fairlyadv.
/ˈfɛːli/, U.S. /ˈfɛrli/ I. In a fair manner, so as to be fair.† 5. In a proper or suitable manner; appropriately, fittingly; (also) proportionately. Obsolete.
1.
a. So as to present an attractive appearance; with grandeur; beautifully, finely, splendidly. Formerly also in a negative sense: †in a deceptively attractive manner; speciously (obsolete). Now archaic and rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adverb]
fairlyOE
comelyOE
hendly?c1225
goodlyc1275
seemlya1325
sweet1338
quaintly1340
properlyc1390
well?a1400
comelilyc1400
seemlilyc1400
jollilyc1426
formally1548
handsomely1560
sightly1592
handsome1600
winsomely17..
nicely1714
in one's best (also worst) looks1816
presentably1848
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adverb]
fairlyOE
goodlyc1275
finec1330
properlyc1390
daintily?a1400
thrivinglya1400
goodlily?1457
excellent1483
excellently1527
excellently1529
curiously1548
jollilyc1563
admirably1570
beautifully1570
singularly1576
bravelyc1600
famouslya1616
manlya1616
primely1622
prime1648
eximiously1650
topping1683
egregiously1693
purely1695
trimmingly1719
toppinglya1739
surprisingly1749
capitally1750
brawly1796
jellily18..
stammingly1814
divinely1822
stunningly1823
rippingly1828
jam up1835
out of sight1835
first-rately1843
first rate1844
like a charm1845
stunning1851
marvellously1859
magnificently1868
first class1871
splendidly1883
sterlingly1883
tip-top1888
like one o'clock1901
deevily1905
goodo1907
dandy1908
bonzer1914
great1916
juicily1916
corkingly1917
champion1925
unbeatably1928
snodger1946
beaut1953
smashingly1956
groovily1970
awesome1984
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > dissimulation, pretence > semblance, outward show > [adverb]
colourablya1400
colourly?1550
speciously1647
plausibly1648
meretriciously1755
fairly1821
OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Luke xvi. 19 Homo quidam erat diues..et epulabatur cotidie splendide : monn sum wæs welig..& gehriordade dæghuæm fegerlice uel licsendo.
OE Homily: De Sancto Iohanne (Corpus Cambr. 198) in Englische Studien (1885) 8 477 Hwæt se fægera fugol fleogeð of his earde seþe is fægerlice Fenix haten.
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 159 All the hoost cometh fayrely after him.
?c1475 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 15562) f. 43v Fayrly, ornate.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 249 In freiris weyd full fairly haif I fleichit.
1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet iii. ii. 84 Was neuer booke..So fairly bound. View more context for this quotation
1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 131 Saint Germaines..was very fairely builded.
1672 E. Ashmole Inst. Order of Garter vi. 201 The second of these Books is called the Blue Book,..the Cover being fairly bound in Blue velvet.
1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 12 Sept. (1965) I. 432 The town [sc. Turin] it selfe is fairly built, situate in a fine plain on the banks of the Po.
1821 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto III lxxvi. 41 To make The skin..appear more fairly fair.
1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise I. i. 47 Raiment..Most fairly woven.
1996 G. S. J. Kumar Relig. & Society xi. 143 She is fairly decorated and bedecked with jewellery.
b. With reference to handwriting, etc.: neatly, clearly, legibly; in fair copy. Now archaic and rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > elegance > [adverb] > neatly
neatly1540
fairly1597
smartly1659
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III iii. vi. 2 The indictment..in a set hand fairely is engrosst. View more context for this quotation
1647 H. Neville Parl. of Ladies (Wing N512A) sig. B4 The Conscript Fathers were then in Councell: the mother of Papyrius was presently admitted, to deliver unto them the mindes of the rest, which were fairely written.
1682 J. Bunyan Holy War 215 [The Charter] fairly engraven upon the doors thereof, and laid in Letters of Gold. View more context for this quotation
1717 G. Berkeley Jrnls. Trav. Italy 7 Jan. in Wks. (1955) VII. 245 The book is fairly writ on Vellum.
1794 W. Tidd Pract. of Court of King's Bench II. xxxvii. 534 The record of nisi prius..is to be fairly engrossed, on a press or skin of parchment.
1843 O. L. Barbour Treat. Pract. Court of Chancery I. iii. iv. 603 Affidavits ought to be fairly and legibly written, in one hand, without blots or interlineations of any words of substance.
1898 G. B. Shaw Let. 18 Mar. (1972) II. 17 She..sits here until five, copying out the letters fairly, so that they are read for me to sign when I return.
