adv. Obs. [f. FELON a. + -LY2.] In a ‘felon’ manner, wickedly; fiercely, bitterly, cruelly, severely, also in weaker sense, grievously.

1

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 12285 (Cott.).

        Yur sun urs nu feld wit strijf
And felunsli him broght o lijf?

2

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 1358.

        Who so demyþ felunsly,
And noþer wyþ pyte ne mercy.
He shal no mercy haue
Þ alle wyl sle, and no man saue.
    Ibid., 1441.
  A man y kneughe þere also yn peynys strong,
Þat felunlyche dyde euere wrong.
    Ibid. (c. 1330), Chron. Wace (Rolls), 3028. Þe felonloker þey hem abated.

3

c. 1475.  Rauf Coilȝear, 18. Sa feirslie fra the Firmament, sa fellounlie it fure.

4

1533.  Bellenden, Livy, V. (1822), 473. The Gaulis als war fellony [read fellonly] invadit be pestilence.

5

1581.  Mulcaster, Positions, xxxvii. (1887), 166. Wherefore as countenaunce in the ouerflowing number, which findeth place in a state doth infect extremely, by seeking out vnlawfull and corrosiue maintenaunce: so roming in the vnbestowed offaull, which findes no place in a state, doth festure fellonly, by seeking to shake it, with most rebellious enterprises.

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