adv. Also 6–8 sowerly, 6–7 sowr(e)ly(e, 6 sour(e)lie, 7 sourely. [f. SOUR Cf. MDu. suur-, zuurlike, MSw. surliga.]
1. In a sour, peevish or disagreeable manner:
a. With intransitive verbs, esp. to look.
1533. Frith, Judgem. Tracy (1829), 249. Why look you so sourly, good brethren?
1535. Coverdale, Ecclus. xxii. 22. Yf he speake sowerly, feare not.
1598. Barkcley, Felic. Man (1631), 660. Who seemed to grinde his teeth, and to looke sowrely upon him.
1607. Shaks., Cor., V. iii. 13. Though I shew’d sowerly to him.
1675. Brooks, Gold. Key, Wks. 1867, V. 196. This truth looks very sourly and frowningly upon all such as deny the godhead of Christ.
1700. Dryden, Pal. & Arc., II. 303. To this reply’d the stern Athenian Prince, And sow’rly smild.
1726. Pope, Odyss., XX. 183. Two dogs of chase … Behind him sourly stalk’d.
1835. Lytton, Rienzi, V. vii. The Cardinal smiled sourly.
1881. Miss Braddon, Asphodel, III. 279. ‘At eighteen I was not a fool,’ replied Mrs. Ferrers sourly.
b. With transitive verbs.
1548. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. v. 42. Waye not sowrelye nor extremely whiche is more in faulte.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, T ij. I … being sourelie rebuked for fawning on thee, am yet as fruitfull in thy loue.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, IV. iv. It did much displease, That any should so sourely him outface.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, IX. 52. They keep the strict command, And sourly wait in arms the hostile band.
1847. Emerson, Poems, Threnody, Wks. (Bohn), I. 491. O richest fortune sourly crossed! Born for the future, to the future lost!
c. With adjectives.
1847. C. Brontë, Jane Eyre, xviii. Her face grew momently … more sourly expressive of disappointment.
1884. Browning, Ferishtah, Poet. Wks. 1907, XVI. 80. The sourly-Sage, for whom life’s best was death.
2. With great dislike or distaste.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 39 b. All the Constables promises were … swetely spoken, and sowerly performed.
1579. Twyne, Phis. agst. Fortune, II. Ep. Ded. 161. What contention haue children with their bookes and learning, most sowerly sowing that, which they shall reape most sweetlie.
3. With sourness or acidity.
1574. Hyll, Bees, xiii. [One] not breathing sourly or of a stinking breath.
1881. Standard, 29 Oct., 1/2. I’d try their sourness, if I knew Where those gooseberries sourly grew.
