a. and adv. Also 6 souldiour-, -ior-, 6–7 -ier-, -yer-; 6 soldior-, -iar-, 7 -jere-. [f. SOLDIER sb.]
A. adj. 1. Having the character or bearing of a soldier. (Cf. SOLDIERLY a. 2.)
1542. Udall, Apophthegms (1877), 53. One of the passingers, a grosse carle, and soldiarlike feloe.
a. 1586. Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 46. Which that right Souldier-like Nation thinck the chiefest kindlers of braue courage.
1757. Washington, Writ. (1889), I. 468. You are also to be vastly careful … to make them appear always neat and clean, and soldier-like.
1774. in Burke, Corr. (1844), I. 513. Now every peasant … is erect and soldier-like in his air and gait.
1833. Ritchie, Wand. Loire, 22. A fine, frank, high-spirited, soldier-like, young fellow.
1884. Manch. Exam., 1 Nov., 5/6. They … looked quite soldierlike in their white tunics.
2. Appropriate to, worthy of, becoming or befitting, a soldier. (Cf. SOLDIERLY a. 1.)
1553. Ascham, Disc. Germany, Wks. (1904), 147. His apparell is souldier like, better knowen by hys fearce doynges then by his gay goyng.
1590. Sir J. Smythe, Disc. Weapons, 25. Rather vpon fancie than vpon anie souldiourlyke reasons and experience.
1617. Collins, Def. Bp. Ely, II. ix. 359. To releeue a souldier … is an act of souldierie, because done for consideration of his souldierlike exploits.
1670. Covel, in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl.), 136. Two of our seamen … who made a very soldjere-like retreat.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 136, ¶ 3. He was the Occasion that the Muscovites kept their Fire in so soldier-like a manner.
1779. Mirror, No. 11. 42. Officers of the most soldier-like appearance and address.
1813. Southey, Nelson, vii. A soldier-like and becoming answer.
1837. W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, I. 123. As they rode along, they made their wills in soldierlike style.
1872. Cunynghame, Trav. Caucasus, 7. The dress of both officers and men was sensible and soldierlike.
B. adv. In a manner befitting a soldier.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. xviii. 38. Althowgh he seeme to speake to souldyerlyke, when he sayeth, he will make none end of slaughter.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, III. i. 35. Hauing done the which, to retire souldier-like, and charge againe.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, V. Ded. 406. Among Souldiers I endeavoured to speake Souldier-like.
1705. I. Robins, Hero of the Age, II. vii. How Martially they charge! how Soldier-like they ride!
1706. J. Gardiner, trans. Rapin on Gardens, I. 36. Valiant Halesus … Soldier-like disclos’d his bolder Flame.
1825. Scott, Talism., xxvii. Form yourselves around the ladies soldier-like and firmly.
1881. Swinburne, Mary Stuart, I. i. (1899), 29. Why, this rings right Well said, and soldierlike.
