See Also: fairly(medicine)
fairly(dictionary)
fairly(dictionary)

fairly (iou)



fairly adverb. LME.
[from FAIR adjective + -LY2.]
I.
a. Beautifully, handsomely. LME-L19.
Byron To make The skin..appear more fairly fair.
b. Legibly, neatly. rare. L16.
Gently, peaceably, softly. Long only Scot. LME.
Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona They parted very fairly in jest.
Properly, suitably. L16.
b. Courteously, respectfully. rare (Shakes.). L16-E17.
By proper means, legitimately; impartially, justly. M17.
Defoe We came honestly and fairly by the ship. J. Mitchell Miss Culhampton..deserves more praise than I can fairly give her.
II.
Completely, fully; actually. L16.
M. Sinclair Left to himself, the Vicar fairly wallowed in his gloom. L. Garfield The thin child whose sharp face is fairly shining with pleasure.
Clearly, plainly. M17.
Sir W. Scott [I] saw the bonny city lie stretched fairly before me.
Moderately, tolerably; to a considerable degree; acceptably. E19.
E. Bowen You see well from here..or at any rate, fairly. A. T. Ellis She didn't look quite so odd..but she still looked fairly odd. F. Swinnerton They all left happy, and on the whole..fairly sober.
Phrases: fairly and squarely = fair and square s.v. FAIR adverb.