1977 J. M. Levine Dr. Woodward's Shield iv. 70 He kept a copy for himself, fairly written out and intended clearly for the possibility of publication.
2. Gently, softly; peacefully; (later also) steadily, cautiously. Cf. fair adv. 5a. Now Scottish and rare.In later use chiefly in conjunction with other adverbs. hooly and fairly, soft and fairly: see the first element.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > [adverb] > softly or gently
lightlyeOE
fairlyOE
handsomely1530
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > faintness or weakness > [adverb] > without much noise
stilla1225
lowc1275
softc1275
stilledlyc1275
softlyc1330
fairly?a1425
basely1562
piano piano1601
smally1611
pacatelya1652
impercussively1694
pianissimoc1710
deftly1787
suppressedly1825
society > society and the community > dissent > absence of dissension or peace > [adverb] > peaceably
grithlyc1275
peaceablya1382
peaceable1391
amicably1438
fairly1590
good waysa1600
irenically1895
unaggressively1899
OE Ælfric Let. to Sigeweard (De Veteri et Novo Test.) (Laud) 68 He hine frefrode eac mid his fægera[n] lare & his afyrhte mod swiþe fægerlice mid his frofre geliðewæhte, þæt he ne wurde ormod.
lOE St. Giles (Corpus Cambr. 303) (1980) 118 Eale hu mildelice and hu fægerlice he gewissode þa gebroðra þe him underþeodda wæron.
?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 61 It standes still and rynnez noȝt, or elles bot fairely.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. vi. sig. R7v Guyon..With strong reason maistred passion fraile, And passed fayrely forth.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. v. 12 They parted very fairely in iest. View more context for this quotation
1671 J. Halfpenny Gentleman's Jocky 243 Put on his Bridle with the Roots tyed to his Bit, and ride him softly and fairly an hour or better with it in his Mouth.
a1683 B. Whichcote Several Disc. (1703) III. viii. 132 God moves gently and fairly..; he will never use Violence.
1763 Med. Museum II. 508 The cold attracts or extracts these particles softly and fairly..whereas the hot..attracts them in such a hurry, that they tear all before them.
1835 Granville Wykeham I. xx. 338 ‘Softly and fairly, my gallant captain,’ interposed his noble host.
1919 Aberdeen Univ. Rev. June 214 Sleep, my dawtie, whush an' fairlie, Lillila-baloo.
3. Civilly, courteously; with kindness or respect. Cf. fair adv. 2a. Now rare (archaic or nonstandard in later use).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [adverb]
worshiplyc1330
honourablyc1390
obeisantlyc1400
fairlyc1480
with cap and courtship1565
with cap and curtsey1565
with cap and knee1565
respectfullya1586
respectively1588
regardfully1600
honorificallya1639
unscornfully1844
deferentiallya1846
unmockingly1872
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [adverb]
welleOE
fairOE
methelyOE
menskly?c1225
hendilyc1275
hendlyc1275
courteouslyc1290
bonairc1330
bonairly1340
goodly1372
debonairlya1375
henda1375
kindlya1375
fairlyc1480
humanelya1500
handsomely1542
civilly1552
gallantly1611
civil1642
politely1748
nicely1864
c1480 (a1400) St. Christopher l. 236 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 346 Þane fand he [a] barne one þe bank, þat prayt hym farly fore thank of criste, his lord, he wald hym hafe our, & þane his lyfe safe.
1609 W. Shakespeare Pericles xxi. 8 I pray greet him fairely . View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) v. i. 234 Fairely I bespoke the Officer To go in person with me. View more context for this quotation
1844 Edinb. Monthly Mag. July 68 I, the youthful widow, greet thee fairly, And entreat thee, [etc.].
1900 Notes & Queries VI. 273 in I. Opie & M. Tatem Dict. Superstitions (1989) 188 You speak fairly (kindly), an' it'll bring me luck for the day.
1928 Boys' Life Dec. 30/2 Will Longshank approached the Black Knight and spoke him fairly.
4.
a. By proper or legal means; legitimately; in accordance with rules or laws. Cf. foully adv. 2a.In later use frequently passing into sense 4b.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal right > [adverb]
truly1376
rightfully?a1439
righteously1450
righta1500
fairly1540
de jure1611
1540 in J. D. Marwick Charters Edinb. (1871) 211 Thai..war ay fre for all payment..and ar infeft farlie thairintill.
1632 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Eromena 145 I will kill thee fairly, as becomes a good Knight.
