seely
[
see
-lee]
/ˈsi li/
adjective
,
Archaic.
1.
insignificant or feeble; poor.
2.
happy; auspicious.
3.
good; pious; blessed.
4.
foolish; simple-minded.
Origin
before 1000;
Middle English
sely,
Old English
gesǣlig
happy, equivalent to
sǣl
happiness +
-ig
-y
1
; cognate with
Dutch
zalig,
German
selig;
akin to
Old Norse
sæll,
Gothic
sēls
good,
Old English
sēl
better; see
silly
Related forms
seelily,
adverb