wolfly
English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From wolf + -ly. Cognate with Middle Dutch wolflijc (“wolflike”), Middle High German wolflich (“wolflike”).
Adjective
[edit]wolfly (comparative wolflier or more wolfly, superlative wolfliest or most wolfly)
- Pertaining to wolves; lupine.
- 2005, Brooks Horsley, Through a Glass Darkly, page 134:
- It was too long a shot for real hope of hitting a wolf, but Gwen's luck was in and she grazed one wolf and frightened the bejesus out of both wolves. The wolfly focus shifted to putting as much real estate as possible between themselves and mutton dinners.
- 2011, Charles Gordon, Still at the Cottage:
- The modern cottager studies the animals too, through such vehicles as the nighttime wolf howl, in which guides take unsuspecting cottagers into the night, then lead them in howls that might elicit a wolfly response.
- 2017, Dolph C. Volker, DIRE ENCOUNTERS: The Wolf I Knew, page 56:
- "Look at you! You obviously got caught by these man-beasts and now used for some un-wolfly purpose."
- 2020, Sam George, Bill Hughes, In the company of wolves:
- It might be tempting to read the observations, descriptions and analyses of wolf social ecology as accounts of wolves living truly wolfly lives when and where they are free of, or uninterrupted by, intruding humans.
- 2021, Andrea Penrose, Murder at Queen's Landing:
- "You're an embarrassment to your wolfly ancestors," muttered the earl, though the corners of his mouth twitched up-ward.
- Like or characteristic of a wolf; wolflike.
- 2005, David Eddings, The Malloreon Volume Two, page 380:
- Her golden eyes were intent, and her tongue lolled out in a wolfly smile.
- 2019, Tanya Chris, Omega Released:
- Back out in the reception room, Benjy found JT leaning against the counter with a wolfly air, both relaxed and alert.
- 2001, Ian Whybrow, Tony Ross, Little Wolf, Forest Detective:
- Har bar, I know that is just your wolfly way to say well done, ... Also you mean to say congrat-arroooshuns for solving lots of tricky cases all at wunce by trying hard, plus normal wolfly sense and brute instinct.