ruly

English

Pronunciation

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

• Audio (UK)

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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. (obsolete) 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. (obsolete) 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. (rare) Neat and orderly.
   • 2022, Jim Crace, eden, Picador, page 224:

     What is certain is that everything they see is strange: the lifeless neatness of the courtyard, the straightness of the paths, the ruly gang of labourers in their dull uniforms and with their ageless, polished faces.