Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Kindly \Kind"ly\, a. [Compar. {Kindlier}; superl. {Kindliest}.]
[AS. cyndelic. See {Kind}, n. ]
1. According to the kind or nature; natural. [R.]
The kindly fruits of the earth. --Book of Com.
Prayer.
An herd of bulls whom kindly rage doth sting.
--Spenser.
Whatsoever as the Son of God he may do, it is kindly
for Him as the Son of Man to save the sons of men.
--L. Andrews.
2. Humane; congenial; sympathetic; hence, disposed to do good
to; benevolent; gracious; kind; helpful; as, kindly
affections, words, acts, etc.
The shade by which my life was crossed, . . . Has
made me kindly with my kind. --Tennyson.
3. Favorable; mild; gentle; auspicious; beneficent.
In soft silence shed the kindly shower. --Pope.
Should e'er a kindlier time ensue. --Wordsworth.
Note: ``Nothing ethical was connoted in kindly once: it was
simply the adjective of kind. But it is God's ordinance
that kind should be kindly, in our modern sense of the
word as well; and thus the word has attained this
meaning.'' --Trench.
Kindly \Kind"ly\, adv.
1. Naturally; fitly. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
Examine how kindly the Hebrew manners of speech mix
and incorporate with the English language --Addison.
2. In a kind manner; congenially; with good will; with a
disposition to make others happy, or to oblige.
Be kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly
love. --Rom. xii.
10.
Source : WordNet®
kindly
adj 1: showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and
generosity; "was charitable in his opinions of
others"; "kindly criticism"; "a kindly act";
"sympathetic words"; "a large-hearted mentor" [syn: {charitable},
{sympathetic}, {large-hearted}]
2: generously responsive; "good-hearted but inept efforts to
help"; "take a kindly interest"; "a kindly gentleman"; "an
openhearted gift to charity" [syn: {good-hearted}, {kind},
{openhearted}]
3: pleasant and agreeable; "a kindly climate"; "kindly breeze"
adv : in a kind manner or out of kindness; "He spoke kindly to the
boy"; "she kindly overlooked the mistake" [ant: {unkindly}]
[also: {kindliest}, {kindlier}]