde speche.

4

1432–50.  trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 225. Þe ymage of Venus al naked … was so craftliche made þat [etc.].

5

1569.  Sanford, Agrippa, xcvii. 169. Redier craftly to deceiue then plainely to trie out the truthe.

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