adv.
‘wondrously, exceedingly; of marvellous things’ (Modern English ferlily)
PGmc Ancestor
(1) *fēr-; (2) *fera; (3) *fer(e)r-
Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)
ferligr ‘monstrous’
(ONP ferligr (adj.))
Other Scandinavian Reflexes
OE Cognate
(1) fǣrlic ‘sudden, unexpected; sudden, rapid (action); accidental’; (2) cp. firen ‘wicked deed, violence, torment’; (3) feorr 'far, removed'
Phonological and morphological markers
Summary category
DD1c
More characteristic of N and E and alliterative texts than ferly (adj.).
Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus
Gaw 796, 2494; Cl 962; WA *457
WA 457 <ferly> is emended to *ferlyly by both Skeat and TPD.