\King"ly\, a. [Compar. {Kinglier}; superl. {Kingliest}.]
Belonging to, suitable to, or becoming, a king;
characteristic of, resembling, a king; directed or
administered by a king; monarchical; royal; sovereign; regal;
august; noble; grand. ``Kingly magnificence.'' --Sir P.
Sidney. ``A kingly government.'' --Swift. ``The kingly
couch.'' --Shak.
      The kingliest kings are crowned with thorn. --G.
                                               Massey.
      Leave kingly backs to cope with kingly cares. --Cowper.
Syn: Regal; royal; monarchical; imperial; august; sovereign;
     noble; splendid.
Usage: {Kingly}, {Regal}. Kingly is Anglo-Saxon, and refers
       especially to the character of a king; regal is Latin,
       and now relates more to his office. The former is
       chiefly used of dispositions, feelings, and purposes
       which are kinglike; as, kingly sentiments; kingly
       condescension; `` a kingly heart for enterprises.''
       --Sir P. Sidney. The latter is oftener applied to
       external state, pomp, etc.; as, regal state, regal
       title, etc. This distinction is not observed by our
       early writers, but is gaining ground.

\King"ly\, adv.
In a kingly or kinglike manner. --Shak.
      Low bowed the rest; he, kingly, did but nod. --Pore.
Note: Although this citation, one from Paradise Lost, and one
      from Shakespeare's ll4th Sonnet are given by
      lexicographers as examples of adverbial use, it is by
      no means clear that the word is not an adjective in
      each instance.