a. [ Compar. Kindlier superl. Kindliest. ] [ AS. cyndelic. See Kind, n. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 1. According to the kind or nature; natural. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ] The kindly fruits of the earth. Book of Com. Prayer. [ 1913 Webster ] An herd of bulls whom kindly rage doth sting. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ] Whatsoever as the Son of God he may do, it is kindly for Him as the Son of Man to save the sons of men. L. Andrews. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Humane; congenial; sympathetic; hence, disposed to do good to; benevolent; gracious; kind; helpful; as, kindly affections, words, acts, etc. [ 1913 Webster ] The shade by which my life was crossed, . . . Has made me kindly with my kind. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Favorable; mild; gentle; auspicious; beneficent. [ 1913 Webster ] In soft silence shed the kindly shower. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ] Should e'er a kindlier time ensue. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ “Nothing ethical was connoted in kindly once: it was simply the adjective of kind. But it is God's ordinance that kind should be kindly, in our modern sense of the word as well; and thus the word has attained this meaning.” Trench. [ 1913 Webster ] |