adv. [f. SORDID a. + -LY2.] In a sordid manner; basely, meanly; mercenarily.

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  (a)  c. 1645.  Howell, Lett. (1650), I. 148. This Osman was a man … of excess of courage, but sordidly covetous.

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1682.  Burnet, Rights Princes, iv. 123. Some came sordidly with the Price or Present in their hands to buy the Bishoprick.

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1847.  L. Hunt, Men, Women, & B., I. vii. 127. The most sordidly ridiculous anecdote we remember of a bed-chamber.

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1856.  N. Brit. Rev., XXVI. 237. That Cockburn was sordidly selfish for the promotion of any interests of his.

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  Comb.  1681.  Glanvill, Sadducismus, II. (1726), 471. A Church all over besmear’d with Sordidly-gainful Superstitions.

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  (b)  1656.  Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., II. xiv. (1674), 162. A Poet … sordidly apparelled; with his Cloaths all tattered.

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1660.  R. Blome, Fanatick Hist., i. 5. He made holiness to consist in speaking little, and living homely and sordidly.

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