Gradely.—In Webster's and also in Richardson's Dictionaries it is defined, "orderly, decently." It is a word in common use in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and also Cheshire. A farmer will tell his men to do a thing gradely, that is, "properly, well."
G.W.N.
Gradely.—In Carr's Craven Dialect appears "Gradely, decently." It is also used as an adjective, "decent, worthy, respectable."
2. Tolerably well, "How isto?" "Gradely." Fr. Gré, "satisfaction"; à mon gré.
S.N.
Gradely.—Holloway[[3]] derives gradely from the Anglo-Saxon Grade, a step, order, and defines its meaning, "decently." He, however, fixes its paternity in the neighbouring county of York.
In Collier's edition of Tim Bobbin it is spelt greadly, and means "well, right, handsomely."
"I connaw tell the greadly, boh I think its to tell fok by."—p. 42.
"So I seete on restut meh, on drank meh pint o ele; boh as I'r naw greadly sleekt, I cawd for another," &c.—p. 45.
"For if sitch things must be done greadly on os teh aught to bee," &c.—p. 59.
Mr. Halliwell[[4]] defined it, "decently, orderly, moderately," and gives a recent illustration of its use in a letter addressed to Lord John Russell, and distributed in the Manchester Free Trade Procession. It is dated from Bury, and the writer says to his lordship,—
"Dunnot be fyert, mon, but rapt eawt wi awt uts reef, un us Berry foke'll elp yo as ard as we kon. Wayn helps Robdin, un wayn elp yo, if yoan set obeawt yur work gradely."