Lovely, a. [Compar. Lovelier; superl. Loveliest.]
Etymology: [AS. luflic.]
1. Having such an appearance as excites, or is fitted to excite, love; beautiful; charming; very pleasing in form, looks, tone, or manner. "Lovely to look on." Piers Plowman. Not one so fair of face, of speech so lovely. Robert of Brunne. If I had such a tire, this face of mine Were full as lovely as is this of hers. Shak.
2. Lovable; amiable; having qualities of any kind which excite, or are fitted to excite, love or friendship. A most lovely gentlemanlike man. Shak.
3. Loving; tender. [Obs.] "A lovely kiss." Shak. Many a lovely look on them he cast. Chaucer.
4. Very pleasing; -- applied loosely to almost anything which is not grand or merely pretty; as, a lovely view; a lovely valley; a lovely melody. Indeed these fields Are lovely, lovelier not the Elysian lawns. Tennyson.
1 more senses
Syn. -- Beautiful; charming; delightful; delectable; enchanting; lovable; amiable.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Lovely, adv.
In a manner to please, or to excite love. [Obs. or R.] Tyndale.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for lovely; he lists it under amiable, beautiful.
Where he writes about it:
Amiable combines the senses of lovable or lovely and loving; the amiable character has ready affection and kindliness for others, with the qualities that are adapted to win their love; amiable is a higher and stronger word than good-natured or agreeable. — from amiable
Lovely is often applied to externals; as, a lovely face. — from amiable
A sweet disposition is very sure to be amiable, the loving heart bringing out all that is lovable and lovely in character. — from amiable