cleanly

From Middle English clenly, clenliche, clanly, from Old English clǣnlīċ (“cleanly, pure, excellent”), equivalent to clean +‎ -ly.

• clenly (obsolete)

• IPA^(key): /ˈklɛnli/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

  • Rhymes: -ɛnli

cleanly (comparative cleanlier or more cleanly, superlative cleanliest or most cleanly)

1. Being habitually clean, practising good hygiene.
   • 1653, Iz[aak] Wa[lton], chapter II, in The Compleat Angler or The Contemplative Man’s Recreation. Being a Discourse of Fish and Fishing, […], London: […] T. Maxey for Rich[ard] Marriot, […], →OCLC; reprinted as The Compleat Angler (Homo Ludens; 6), Nieuwkoop, South Holland, Netherlands: Miland Publishers, 1969, →ISBN, page 49:

     I'l now lead you to an honeſt Ale-houſe, where we ſhall find a cleanly room, Lavender in the windowes, and twenty Ballads ſtuck about the wall; […]

   • 1764 December 19 (indicated as 1765), Oliver Goldsmith, The Traveller, or A Prospect of Society. A Poem. […], London: […] J[ohn] Newbery, […], →OCLC, page 11:

     [H]is lov'd partner boaſtful of her hoard,
     Diſplays the cleanly platter on the board; […]

   • 1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, “The most Wonderful Things have Happened”, in The Lost World […], London, New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC, page 165:

     There were some flat slabs of rock in the centre, with an excellent well close by, and there we sat in cleanly comfort while we made our first plans for the invasion of this new country.

2. (obsolete) Cleansing; fitted to remove moisture; dirt, etc.
   • 1718, Mat[thew] Prior, “Alma: Or, The Progress of the Mind”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], and John Barber […], →OCLC, canto II, page 354:

     In our Fantaſtic Climes the Fair / With cleanly Powder dry their Hair: […]

3. (obsolete) Adroit; dexterous; artful.
   • 1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Prosopopoia. Or Mother Hubberds Tale.”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC, signature P2, verso:

     Yet at the laſt (ſo well he him applyde,) / Through his fine handling, and cleanly play, / He all thoſe royall ſignes had ſtolne away, / And with the Foxes helpe them borne aſide, / Into a ſecret corner vneſpide.

• uncleanly
• dirty

From Middle English clenly, clenli, clenliche, from Old English clǣnlīċe (“cleanly”), equivalent to clean +‎ -ly.

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈkliːnli/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

  • Rhymes: -iːnli

cleanly (comparative cleanlier or more cleanly, superlative cleanliest or most cleanly)

1. In a clean way, neatly.
   • 1849 May – 1850 November, Charles Dickens, “I Make another Beginning”, in The Personal History of David Copperfield, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 157:

     He was very cleanly dressed, in a blue coat, striped waistcoat, and nankeen trowsers; […]

2. Not causing a mess or unnecessary damage.

   We agreed to break off our relationship cleanly.

   Fortunately, the bullet passed cleanly through your shoulder.

3. Innocently; without stain.
   • c. 1597 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The History of Henrie the Fourth; […], quarto edition, London: […] P[eter] S[hort] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1598, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv], signature [K4], recto:

     If I do growe great, ile growe leſſe, for ile purge and leaue Sacke, and liue cleanlie as a noble man ſhould do.

4. Adroitly; dexterously
   • c. 1616, Thomas Middleton, The Witch:

     The boy will do well certain : give him grace To have a quick hand and convey things cleanly

• lancely