workly

English

Alternative forms

• warkly (Scotland)

Etymology

From Middle English *workly, *werklich, from Old English *weorclīċ (“suitable for work”) (attested in unweorclīċ), equivalent to work +‎ -ly. Compare Scots warkly (“diligent, industrious”), West Frisian werklik (“real, actual”), Dutch werkelijk (“real, actual, factual, effective”), German wirklich (“real, actual, true, substantial”), Hunsrik werklich, Swedish verklig (“real, actual, true”).

Adjective

workly (comparative more workly, superlative most workly)

1. (philosophy, art, linguistics) Of, pertaining to, or performing some action or work; performative.

   workly nature

2. (UK dialectal) Diligent; industrious; given to work.

Related terms

• thingly