gastly

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English gastly, equivalent to gast (“to frighten”) +‎ -ly (adjective-forming suffix).^[1]

Adjective

gastly (comparative more gastly, superlative most gastly)

Obsolete spelling of ghastly.
- 1574, A. G. [attributed to Anthony Gilby or Arthur Golding], transl., “The Testament of Simeon Made to His Children at Hys Death Concernyng Enuy”, in The Testaments of the Twelue Patriarches, the Sonnes of Iacob: […], London: […] Iohn Daye, […], →OCLC, folio [14], verso:
  [E]uen in ſléepe ſome ſpice of imagined malice gnaweth him, combering his ſoule with ſpirites of miſchiefe, making his bodie gaſtly and his minde afrighted with trouble, and appearing vnto men as it were with a pernicious ſpirite, and pouring out of poiſõ.
- 1576, William Lambard, “Chetham”, in A Perambulation of Kent: Conteining the Description, Hystorie, and Customes of That Shyre. […], London: […] [Henry Middleton] for Ralphe Newberie, […], →OCLC, pages 286–287:
  She tolde him, that there was lately buryed (néere to the place where ſhe was honoured) a ſinfull perſon, whiche ſo offended her eye with his gaſtly grinning, that vnles he were remoued, ſhe could not, but (to the great griefe of good people) withdꝛawe her ſelfe from that place, and ceaſſe her wonted miraculous woꝛking amongſt them.
- c. 1599 (date written), I. M. [i.e., John Marston], The History of Antonio and Mellida. The First Part. […], London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Mathewe Lownes, and Thomas Fisher, […], published 1602, →OCLC, Act III, signature E2, recto:
  Gaſtly amazement, with vpſtarted haire, / Shall hurry on before, and vſher vs, / Whil’ſt trumpets clamour, with a ſound of death.
- 1634, T[homas] H[erbert], “Of China”, in A Relation of Some Yeares Trauaile, Begunne Anno 1626. into Afrique and the Greater Asia, […], London: […] William Stansby, and Jacob Bloome, →OCLC, page 207:
  In this their Extaſie, the lookers on inceſſantly warble out ſoft trembling Muſique, till ſuch time as the boyes ariſe, who anon (as from a diuine trance) raiſe themſelues and lie downe againe ſome what more leaſurely, then ſuddenly in great haſt and feare with gaſtly amazed lookes, vibrate a readie ſword againſt the beholders.
- 1711, James Greenwood, “The Second and Third Praxis. The Apostles Creed.”, in An Essay towards a Practical English Grammar. Describing the Genius and Nature of the English Tongue; […] […], London: […] R[obert] Tookey, and are sold by Samuel Keeble, John Lawrence, Jonah Bowyer, R[ebecca] and I[ames] Bonwick, and Rob[obert] Halsey, →OCLC, page 276:
  From the Subſtantive Ghoſt by the Addition of ly, comes the Word Ghoſtly, that is, Spiritual, p. 172. l. 9. which is now alſo more frequently uſed. Hence alſo comes gaſtly, terrible, frightfull, like a Ghoſt, or like a dead Corps; for a gaſtly Look is chiefly ſaid of the Countenance of a dying Perſon.

Etymology 2

From the adjective, equivalent to gast (“to frighten”) +‎ -ly (adverb-forming suffix).^[2]

Adverb

gastly (comparative more gastly, superlative most gastly)

Obsolete spelling of ghastly.
- 1589, [Richard Robinson], A Golden Mirrour. Conteining Certaine Pithie and Figuratiue Visions Prognosticating Good Fortune to England, and All True English Subiectes, with an Ouerthrowe to the Enemies. […], London: […] Roger Ward for Iohn Proctor, […], →OCLC, signature B.2., verso:
  And with theſe woꝛdes, the voyce was ceaſt and gone, / And at the gaſe I gaſtly quaking ſtood: […]
- 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 134, column 2:
  But ſee, his face is blacke, and full of blood: / His eye-balles further out, than when he liued, / Staring full gaſtly, like a ſtrangled man: […]
- 1599, A Warning for Faire Women. Containing, the Most Tragicall and Lamentable Murther of Master George Sanders of London Marchant, nigh Shooters Hill. […], London: […] Valentine Sims for William Aspley, →OCLC, signature [F4], recto:
  Why ſtop you on the ſudden? why go you not? What makes you looke ſo gaſtly towards the houſe?
  Variously ascribed to Thomas Kyd, Thomas Heywood, and others.
- a. 1629, Fulke Grevil, chapter XII, in The Life of the Renowned S^r Philip Sidney. […], London: […] Henry Seile […], published 1651 (indicated as 1652), →OCLC, page 145:
  [A]s he was putting the bottle to his mouth, he ſaw a poor Souldier carryed along, who had eaten his laſt at the ſame Feaſt, gaſtly caſting up his eyes at the bottle.
- 1662, Henry More, “An Antidote against Atheism: or, An Appeal to the Natural Faculties of the Mind of Man, whether there Be Not a God. [...] The Third Edition […]. Chapter IX.”, in A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr Henry More […], London: […] James Flesher for William Morden, […], →OCLC, book III, page 118:
  [H]is Noſe was entire and full, not ſharp, as in thoſe that are gaſtly ſick or quite dead: and yet Cuntius his body had lien in the grave from Feb. 8. to July 20. which is almoſt half a year.

References

^ “ghastly, adj.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
^ “ghastly, adv.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

[1] “ghastly, adj.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

[2] “ghastly, adv.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

[1]

[2]