1660 D. Featley et al. Θρηνοικος (rev. ed.) li. 577 Ill-minded men perceiving themselves quite out stript by some eminent person.., and despairing fairly to overtake him, resolve fouly to overturn him.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 38. ⁋3 [They] in decent Manner fought full fairly with their wrathful Hands.
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian I. iii. 108 I do not believe she came fairly by her death.
1810 G. Crabbe Borough xvi. 221 Cards answer'd to her call... ‘A vole! a vole!’ she cried, ‘'tis fairly won.’
1875 Encycl. Brit. III. 407/1 Directly a striker has fairly struck a fair ball he becomes a base-runner.
1910 Young Woman's Jrnl. Aug. 412/2 The forces of evil never fight fairly.
1941 D. Thomas Let. 28 May (1987) 486 My head's been whirling with wondering how to get twopence, fairly or foully, to put on this nearly a letter.
1996 New Scientist 27 July 6/2 Where journalists doorstep recalcitrant subjects to get pictures or interviews,..they will forfeit the defence that the data were obtained ‘fairly and lawfully’.
b. In accordance with what is right or just; equitably; without bias, impartially. Also: with good reason, rightfully.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > absence of prejudice > [adverb]
unprejudicedly1643
imprejudicately1654
unprejudicatelya1663
fairly1676
unbiassedly1676
unprepossessedly1748
continentally1783
open-mindedly1909
society > morality > rightness or justice > [adverb] > fairly or equitably
evenlylOE
fairOE
egallyc1374
upright1509
equally1526
honestly1526
uprightly1549
squarely1564
square1577
candidly1646
equitably1663
fairly1676
equably1839
1676 J. Dryden Aureng-Zebe iii. 29 I interpret fairly your design.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 272. ⁋1 Circumstances fairly represented in the Spectator.
1783 Ld. Hailes Disquis. Antiq. Christian Church iv. 72 The inferences that are fairly deducible from it.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 375 The counsel were by no means fairly matched.
1872 W. H. Dixon W. Penn (rev. ed.) v. 47 In no corner of these islands were the Quakers treated fairly.
1889 Harper's Mag. July 174/1 With an efficient medical department and a still more successful law department, it may be said to be fairly deserving the name of ‘university’.
1946 H. Jeffreys & B. S. Jeffreys Methods Math. Physics i. 17 Such a function would be fairly regarded by a physicist as pathological.
1965 J. Kosinski Painted Bird (1972) xv. 164 Some of the peasants said that when the Soviet commissars came they would distribute the land fairly.
2011 Independent 13 June (Viewspaper section) 5/1 Let me put their case as fairly as I can.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adverb] > fittingly or properly
welleOE
fairOE
meetlyOE
rightOE
worthlylOE
haghelyc1175
worthilyc1175
becomelyc1200
properly?c1225
i-semelichec1275
thriftilyc1374
duly1382
sittinglyc1390
justlyc1392
rightfula1400
goodlyc1400
hemelyc1400
meeta1450
statelya1450
ensuingly?1518
handsomely1525
worshipfully1532
decently1552
due1581
meeterly1589
fairly1600
beseemingly1611
dightly1616
becomingly1624
befittingly1638
fittinglya1643
condecently1656
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > [adverb] > evenly
fairly1731
even Steven1866
fifty-fifty1913
the world > relative properties > number > ratio or proportion > [adverb] > proportionally
for the rate upon1425
rately1472
rate-like1476
rateably1490
partlike1531
analogically1570
pro rata1575
fairly1731
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice i. i. 128 My cheefe care Is to come fairely of from the great debts. View more context for this quotation
1691 T. Hale Acct. New Inventions p. xx The Bolt-heads, &c., being fairly parcelled.
1731 J. Arbuthnot Ess. Nature Aliments iv. 46 The Serum of the Blood is fairly substituted in its place.
1800 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 4 462 His time will be fairly, and I doubt not successfully employed.
1832 H. Martineau Homes Abroad v. 74 You may fairly marry as soon as you like.
6. Clearly, distinctly, plainly; frankly, openly. Cf. fair adv. 9. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > manifestness > [adverb]
couthlyc900
sutelichec900
openlyOE
witterlyc1175
kithlya1300
witnessfullyc1374
evidentlya1382
plainlya1382
graithc1394
eberlya1400
express14..
manifest1431
patently1441
manifestlyc1475
evident?1520
grossly1526
apparently1533
clear1550
apparent1565
clearly1569
notoriously1589
plain1590
perspicuously1592
perspectively1598
transparently1617
liquidlya1631
visibly1631
obviously1638
fairly1655
perspiculously1661
remarkably1666
squarely1860
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. iii. 113 Some Diocesses in this Terreer were exactly done, and remain fairly legible at this day.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Wales 8 The door fairly set open for him by Divine Providence.
