| 释义 |
firstly, adv.|ˈfɜːstlɪ|
[f. as prec. + -ly2.]
1. In the first place, before anything else, first.
Used only in enumerating heads, topics, etc. in discourse; and many writers prefer first, even though closely followed by secondly, thirdly, etc.
The word is not in Johnson's Dict. Smart (1846) s.v. First has the note: ‘Some late authors use Firstly for the sake of its more accordant sound with secondly, thirdly, etc.’
c1532G. Du Wes Introd. Fr. in Palsgr. 928 Fyrstly, premierment. 1562J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 216 Walke thou fyrstly, walke thou lastly: Walke in the walke that standeth fastly. 1668Wilkins Real Char. 393 The Adverb, Firstly, secondly, thirdly. 1723Lady M. W. Montagu Lett. (1893) I. 466 A most delightful [ballad]..which has been laid firstly to Pope, and secondly to me. 1726Ibid. I. 495 Firstly, she was pleased to attack me in very Billingsgate at a masquerade. 1816Scott Old Mort. iv, The consequence thereof..will be, firstly, that I will tweak thy proboscis or nose. 1847De Quincey Sp. Mil. Nun §5 First (for I detest your ridiculous and most pedantic neologism of firstly). 1857Gladstone Oxf. Ess. 1 These objects are twofold: firstly, to promote [etc.].
†2. In the beginning, originally. Obs.—1
1591Sylvester Du Bartas i. v. (1621) 108 To save-vs And salue the wounds th' old Serpent firstly gave-vs.
3. quasi-n. The word firstly used in making subdivisions of a subject.
1698Farquhar Love & Bottle iv. ii, They hate to hear a fellow in church preach methodical nonsense, with a firstly, secondly, and thirdly. 1759Goldsm. Polite Learn., Lit. Decay, The most diminutive son of fame..has his we and his us, his firstlies and his secondlies. 1846Lowell Lett. (1894) I. 113 In the next place (turn back a page or two and you will find that I have laid down a ‘firstly’). |