kindly

Etymology 1

From Middle English kyndely, kyndeliche, from Old English cyndelīċ (“natural, kindly”); equivalent to kind + -ly.

adj

1. Having a kind personality; kind, warmhearted, sympathetic.
   A kindly old man sits on the park bench every afternoon feeding pigeons.
   This was the first long train journey I ever took, and the details remain in my memory as sharply as if they had taken place last week. Hopping on the Circle Line to King's Cross, boarding the compartmentalised train, the kindly ticket inspectors, and every station where the Grimsby express stopped (in those days it didn't go through to Cleethorpes). July 28 2021, Christian Wolmar, “Forgotten by the railways, but ripe for the exploring”, in RAIL, number 936, page 34
2. (dated) Favourable, gentle, pleasant, tidy, auspicious, beneficent.
   Lead, kindly Light, amid th' encircling gloom, / ⁠Lead Thou me on 1833, John Henry Newman, Lead, kindly Light
3. (archaic) Lawful.
4. (obsolete) Natural; inherent to the kind or race.

Etymology 2

From Middle English kyndly, kyndely, kyndeliche, kundeliche, from Old English ġecyndelīċe, equivalent to kind + -ly.

adv

1. In a kind manner, out of kindness.
   He kindly offered to take us to the station in his car.
2. In a favourable way.
   Aguero was quick to block Hennessey's attempted clearance and the ball bounced kindly to Dzeko, who had the simplest of tasks to put City ahead. October 29, 2011, Neil Johnston, “Norwich 3 - 3 Blackburn”, in BBC Sport
3. Used to make a polite request: please.
   Kindly refrain from walking on the grass.
   Kindly move your car out of the front yard.
   Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me / Who owns that horse outside the door where my old horse should be? a. 1770s, Traditional (lyrics and music), “Seven Drunken Nights ”, performed by The Dubliners
4. (US) With kind acceptance; used with take.
   I don't take kindly to threats.
   Aunt Daisy didn't take it kindly when we forgot her anniversary.
5. (dialectal) Kind of, somewhat.
6. (archaic) Readily.
7. (obsolete) Naturally.