foxly

English

Etymology

From Middle English *foxlich (compare Middle English foxliche (adverb)) equivalent to fox +‎ -ly.

Adjective

foxly (comparative more foxly, superlative most foxly)

1. (archaic) Sly like a fox; foxlike.
   • 1917, Henry Handel Richardson, Australia Felix:

     His foxly object was attained. The attention of the hunters was diverted.

   • 1968, Hugh Latimer, Allan Griffith Chester, Selected Sermons of Hugh Latimer:

     But the children of this world have worldly policy, foxly craft, lionlike cruelty, power to do hurt more than either aspis or basiliscus, engendering and doing all things fraudulently, […]

   • 2008, Joseph R. Conlin, The American Past: A Survey of American History:

     Howe and the army settled into New York where the population was friendly, including a huge contingent of prostitutes whom both Americans and British described as a terrifying lot: “bitch foxly jades, hogs, strums.”

References

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

Anagrams

• oxfly