Love"ly (?), a. [Compar. Lovelier (?); superl. Loveliest.] [AS. luflic.]
1.
Having such an appearance as excites, or is fitted to excite, love; beautiful; charming; very pleasing in form, looks, tone, or manner.
"
Lovely to look on."
Piers Plowman.
Not one so fair of face, of speech so lovely.
Robert of Brunne.
If I had such a tire, this face of mine
Were full as lovely as is this of hers.
Shak.
2.
Lovable; amiable; having qualities of any kind which excite, or are fitted to excite, love or friendship.
A most lovely gentlemanlike man.
Shak.
3.
Loving; tender.
[Obs.] "A
lovely kiss."
Shak.
Many a lovely look on them he cast.
Chaucer.
4.
Very pleasing; -- applied loosely to almost anything which is not grand or merely pretty; as, a lovely view; a lovely valley; a lovely melody.
Indeed these fields
Are lovely, lovelier not the Elysian lawns.
Tennyson.
Syn. -- Beautiful; charming; delightful; delectable; enchanting; lovable; amiable.
© Webster 1913.
Love"ly, adv.
In a manner to please, or to excite love.
[Obs. or R.]
Tyndale.
© Webster 1913.