King"ly (?), a.
[Compar. Kinglier (?);
superl. Kingliest.] Belonging to,
suitable to, or becoming, a king; characteristic of, or resembling, a
king; directed or administered by a king; monarchical; royal;
sovereign; regal; august; noble; grand. "Kingly
magnificence." Sir P. Sidney. "A kingly government."
Swift. "The kingly couch." Shak.
The kingliest kings are crowned with
thorn.
G. Massey.
Leave kingly backs to cope with kingly
cares.
Cowper.
Syn. -- Regal; royal; monarchical; imperial; august;
sovereign; noble; splendid. -- Kingly, Regal.
Kingly is Anglo-Saxon, and refers especially to the character
of a king; regal is Latin, and now relates more to his office.
The former is chiefly used of dispositions, feelings, and purposes
which are kinglike; as, kingly sentiments;
kingly condescension; " a kingly heart for
enterprises." Sir P. Sidney. The latter is oftener applied to
external state, pomp, etc.; as, regal state, regal
title, etc. This distinction is not observed by our early writers,
but is gaining ground.
King"ly, adv. In a kingly or
kinglike manner. Shak.
Low bowed the rest; he, kingly, did but
nod.
Pore.
&fist; Although this citation, one from Paradise Lost, and one
from Shakespeare's ll4th Sonnet are given by lexicographers as
examples of adverbial use, it is by no means clear that the word is
not an adjective in each instance.
