[f. WEAK a. + -LY1.]
1. Weak in constitution, not strong or robust, delicate.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades, II. viii. 203. Not to suppresse such a fellowe as this, is to put a sword in a madde mans hand, to kill vnwise and weakelie men.
1582. T. Watson, Centurie of Love, xcii. Litle of stature, and in apparence weakelie.
1678. W. Mountagu, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 329. Anne Coke is brought to bed of a son,… a very weakly one.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. (1900), 248. Neither objected he against my weakly Looks, nor against my Feeble Mind.
1753. Miss Collier, Art Torment., II. iv. (1811), 171. Hermia is far from being of a weakly constitution.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Manch. Strike, ix. 103. The more weakly of the labourers lie down and die.
1843. R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xii. 133. From the weakly habit of the patient,… he thought it advisable to let her have some weak chicken broth and light negus.
1877. Conder, Basis of Faith, v. 225. The swiftest hare may be run down by the dogs, weaklier ones meanwhile lurking in safe covert.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VII. 857. In weakly children the syrup of the phosphate of iron … is of advantage.
absol. 1621. T. Granger, Expos. Eccles. i. 3. 6. The sicke and weakly, thinketh the strong and healthfull happy.
1848. Mrs. Gaskell, Mary Barton, viii. She, the weakly, was left behind, while the strong man was taken.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., Prel. 1. In the civilised state … the weakliest and the silliest … have their chance likewise.
b. of a plant, tree, etc.
1775. J. Tait, Land of Liberty, II. xxxv. 47. She cuts him off like some poor weakly flow’r.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 364. It would be ridiculous to lay the same quantity of wood into a weakly tree as into a tree in full vigour.
1887. Field, 15 Oct., 603/2. A weakly grower [sc. a rose-tree].
2. Characterized by moral weakness.
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer, xxiv. Of no avail are weakly condolences or mild assenting pity.
1900. Month, Aug., 135. A sort of cruel kindness and weakly indulgence.
3. Of a laugh: Feeble, faint, half-hearted.
1883. Miss Broughton, Belinda, III. iii. ‘Are they?’ she says, with a weakly laugh.
