Conundrum: Lolly, Lolly, Lolly

We all know words that end with -ly are adverbs. Except when they aren’t.

Can you name a noun, verb, adjective, conjunction, and interjection that end in -ly?

(I wasn’t able to think of a pronoun or preposition, but if you can, post that too!)

How about a holiday, an insect, a country, and three characters from Shakespeare that end in -ly?

Can you name two former U.S. presidents with “ly” somewhere in their first names?

Post whatever you have in the comments below, and I’ll try to respond promptly!

UPDATE: Correct responses submitted by Erin (5), Kenneth W. Davis (4), and DeLisa (4). See comments for answers.

9 Responses to “Conundrum: Lolly, Lolly, Lolly”

  1. erin Says:

    I recently discovered your blog, and I love it! I particularly loved your post last week about having kids annotate a song for an audience 400 years from now. I’ve done the other two activities you suggested, but this one never occurred to me, and I can’t wait to try it on my students! (I teach high school.)

    parts of speech: noun-holly, verb-sully, adjective-friendly, no conjunction yet, interjection-golly

    I’m totally drawing a blank on everything else except presidents – Lyndon Johnson.

  2. Bill Says:

    Always great to hear from another Shakespeare Teacher. Welcome to the blog!

    I like that activity too. It helps demystify Shakespeare, and what you get back is always fun to read.

    All of your answers are good. That’s five down and eight to go!

  3. Kenneth W. Davis Says:

    While reading your post, I got this image of President Grant swatting a fly on the Fourth of July, but you may been wanting only official holiday names.

    I was about to send you a conjunction ending in -ly, only I forgot what it was.

  4. Bill Says:

    Nicely done!

    Let’s see… you got the conjunction, the holiday, the insect, and the other President.

    Remaining are the country and three characters from Shakespeare.

  5. DeLisa Says:

    Italy is the country, no?

  6. DeLisa Says:

    Shakespearean characters: Autolycus, Bishop of Ely and Christopher Sly?

  7. Bill Says:

    Italy is correct, yes!

    Autolycus doesn’t end in -ly, but I can give you credit for the Bishop of Ely and Christopher Sly. Great job!

    Okay, I need one more character who ends in -ly.

  8. DeLisa Says:

    Mistress Quickly?

  9. Bill Says:

    You have answered correctly!

    And now the Conundrum is solved completely!

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