goodly

comparative goodlier · superlative goodliest

1. datedGood; pleasing in appearance; attractive; comely; graceful; pleasant; desirable.

   O Sin, thou knowest that all thy shame in her Was made a goodly thing.

   1866, Algernon Charles Swinburne, “A Ballad of Death”, in Poems and Ballads, lines 26–27

   3 more examples

   Her goodly thighs, whoſe glory did appear, / Like a triumphal Arch,[…]

   1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

   The diuell can cite Scripture for his purpoſe, / An euill ſoule producing holy witneſſe, / Is like a villaine with a ſmiling cheeke, / A goodly apple rotten at the heart. / O what a goodly outſide falſehood hath.

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 166

   Then the prince left her and betook himself to the palace of the King his father, who rejoiced in his return and met him and welcomed him; and the Prince said to him, "Know that I have left her without the city in such a garden and come to tell thee, that thou mayst make ready the procession of estate and go forth to meet her and show her the royal dignity and troops and guards." Answered the King, "With joy and gladness"; and straightway bade decorate the town with the goodliest adornment.

   1885, Richard F. Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night

2. Quite large; considerable; sufficient; adequate; more than enough.

   a goodly sum of money

   4 more examples

   walking at a goodly pace

   Like any kid who played a game or two in school, I happened early on a golden rule: if I ate a goodly amount, I had better wait a goodly time before starting play—at least half an hour, preferably more.

   2014, Dilip D’souza, Final Test

   I am glad I brought a goodly supply of needlework with me. It's about all there is to do.

   2014, Lael R. Neill, Sand Island Diaries

   After stopping at these stations, my train has become busy. Returning day-trippers make up a goodly number, along with young people heading for a night out in Bristol, which is where I change once again.

   2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 66

comparative goodlier · superlative goodliest

1. obsoleteIn a goodly way; courteously, graciously.

   Goodly she entertaind those noble knights, / And brought them vp into her castle hall […]

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

   1 more example

   Thenne he sente for the thre knyghtes & they came afore hym / and he cryed hem mercy of that he had done to them / and they forgaf hit hym goodely and he dyed anone

   Then he sent for the three knights and they came before him, and he pleaded with them to have mercy for what he had done to them, and they graciously forgave him for it and he died soon after.

   1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xxij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book XVII

2. dialectalobsoleteWell; excellently.

   For love of vertue and of martial praise; To which though nobly ye inclined are, (As goodlie well ye shew'd in late assaies)

   a. 1599, Edmund Spenser, To the Earle of Cumberland

   1 more example

   I know doin' marriage is tough and hard to pull off for a long time, but from what I has been led to believe, you two was doin' it quite goodly. As goodly as a huntin' shootin' fishin' filmin' drinkin' Englishy can do with a gyratin' pumpin' singin' lookin' wearinv Yankee-doodle icon. It was seemin' to be good together.

   2011, Dawn French, Dear Fatty