idly
English edit
Etymology 1 edit
From Middle English idely, ydelly, idelliche, from Old English īdellīċe, equivalent to idle + -ly.
Alternative forms edit
Pronunciation edit
Adverb edit
idly (comparative more idly, superlative most idly)
- Without specific purpose, intent or effort. [from 9th c.]
- I idly played with the paper, not even realizing I was folding it into a paper airplane.
- In an idle manner. [from 14th c.]
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
without specific purpose, intent or effort
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in an idle manner
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References edit
- James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928), “Idly”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volumes V (H–K), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 24, column 2.
Etymology 2 edit
From Tamil இட்லி (iṭli), Kannada ಇಡ್ಲಿ (iḍli).
Noun edit
idly (plural idlies)
- Alternative spelling of idli
- 2010 September 27, KRISHNA GOPAL DUBEY, THE INDIAN CUISINE, PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd., →ISBN, page 246:
- A Tamil breakfast starts with idly (steamed rice cakes) with sambhar (hot, spicy and sour lentils with vegetables) and rasams (broth of lentil, spiced) and upma (cooked course wheat), lunch is generally dosai (thin crepes), vadas (deep fried nuggets of lentils) with sambhar.