ruly

English

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɹuːli/
  • Hyphenation: ru‧ly
  • Rhymes: -uːli

Etymology 1

From Middle English rewly, ruly, rewely, reweliche, from Old English hrēowlīċ (“grievous, pitiful, sad, wretched, cruel”), equivalent to rue +‎ -ly.

Adjective

ruly (comparative rulier or more ruly, superlative ruliest or most ruly)

  1. Pitiable; miserable.

Etymology 2

From Middle English rewly, reoly, reowliche, from Old English hrēowlīċe (“cruelly”), equivalent to rue +‎ -ly.

Adverb

ruly (comparative rulier or more ruly, superlative ruliest or most ruly)

  1. Pitiably; miserably.

Etymology 3

Back-formation from unruly, or perhaps a continuation of Middle English rewly, ruly, reuli (“subject to a religious rule, regular”), equivalent to rule +‎ -ly, rule +‎ -y; or perhaps from Old French rulé, reulé, rieulé (“ruled”), past participle of rieuler (“to rule”). More at rule.

Adjective

ruly (comparative rulier, superlative ruliest)

  1. neat and orderly
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