bearly

English

Etymology

From bear +‎ -ly. Compare bearlike.

Adjective

bearly (comparative more bearly, superlative most bearly)

1. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of bears; ursine.
2. Misspelling of barely.
   • 1930, Hearst's international combined with Cosmopolitan, volume 89:

     He was going to be a bearly bear. With a bearly mate.

   • 1955, Agnes L. McCarthy, James Kenner Agnew, Prose and poetry for appreciation:

     Past two years old Keg was now, a big and very bearly bear, and with the first tocsin of fall in the air he'd wandered off toward Sugar-loaf, answering the call of his kind.

3. Misspelling of burly.
   • 2010, Clydal Vania, On the Flight to Nowhere:

     All acting like nothing even happened at all. (Then, a half hour later) Boom! BOOOM!! (There's a poundin down at the door) As Jeanie goes ta answer it, as im in the kitchen getting cereal. As another Big bearly Man Comes barging in.

Anagrams

• Barley, Braley, barely, barley, bleary