[OE. ʓéarlic = OFris. ier(a)lik, MLG. jârlik, jaerlije, OHG. jârlich (MHG. jaerlich, G. jährlich), ON. árligr: see YEAR and -LY1.]
† 1. Of the year; belonging or relating to a year. Obs. rare.
c. 1000. Hexameron of St. Basil (1849), 12. Næron nane tida on ðam ʓearlican ʓetæle ær ðam ðe se ælmihtiʓa scyppend ʓesceop ða tunglan to ʓearlicum tidum.
1557. Order of Hospitalls, F v b. Yow shall kepe an Yerely-Booke for Collections, Legacies and Benevolences.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, To Rdr. The naturall Philosophers may obserue … the varietie of heauenly influence, of the yearely seasons.
c. 1811. in Rep. Comm. Publ. Rec. Irel. (1815), 104. The Recognizances … are regularly arranged in yearly bundles according to their Receipts.
2. Done, made, observed, happening, coming, produced, etc., every year or once a year; annual.
c. 725. Corpus Gloss. (Hessels), A 618. Annua, ʓerlice.
925–36. Laws of Æthelstan, Prol. Ʒe ðæs libbendes yrfes, ʓe ðæs ʓearlices westmes.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. xi. 216. The seid solempne ȝeerli goyng bi ij. tymes in ech ȝeer.
1531. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), VI. 24. I will that ther be a yerlie obit done.
1561. Winȝet, Bk. Questions, § 63, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 115. The ȝierly celebratioun of the Pasche day.
1595. Shaks., John, III. i. 81. The yearely course that brings this day about.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, V. 77. And yearly Games may spread the Gods renown.
a. 1721. Prior, New Year’s Gift to Phyllis, i. The circling months begin this day, To run their yearly ring.
1857. H. Miller, Test. Rocks, xii. 470. In some of the fossil-trees these yearly rings are of great breadth.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq., II. vii. 85. An officer, who provided them with daily food and with a yearly change of raiment.
b. esp. of payments, charges, revenue.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 2406. Þai … ȝerely tribute him to geue ȝapely him hetis.
1452. Lincoln Dioc. Doc. (1914), 61. To whome I haue granted any fees, annuetes, yerely rentis, or fermes.
1524. Act 14 & 15 Hen. VIII., c. 3 § 8. Landes and tenementes to the yerely value of xx. s.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., IV. i. 315. Fiue hundred poore I haue in yeerely pay.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 318. Having received an yearely pension of Lewis the eleaventh.
1712. Hughes, Spect., No. 316, ¶ 6. The yearly Rent which gives the Value to the Estate.
1855. Kingsley, Heroes, Theseus, II. 237. O people and King of Athens, where is your yearly tribute?
c. Engaged or hired by the year.
[1611. Bible, Lev. xxv. 53. As a yeerely hired seruant shall he be with him.]
1891. Daily News, 28 March, 2/6. Wages had gone up 5l. a year for yearly men.
