What is "kindliest"

Kindly \Kind"ly\ (k[imac]nd"l[y^]), a. [Compar. Kindlier (k[imac]nd"l[i^]*[~e]r); superl. Kindliest.] [AS. cyndelic. See Kind, n. ]

1. According to the kind or nature; natural. [R.]

   The kindly fruits of the earth.
   --Book of Com. Prayer.

   An herd of bulls whom kindly rage doth sting.
   --Spenser.

   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.
   --L. Andrews.

2. Humane; congenial; sympathetic; hence, disposed to do good to; benevolent; gracious; kind; helpful; as, kindly affections, words, acts, etc.

   The shade by which my life was crossed, . . . Has made me kindly with my kind.
   --Tennyson.

3. Favorable; mild; gentle; auspicious; beneficent.

   In soft silence shed the kindly shower.
   --Pope.

   Should e'er a kindlier time ensue.
   --Wordsworth.

   Note: ``Nothing ethical was connoted in kindly once: it was simply the adjective of kind. But it is God's ordinance that kind should be kindly, in our modern sense of the word as well; and thus the word has attained this meaning.''
   --Trench.

a. (en-superlativekindly)

1. adj. showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity; "was charitable in his opinions of others"; "kindly criticism"; "a kindly act"; "sympathetic words"; "a large-hearted mentor" [syn: charitable, sympathetic, large-hearted]

2. generously responsive; "good-hearted but inept efforts to help"; "take a kindly interest"; "a kindly gentleman"; "an openhearted gift to charity" [syn: good-hearted, kind, openhearted]

3. pleasant and agreeable; "a kindly climate"; "kindly breeze"

4. adv. in a kind manner or out of kindness; "He spoke kindly to the boy"; "she kindly overlooked the mistake" [ant: unkindly]

5. [also: kindliest, kindlier]

See kindly