idly

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English idely, ydelly, idelliche, from Old English īdellīċe, equivalent to idle +‎ -ly.

Alternative forms

• idlely (obsolete)
• idlily (rare)

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• IPA^(key): /ˈaɪd(ə)lɪ/

Adverb

idly (comparative more idly, superlative most idly)

1. Without specific purpose, intent or effort. [from 9th c.]

   I idly played with the paper, not even realizing I was folding it into a paper airplane.

2. In an idle manner. [from 14th c.]

Derived terms

• sit idly by

Translations

without specific purpose, intent or effort

• Hungarian: szórakozottan
• Ingrian: jouten
• Middle English: ydelly

in an idle manner

• Esperanto: senokupe
• Hungarian: tétlenül (hu)
• Middle English: ydelly
• Polish: bezczynnie (pl)

References

• James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Idly”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume V (H–K), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 24, column 2.

Etymology 2

From Tamil இட்லி (iṭli), Kannada ಇಡ್ಲಿ (iḍli).

Noun

idly (plural idlies)

1. Alternative spelling of idli
   • 2010 September 27, KRISHNA GOPAL DUBEY, THE INDIAN CUISINE, PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd., →ISBN, page 246:

     A Tamil breakfast starts with idly (steamed rice cakes) with sambhar (hot, spicy and sour lentils with vegetables) and rasams (broth of lentil, spiced) and upma (cooked course wheat), lunch is generally dosai (thin crepes), vadas (deep fried nuggets of lentils) with sambhar.

Anagrams

• idyl, ylid