ENGLISH
REFERENCE

kindly

adj. manner
B1 Intermediate US //ˈkaɪndɫi// UK //kˈaɪndli// kind·ly Archaic Dialect

adj. in a nice, helpful, or caring way. You can also use it at the start of a sentence to ask for something politely.

adj. in a kind, benevolent, or considerate manner. Frequently functions as a polite formulaic marker in requests or instructions.


SIMPLE

She smiled kindly at the nervous child.

CONTEXTUAL

The librarian kindly offered to help me find the rare book I was looking for.

COMPLEX

The elderly gentleman spoke kindly of his former colleagues, emphasizing their dedication and the collaborative spirit they had shared during his long tenure at the firm.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English kyndely, kyndeliche, from Old English cyndelīċ (“natural, kindly”); equivalent to kind + -ly.

Etymology 2

From Middle English kyndely, kyndly, kyndeliche, from Old English ġecyndelīċe, equivalent to kind + -ly.

Usage

When used to make a polite request, it often precedes the verb ('Kindly inform us') or stands at the beginning of the sentence.

Pitfall

He is a kindly manHe is a kind manWhile 'kindly' can be an adjective, it is much more common as an adverb; 'kind' is the standard adjective for describing a person's character.

Idioms1 entry

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