Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Somewhat dirty, soiled, or tarnished; polluting.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective obsolete Dirty; soiled.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective obsolete dirty; soiled

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

soil +‎ -y

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Examples

  • It widely considered the president's attempt to save a sliver of his otherwise, rather soily international legacy.

    Archive 2008-11-01 Kay Olson 2008

  • It widely considered the president's attempt to save a sliver of his otherwise, rather soily international legacy.

    Lame Duck Kay Olson 2008

  • I get a lot of the soily root, almost too much "soft soil" effect for me to stomach, like a stem that's been sitting in water too long.

    Perfume Review: Lalique Encre Noir Marina Geigert 2007

  • I have always told you the consequence of attending to the minutiae, where art (or imposture, as the ill-mannered would call it) is designed — your linen rumpled and soily, when you wait upon her — easy terms these — just come to town — remember (as formerly) to loll, to throw out your legs, to stroke and grasp down your ruffles, as if of significance enough to be careless.

    Clarissa Harlowe 2006

  • Methinks, Miss, said Sally, you are a little soily, to what we have seen you.

    Clarissa Harlowe 2006

  • Finally, over the soily dishes and a second glass of wine, she looked at him seriously.

    Thin Air Kristine Kathryn Rusch 2000

  • Finally, over the soily dishes and a second glass of wine, she looked at him seriously.

    Thin Air Kristine Kathryn Rusch 2000

  • I have always told you the consequence of attending to the minutiae, where art (or imposture, as the ill-mannered would call it) is designed -- your linen rumpled and soily, when you wait upon her -- easy terms these -- just come to town -- remember (as formerly) to loll, to throw out your legs, to stroke and grasp down your ruffles, as if of significance enough to be careless.

    Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 6 Samuel Richardson 1725

  • Methinks, Miss, said Sally, you are a little soily, to what we have seen you.

    Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 7 Samuel Richardson 1725

  • It widely considered the president's attempt to save a sliver of his otherwise, rather soily international legacy.

    The Gimp Parade 2008

Comments

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  • Methinks, miss, said Sally, you are a little soily, to what we have seen you. Pity such a nice young lady should not have changes of apparel.

    Sally Martin to Clarissa Harlowe, as quoted by Belford, Clarissa by Samuel Richardson

    January 9, 2008