lovely

Etymology 1

table From Middle English lovely, luvelich, lufli, from Old English luflīċ, luflīc (“amiable, loving, lovable”), equivalent to love + -ly.

adj

1. Beautiful; charming; very pleasing in form, looks, tone, or manner.
   It's a lovely day and the sun is shining.
   The music box plays a lovely melody.
   The castle garden enchants visitors with its lovely blooms.
   His pink coat was lovely 1915, Herman Cyril McNeile, The Lieutenant and Others
   The woods are lovely, dark and deep … 1923, Robert Frost, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”, in New Hampshire
   Then I look at you / And the world's alright with me / Just one look at you / And I know it's gonna be / A lovely day 1977, Skip Scarborough, Bill Withers (lyrics and music), “Lovely Day”, performed by Bill Withers
2. Very nice, wonderful.
   It would be lovely to have a little more money to spend.
   It is a lovely night, and why should we not prolong our ride a little?" 1891, Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, volume 1, London: James R. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., page 135
3. (obsolete) Inspiring love or friendship; amiable.
4. (obsolete) Loving, filled with love.

noun

1. (informal) An attractive, lovely person, especially a (professional) beauty.
   a calendar depicting young lovelies in bikinis
2. Term of fond address.
   Goodbye, my lovely.
   But where do you go to my lovely / When you're alone in your bed? 1969, Peter Sarstedt (lyrics and music), “Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?”
3. A lovely object.
   In Montréal, the summer months bring in a huge variety of fruits and vegetables and this is the time to preserve them. Preserving can also refer to the storage of these fiber and vitamin rich lovelies. 2011, Theodora Floros, What'S for Lunch?: A Cooking Guide for Parents, page 13
   May Bell ironed the last ruffle and then hung the dress in the wardrobe next to her other lovelies. 2015, Marlys Millhiser, The Mirror

Etymology 2

table From Middle English lovely, luveliche, from Old English luflīċe (“lovingly, amiably, kindly, dearly, with good will or love, willingly”), equivalent to love + -ly.

adv

1. (informal) In a lovely fashion or manner; beautifully.
   She's not everyone's cup of tea, what with the way she speaks her mind and doesn't always do her hair in the morning, but she scrubs up lovely. 2014, Neil Bartlett, chapter 18, in The Disappearance Boy, A&C Black

Etymology 3

table From Middle English lofly, lovely (“praiseworthy; laudatory”), equivalent to lofe + -ly. Cognate with Dutch loffelijk (“laudable, praiseworthy”), German löblich (“commendable, laudable, praiseworthy”), Swedish lovlig (“permissible”). More at lofe, love.

adj

1. (archaic) Worthy of praise.
   And so he is in the eyes of all who live to his praise. To them every attribute of God is lovely. The holiness and purity of his nature is most lovely to them. 1773, Thomas Boston (the Elder.), Alexander Colden, The Whole Works of the late reverend and learned Mr. Thomas Boston, Minister of the Gospel at Etterick
   He is altogether lovely. O, all our praises of him are poor and low things! 1807, Erasmus Middleton, Evangelical biography
   О praise the Lord, for the Lord is gracious : О sing praises unto his Name, for it is lovely. 1823, Church of England, Llyfr gweddi gyffredin
   It is the duty of all believers to join themselves cheerfully in the setting forth the Lord's care over them, and whatsoever may make his lovely Majesty known to the world: for so he requireth the present precept and example, -- sing praises to the Lord. 1834, David Dickson, A Brief Explication of the Psalms - Volume 1, page 39
   My precious Saviour's matchless name ; He's wise and holy, just and true, And altogether lovely too. 1876, John Vaughan, Trinity hymns for the worship of the three-one Jehovah in faith & love