kindly

comparative kindlier · superlative kindliest

1. Having a kind personality; kind, warm-hearted, sympathetic.

   A kindly old man sits on the park bench every afternoon feeding pigeons.

   3 more examples

   The shade by which my life was crost, […] Has made me kindly with my kind

   1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto LXVI”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 91

   Numerous kindly souls delightedly phoned me, “You’ll never guess what I’ve got for the first time in my life—evening grosbeaks.”

   1949 November 18, Of Thee I Sing [pseudonym], “Birds I Know”, in The Boston Daily Globe, volume CLVI, number 141, Boston, Mass.: Globe Newspaper Co., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 36, column 4

   This was the first long train journey I ever took, and the details remain in my memory as sharply as if they had taken place last week. Hopping on the Circle Line to King's Cross, boarding the compartmentalised train, the kindly ticket inspectors, and every station where the Grimsby express stopped (in those days it didn't go through to Cleethorpes).

   2021 July 28, Christian Wolmar, “Forgotten by the railways, but ripe for the exploring”, in RAIL, number 936, page 34

   Synonyms: openhearted

2. datedFavourable, gentle, pleasant, tidy, auspicious, beneficent.

   Lead, kindly Light, amid th' encircling gloom, / ⁠Lead Thou me on

   1833, John Henry Newman, Lead, kindly Light

   2 more examples

   Ye Heav'ns! from high the devvy nectar pour, / And in ſoft ſilence ſhed the kindly ſhovv'r!

   1712 (date written), Alexander Pope, “Messiah. A Sacred Eclogue, in Imitation of Virgil’s Pollio.”, in The Works of Alexander Pope Esq. […], volume I, London: […] J[ohn] and P[aul] Knapton, H. Lintot, J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, and S. Draper, published 1751, →OCLC, page 38

   His Brothers' wisdom or their love— / But calmly from the spot withdrew; / The like endeavours to renew, / should e'er a kindlier time ensue.

   1815, William Wordsworth, “(please specify the page)”, in The White Doe of Rylstone; or The Fate of the Nortons. A Poem, London: […] [F]or Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […], by James Ballantyne and Co., […], →OCLC

3. archaicLawful.
4. obsoleteNatural; inherent to the kind or race.

   the kindly fruits of the earth

   1549 March 7, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, The Booke of the Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacramentes, […], London: […] Edowardi Whitchurche […], →OCLC

   2 more examples

   An heard of Bulles, whom kindly rage doth sting,

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 11

   [W]hatſoever as the Sonne of God, He may doe; it is kindly, for Him, as the Sonne of man, to ſave the ſonnes of men.

   1609 November 14 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar), Lancelot Andrewes, “[Sermons of the Gun-pouder-treason, Preached vpon the Fift of November.] A Sermon Preached before the King’s Maiestie, at Whitehall, on the V. of November. A.D. MDCIX.”, in XCVI. Sermons […], London: […] George Miller, for Richard Badger, published 1629, →OCLC, page 918

comparative kindlier · comparative more kindly · superlative kindliest · superlative most kindly

1. In a kind manner, out of kindness.

   He kindly offered to take us to the station in his car.

   2 more examples

   Because I could not stop for Death, / He kindly stopped for me; / The carriage held but just ourselves / And Immortality.

   a. 1887 (date written), Emily Dickinson, “[Book IV.—Time and Eternity] The Chariot”, in Mabel Loomis Todd and T[homas] W[entworth] Higginson, editors, Poems, First Series, Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, published 1890, →OCLC, page 138

   She was both beautiful and young to their eyes. Her hair was a rich red in color and fell in flowing ringlets over her shoulders. Her dress was pure white but her eyes were blue, and they looked kindly upon the little girl.

   1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, chapter 23, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M[elvin] Hill Co., →OCLC

   Synonyms: thoughtfully

2. In a favourable way.

   Aguero was quick to block Hennessey's attempted clearance and the ball bounced kindly to Dzeko, who had the simplest of tasks to put City ahead.

   2011 October 29, Neil Johnston, “Norwich 3 - 3 Blackburn”, in BBC Sport

3. Used to make a polite request: please.

   Kindly refrain from walking on the grass.

   3 more examples

   May we request that patrons kindly take their seats.

   Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me / Who owns that horse outside the door where my old horse should be?

   a. 1770s, Traditional, “Seven Drunken Nights ”, performed by The Dubliners

   Please kindly bring your hardcopy of the Constitution to every class.

   2024, John L. Badalamenti, Ashley C. Grabowski, “ADVANCED CONSTITUTIONAL INTERPRETATION: ORIGINALISM AND ITS FOES”, in University of Florida, archived from the original on 23 Jun 2025, page 2

   Synonyms: be so kind as to, please

4. USWith kind acceptance; used with take.

   I don't take kindly to threats.

   1 more example

   Aunt Daisy didn't take it kindly when we forgot her anniversary.

5. dialectalKind of, somewhat.
6. archaicReadily.
7. obsoleteNaturally.