mightly

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English mightli, myȝtly, from Old English mihtelīċ (“possible, able, capable”), from Proto-West Germanic *mahtilīk, from Proto-Germanic *mahtilīk, *mahtulīk, equivalent to might +‎ -ly. Cognate with Swedish maktlig (“powerful”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: mīt li, IPA^(key): /ˈmaɪt li/

Adjective

mightly (comparative more mightly, superlative most mightly)

1. Mighty; competent; capable; strong; powerful.
   • 1711, Patrick Abercromby, The Martial Atchievements of the Scots Nation:

     King Haco would have ſtay'd, notwithstanding the mightly Power he had to encounter, […]

   • 1770, The Lady's Magazine, page 273:

     […] and the mightly arm of Alcher ſent him like a lion howling among the members of the dead.

   • 1793, William Russell, The History of Ancient Europe:

     Antilochus joined his grief to their tears: he held the mightly hand of Achilles; for deep he groaned from his inmoſt ſoul.

   • 1902, The Capital, volumes 15-17, page 2:

     Month after month law-suits, instigated by the grasping white man against the helpless Indian are decided in favor of the mightly and unscrupulous white.

2. Substantial; weighty; of import.
   • 1828, Welland Canal Company, The Welland Canal Company:

     In touching upon these mightly results, which must attend, or soon follow, the completion of Welland Canal, [...]

   • 1983, Elizabeth K. Helsinger, THE WOMAN QUESTION Social Issues, 1837-1883:

     Mightly indeed must be the Titanic current of that soul which could receive one whole human, full of thoughts, affections, and emotions, into its tide and yet remain uncoloured and unchanged.

3. Able; able to occur; possible.

Etymology 2

From Middle English myghtely, myȝtly, from Old English mihtlīċe, equivalent to might +‎ -ly.

Adverb

mightly (comparative more mightly, superlative most mightly)

1. Mightily.
2. Very.
   • 1904, John Ames Mitchell, The villa Claudia:

     "[...] Must have been mightly well corked." "With every possible care, probably. [...]"

   • 1922, American Hospital Association, Transactions:

     We need the best material possible, and I believe we have some mightly good material at the present time.