a. [f. CHRIST + -LY1 OE. had cristlíc of Christ, Christian, which would have given christly, but there is no trace of its survival in ME., and the modern word is formed anew after godly, manly, kingly, etc.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or relating to, Christ. rare.
a. 1000. Laws of Ethelbert, vi. 11 (Bosw.). Þæt æȝhwilc cristen man cristlice laʓe rihtlice healde.
1858. Bushnell, Nat. & Supernat. (1862), Pref. Supernatural redemption … and a Christly providence.
2. Christ-like, like the ideal Christ.
1881. Fairbairn, Stud. Life Christ, xii. 240. It is in His last sorrows that Christ seems most Christly.
1884. Chr. Commonw., 24 Jan., 348/1. The up-building of Christly character.
