| English Dictionary |
KINDLY (kindlier, kindliest)
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
, kindliest Dictionary entry overview: What does kindly mean?
• KINDLY (adjective)
The adjective KINDLY has 2 senses:
1. showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
2. pleasant and agreeable
Familiarity information: KINDLY used as an adjective is rare.
• KINDLY (adverb)
The adverb KINDLY has 1 sense:
1. in a kind manner or out of kindness
Familiarity information: KINDLY used as an adverb is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
Synonyms:
benevolent; charitable; good-hearted; kindly; large-hearted; openhearted; sympathetic
Context example:
a large-hearted mentor
Similar:
kind (having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior)
Derivation:
kindliness (friendliness evidence by a kindly and helpful disposition)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Pleasant and agreeable
Context example:
kindly breeze
Similar:
benign; benignant (pleasant and beneficial in nature or influence)
Sense 1
Meaning:
In a kind manner or out of kindness
Context example:
she kindly overlooked the mistake
Antonym:
unkindly (in an unkind manner or with unkindness)
Pertainym:
kind (having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior)
Context examples
The wonderful patience of the trail which comes to men who toil hard and suffer sore, and remain sweet of speech and kindly, did not come to these two men and the woman.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
She did not finish her speech, for Belle shook her head at her and broke in, saying kindly... Not at all.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
“You knew I had no mother,” she replied with a smile, “and felt kindly towards me.”
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Her dress was pure white but her eyes were blue, and they looked kindly upon the little girl.
(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)
The old woman spoke so kindly, that the girl summoned up courage and agreed to enter into her service.
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
Mr. Hawkins sent me on the letter, and wrote himself, oh, so kindly.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
Elizabeth read my anguish in my countenance, and kindly taking my hand, said, My dearest friend, you must calm yourself.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
No more road in mine, thank you kindly.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
My fingers had fastened on her hand which lay outside the sheet: had she pressed mine kindly, I should at that moment have experienced true pleasure.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
Would you kindly look at this?
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
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