1672 N. Grew Anat. Veg. iii. 72 The Pores..by the help of good Glasses are very fairly visible.
1719 Boston News-let. 19 Jan. 1/1 The Articles they Exhibit to make the same good be fairly laid open to the World.
1759 E. W. Montagu Anc. Rep. 148 When Aristides was created Quæstor,..he fairly laid before the Athenians what immense sums the publick had been robb'd of by their former Treasurers.
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth ii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 53 [I] saw the bonny city lie stretched fairly before me.
1841 E. Miall in Nonconformist 1 2 It becomes dissenters fairly to avow it.
1904 Chatterbox 34/1 There are nests which are fairly in view, and some that are carefully hidden.
II. Senses relating to amount, extent, or degree.
7.
a. Completely, fully; thoroughly, entirely. Now somewhat colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > [adverb]
fullyeOE
allesOE
fullOE
rightc1175
everydealc1300
wholec1300
whollya1325
finelyc1330
fairly1340
completec1374
gainlya1375
clearly1377
freelya1393
plaina1393
entire?a1400
entirelyc1400
oddlyc1400
sufficientlyc1440
expressc1475
totally1509
completely1526
finec1530
exactly?1531
sincerely1576
start1599
fillingly1611
circularly1618
solid1651
out-over1745
rotundly1775
roundedly?1802
whole hog1840
clear-away1883
whole cloth1917
righteous1948
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 59 (MED) Of þan þet..al þet oþre doþ and ziggeþ altogidere uayrliche blamyeþ.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 80 Þai..ferdon on fote fairly to gedur.
a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 9 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) All which they neverthelesse fairely overcame.
1713 Guardian 29 Apr. 2/1 As he was in the third Hour of his Story,..I fairly nodded in the Elbow-Chair.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. i. 22 I had some thoughts of fairly shipping back to England again.
1802 J. Gilpin Jrnl. 15 July in Pennsylvania Mag. Hist. & Biogr. (1922) 46 129 He was a strong active hard new englander fairly fitted for business.
1828 C. Lamb Poor Relations in Elia 2nd Ser. 150 When he goeth away, you dismiss his chair into a corner..and feel fairly rid of two nuisances.
1868 M. Pattison Suggestions Acad. Organisation v. 306 Our system..has fairly run away with us.
1873 H. B. Tristram Land of Moab iv. 64 We were fairly in the trap; there was nothing for it but to yield.
1913 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 22 Feb. 10/2 An atmosphere that fairly reeked with the smell of decayed fish.
1970 R. Thorp & R. Blake Music of their Laughter 26/2 One chick I think was fairly knocked out. They just dragged her by the feet, and flipped her into the truck.
2000 S. Vickers Miss Garnet's Angel 313 ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’..‘How kind of you—I'm fairly parched.’
b. Chiefly colloquial and regional. Actually, really; positively, truly; certainly. Also (Scottish) as an emphatic affirmative: definitely; yes, indeed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > reality or real existence or actuality > [adverb]
in truthc1330
in faitha1375
in good faitha1393
in casea1398
in effectc1405
indeed1412
effectually1420
actually?a1425
really?a1425
of a truth1494
bottom1531
for a truth?1532
in fact1592
authentically1593
in esse1597
de facto1602
essentially1604
in nature1605
in point of fact1628
positively1649
in point of event1650
effectively1652
honestly1675
entally1691
reely1792
objectively1796
fairlyc1804
in actual fact1824
factually1852
naturally1858
transactionally1866
'smatter of fact1922
c1804 J. Foster Let. in Life & Corr. J. Foster (1846) I. 268 I never think of fairly sitting down for a conversation.
1836 T. C. Haliburton Clockmaker 1st Ser. 31 We never fairly knew what goin the whole hog was till then.
1886 O. B. Bunce Don't 41 Don't respond to remarks made to you with mere monosyllables. This is chilling, if not fairly insulting.
1909 G. Greig Mains's Wooin' 11 Souter—Ye'll be on your wye to the Fair? Mains—O fairly.
1947 Billboard 18 Jan. 101/1 This..record..is designed to make cartoonists out of all needlers. And it fairly does.
2000 Sunday Herald (Glasgow) 9 Jan. (Sport section) 18/7 Yon Scottish Cup fairly gets around.
8.
a. Modifying an adjective or adverb: to a moderate degree or extent; reasonably, pretty, quite.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > moderateness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adverb] > fairly
reasonably1389
reasonablyc1447
seemlyc1460
reasonable1485
gaily1532
indifferently?c1550
pretty well1576
indifferent1583
tolerably1602
tolerable1673
middling1719
geylies1754
middlingly1755
fairly1805
fairish1818
wellish1830
serviceably1896
1805 W. Wordsworth Waggoner i. 110 I am fairly safe to-night.
1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 9 People with whom the world goes fairly well materially.
