Definition of "kindly"

The shade by which my life was crost, […] Has made me kindly with my kind

1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], canto LXVI, page 91

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).

2021 July 28, Christian Wolmar, “Forgotten by the railways, but ripe for the exploring”, in RAIL, number 936, page 34

Ye Heav'ns! from high the devvy nectar pour, / And in ſoft ſilence ſhed the kindly ſhovv'r!

1712 (date written), Alexander Pope, “Messiah. A Sacred Eclogue, in Imitation of Virgil’s Pollio.”, in The Works of Alexander Pope Esq. […], volume I, London: […] J[ohn] and P[aul] Knapton, H. Lintot, J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, and S. Draper, published 1751, page 38

His Brothers' wisdom or their love— / But calmly from the spot withdrew; / The like endeavours to renew, / should e'er a kindlier time ensue.

1815, William Wordsworth, “(please specify the page)”, in The White Doe of Rylstone; or The Fate of the Nortons. A Poem, London: […] [James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]

Lead, kindly Light, amid th' encircling gloom, / ⁠Lead Thou me on

1833, John Henry Newman, Lead, kindly Light

the kindly fruits of the earth

1549 March 7, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, The Booke of the Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacramentes, […], London: […] Edowardi Whitchurche […]

An heard of Bulles, whom kindly rage doth sting,

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, stanza 11

[W]hatsoever as the Son of God He may do, it is kindly for Him, as the Son of Man, to save the sons of men.

1609 November 15 (Gregorian calendar), Lancelot Andrewes, “A Sermon Preached before the King’s Majesty at Whitehall, on the Fifth of November, A.D. MDCIX”, in J[ohn] P[osthumous] W[ilson], editor, Ninety-six Sermons […], volume IV, Oxford, Oxfordshire: John Henry Parker, published 1841, page 253

Because I could not stop for Death, / He kindly stopped for me; / The carriage held but just ourselves / And Immortality.

a. 1887 (date written), Emily Dickinson, “[Book IV.—Time and Eternity] The Chariot”, in Mabel Loomis Todd and T[homas] W[entworth] Higginson, editors, Poems, First Series, Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, published 1890, page 138

She was both beautiful and young to their eyes. Her hair was a rich red in color and fell in flowing ringlets over her shoulders. Her dress was pure white but her eyes were blue, and they looked kindly upon the little girl.

1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, chapter 23, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill., New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M. Hill Co.

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.

2011 October 29, Neil Johnston, “Norwich 3 - 3 Blackburn”, in BBC Sport‎

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