poureliche

Middle English

Alternative forms

• povreliche, povrely

Adverb

poureliche

1. poorly
   • late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Clerk's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 211-214:

     But for to speke of vertuous beautee,
     Than was she oon the faireste under sonne;
     For povreliche y-fostred up was she,
     No likerous lust was thurgh hir herte y-ronne; [...]

     But to speak of virtuous beauty,
     Then was she the fairest of all under sun;
     Because she was raised in poverty,
     No sensual desire had run through her heart; [...]

   • late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1408-1413:

     And right anon he chaunged his array,
     And cladde him as a povre laborer,
     And al allone, save oonly a squyer,
     That knew his privetee and al his cas,
     Which was disgysed povrely, as he was,
     To Athenes is he goon the nexte way.

     And right away he changed his clothing,
     And clad himself as a poor laborer,
     And all alone, except only a squire,
     Who knew his private affairs and all his situation,
     Who was disguised as poorly as he was,
     To Athens he is gone the nearest way.

References

• “poureliche”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.