1911 Ann. Bot. 25 108 Gummosis is a fairly common phenomenon in the vegetable kingdom.
1948 Commerce & Industry (Pretoria) Mar. 280 Bargaining power will be fairly evenly divided between the two parties.
1972 F. Swinnerton Nor all thy Tears III. xiv. 87 They all left happy, and on the whole, I must admit to my relief, fairly sober.
2009 T. Gautreaux in New Yorker 22 June 72/3 He seemed about fifty, a lean, fairly tall fellow.
b. Modifying a verb: reasonably well; tolerably, passably. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being satisfactory > [adverb]
wellOE
sufficientlyc1380
acceptably1479
competently1541
somewhat like1593
tant bien que mal1765
bearably1784
unobjectionably1797
fairly1836
decently1846
OK1886
1836 F. Hill Nat. Educ. I. 86 They read well, write fairly, and have a tolerable knowledge of the first four rules of arithmetic.
1863 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea I. xiv. 208 He..rode fairly to hounds.
1882 Frank Leslie's Pleasant Hours 32 403/2 He possessed a good voice, untrained; he painted fairly.
1913 Inst. Q. 31 Dec. 56 She sews well, dances fairly, but is too fidgety and restless to get on well in calisthenics.
1922 Mental Hygiene (U.S. National Comm. for Mental Hygiene) 6 560 She did fairly in the manual work connected with her dressmaking course.
9. Almost, virtually; practically, nearly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > approximate quantity or amount > [adverb] > nearly (of amount)
well-nigheOE
nighOE
well-nearc1175
almostc1261
nighwhatc1300
nara1400
neara1400
anighsta1425
muchwhata1513
wellmost1548
most1629
nighly1694
nearly1769
partly1781
mostly1805
most1808
mostlings1816
about1827
nearabouts1834
fairly1840
welly1859
approaching1951
1840 G. Webster Ingliston ii. 9 ‘You've fairly killed me now, you hard-hearted man,’ muttered a reproachful voice, whose tipsy tones he discovered to be those of the head virago of Sir Norman's kitchen.
1896 Harper's New Monthly Mag. Dec. 69/1 Captain Shely..was a herculean black-eyed man, fairly fizzing with nervous energy.
1929 Salt Lake Tribune 10 Feb. 11/5 (advt.) Dishes and glassware fairly wash themselves in half the usual time.
1969 R. Coover Pricksongs & Descants 197 The policeman twisted the notebook in his hands, fairly destroying it.
1972 K. Benton Spy in Chancery xi. 106 The furniture was old, well-worn and miscellaneous, fairly shrieking of ‘furnished let’.
2003 Guardian (Nexis) 4 Mar. 30 Inzamam saw red, fairly bursting with indignation as he lurched towards his assailant.
Compounds
Forming adjectives with past participles.
fairly-balanced adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > [adjective] > of or relating to equilibrium > balanced
evenc1390
pesablea1500
balanced1592
level1600
well-poised1603
well-balanceda1622
equipendenta1640
equilibrious1643
equiponderant1646
equiponderate1646
adjusted1652
equilibrous1652
equilibrated1664
equipoised1681
fairly-balanced1779
equilibriated1870
equilibrized1889
1779 R. Robinson in tr. J. Claude Ess. Composition Serm. II. iii. 42/1 (note) All together fully and fairly balanced accounts.
1797 J. Gillies tr. Aristotle Ethics & Politics II. vi. 315 A justly constituted and fairly balanced republic.
1846 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) ii. 10 They were..a..fairly-balanced, give-and-take couple.
1996 Environmental Law 26 404 The district court was not in a position to judge what would have constituted a fairly balanced panel of ichthyologists.
fairly-fitted adj. now rare
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adjective] > perfectly suited or fitted
well-sittinga1300
well-fitting1578
glove-fitting1868
fairly-fitted1870
made-to-measure1885
tailor-made1896
good-fitting1903
1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. iv. 115 He drew The arrow from the fairly-fitted belt.
1900 Motor-car Jrnl. 20 Oct. 560/1 Motor cylinders require a well-finished bore, and a fairly fitted piston with rings well ground into the cylinders.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.OE