gostly

Middle English

Etymology 1

    From Old English gāstlīċ (spiritual, holy, clerical (not lay), ghastly, ghostly, spectral). Equivalent to gost +‎ -ly (adjectival suffix).

    Alternative forms

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ˈɡɔːstliː/, /-lit͡ʃ/
    • (Northern) IPA(key): /ˈɡaːstliː/

    Adjective

    gostly

    1. Relating to or belonging to the spirit; spiritual.
    2. Supernatural, incorporeal; consisting of spirit.
    3. Religious, ecclesiastical; non-secular.
    4. Having intense religious faith; devout, pious.
    5. Ghostly, ghastly; related to or like ghosts.
    Descendants
    • English: ghostly; ghastly (by conflation)
    • Scots: gaistly, ghaistly
    References

    Etymology 2

      From Old English gāstlīċe, gǣstlīċe. Equivalent to gost +‎ -ly (adverbial suffix).

      Alternative forms

      Pronunciation

      • IPA(key): /ˈɡɔːstliː/, /-lit͡ʃ(ə)/
      • (Northern) IPA(key): /ˈɡaːstliː/

      Adverb

      gostly

      1. In a spiritual way; spiritually.
      2. In a devoted way; piously.
      3. In or as a spirit; in incorporeal form.
      Descendants
      References