different between kindly vs helpful

English

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?ka?ndli/

Etymology 1

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

Adjective

kindly (comparative kindlier, superlative kindliest)

1. Having a kind personality; kind, warmhearted, sympathetic.

   • The shade by which my life was crossed […] has made me kindly with my kind.

2. (dated) Favourable, gentle, pleasant, tidy, auspicious, beneficent.
3. (archaic) Lawful.
4. (obsolete) Natural; inherent to the kind or race.

   • the kindly fruits of the earth

   • November 5, 1609, Lancelot Andrewes, A Sermon Preached before the King's Majesty at Whitehall

     Whatsoever as the Son of God he may do, it is kindly for Him as the Son of Man to save the sons of men.

Derived terms

• kindlily
• kindliness
• kindly tenant
• unkindly

Translations

Etymology 2

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

Adverb

kindly (comparative more kindly, superlative most kindly)

1. In a kind manner, out of kindness.
2. In a favourable way.
3. Used to make a polite request: please.
4. (US) With kind acceptance; used with take.

5. (dialectal) Kind of, somewhat.
6. (archaic) Readily.
7. (obsolete) Naturally.

Usage notes

• (please): Kindly is used in a slightly more peremptory way than please. It is generally used to introduce a request with which the person addressed is expected to comply, and takes the edge off what would otherwise be a command.
• (with kind acceptance): This sense is a negative polarity item; it is usually found in questions and negative statements, as in the above example sentences.

Synonyms

• (in a kind manner): thoughtfully
• (used to make polite requests): be so kind as to, please

Derived terms

• take kindly

Translations

Further reading

• “kindly”, in Merriam–Webster Online Dictionary, (Please provide a date or year).

English

Alternative forms

• helpfull (archaic)

Etymology

help +? -ful

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?h?lp.f?l/, /?h?lp.f?l/

Adjective

helpful (comparative more helpful, superlative most helpful)

1. Furnishing help; giving aid; useful.

   Antonym: unhelpful

Derived terms

• helpfully
• helpfulness
• unhelpful

Translations