kindly

kind·ly

Use kindly in a sentence

A kindly doctor.

adjective

The definition of kindly is someone gentle, pleasant or compassionate.
A sweet, gentle and nice old woman is an example of a kindly old woman.

adverb

Kindly is defined as something done in a caring or compassionate manner, or is a word used to request something in an overly-polite manner.
1. When you give someone a reprieve from answering a question and you do so out of compassion, this is an example of when you kindly let them off the hook.
2. If you want someone to be quiet and you ask them in a rude way, this is an example of when you might say "would you kindly shut up please."

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"kindly." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/KINDLY>.

APA Style

kindly. (n.d.). Retrieved December 16th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/KINDLY

kindly

adjective

-·lier, -·li·est

kind; gracious; benign
agreeable; pleasant: a kindly climate
Archaic natural; native; innate

Origin of kindly

Middle English cyndelich from Old English (ge)cyndelic, natural from cynd(e): see kind

adverb

-·lier, -·li·est

in a kind, gracious manner
agreeably; favorably
as a courtesy; please: kindly shut the door
Obs. naturally: now only in take kindly to, a) to be naturally attracted to b) to accept willingly

kindly Idioms

thank kindly

to thank heartily

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Link to this page

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MLA Style

"kindly." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/KINDLY>.

APA Style

kindly. (n.d.). Retrieved December 16th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/KINDLY

kindly

adjective

kind·li·er, kind·li·est

Of a sympathetic, helpful, or benevolent nature: a kindly interest; a gentle, kindly soul. See Synonyms at kind¹.
Agreeable; pleasant: a kindly breeze.
a. Archaic Of or relating to a status derived by legal descent from an ancestor.
b. Obsolete Natural to its kind.

adverb

Out of kindness: She kindly overlooked their mistake.
In a kind manner: He spoke kindly to us.
Pleasantly; agreeably: The sun shone kindly.
In an accommodating manner: Would you kindly fill in your name and address?
Obsolete In a way or course that is natural; fittingly.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"kindly." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/KINDLY>.

APA Style

kindly. (n.d.). Retrieved December 16th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/KINDLY

Adjective

(comparative kindlier, superlative kindliest)

Having a kind personality.
A kindly old man sits on the park bench every afternoon feeding pigeons.
Wordsworth
should e'er a kindlier time ensue
Spenser
an herd of bulls whom kindly rage doth sting
L. Andrews
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.

Adverb

(comparative more kindly, superlative most kindly)

In a kind manner, out of kindness.
He kindly offered to take us to the station in his car.
in a favourable way.
Please; used to make a polite request.
Kindly refrain from walking on the grass.
Kindly move your car out of the front yard.
(US) With kind acceptance; used with take.
I don't take kindly to threats.
Aunt Daisy didn't take it kindly when we forgot her anniversary.

Usage notes

(please): Kindly is used in a slightly more peremptory way than please. It is generally used to introduce a request with which the person addressed is expected to comply, and takes the edge off what would otherwise be a command.
(with kind acceptance): This sense is a negative polarity item; it is usually found in questions and negative statements, as in the above example sentences.

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