faithfullyadv.
/ˈfeɪθfᵿli/, /ˈfeɪθfl̩i/, U.S. /ˈfeɪθfəli/ 1. In accordance with an obligation, a commitment, or a duty; dutifully, conscientiously; loyally, devotedly; with fidelity. In later use also: regularly, reliably.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > faithfulness or trustworthiness > fidelity or loyalty > [adverb]
holdec1000
holdelyc1050
trulya1250
truec1300
faithlyc1350
faithfullya1382
leallyc1394
fayfully?a1400
leala1400
lawfullyc1500
faithful1539
loyallement?1549
loyally1572
devotiously1621
devotedly1812
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 370) (1850) 2 Chron. xxxi. 12 Thei brouȝten in..what euer thingus thei hadden vowed feithfully [L. fideliter].
c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. vii. l. 64 (MED) I schal fynden hem heore fode þat Feiþfuliche lyuen.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. 7328 Þis loue lastid betuex þem long, ffeithfully wele & strong.
a1500 in F. J. Furnivall Polit., Relig., & Love Poems (1903) 77 Euery wygth þat louyth feythefully.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ecclus. vi. 11 Deale faithfully with thy housholde folke.
1549 R. Crowley Voyce Laste Trumpet sig. Aivv Daniel..serued his prince fayethfully.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 1082 Beleeue vs..who loue you not fainedly, but faithfully, and in deed.
1632 in S. R. Gardiner Rep. Cases Star Chamber & High Comm. (1886) 317 He..did..faithfullie exercise his ministery.
1689 R. Boyle Let. 22 Aug. in Wks. (1772) I. p. cxxviii You will not find me more backward than formerly to serve you faithfully in my reduced capacity.
1705 G. Stanhope Paraphr. Epist. & Gospels II. 254 They who do their own Endeavours faithfully shall be..strengthened to do more.
1772 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra II. lxviii. 311 Those laws..he has sworn to administer faithfully.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall III. 119 The fatal secret..was faithfully preserved.
1809 W. Wordsworth Sonnet to Liberty ii. xix. 12 To whose all-pondering mind a noble aim, Faithfully kept, is as a noble deed.
1873 ‘Ouida’ Pascarèl I. 61 It was all hard work in a wretched little place before an ugly old man... Yet we all went to him faithfully, and seldom or never rebelled.
1896 J. Conrad Outcast of Islands iii. 35 The duty had been faithfully and dutifully performed.
1902 E. Banks Autobiogr. Newspaper Girl 159 She served me faithfully till the very last.
1948 L. A. G. Strong Trevannion xvii. 323 You love a girl faithfully for years, and some glib sod comes along..and snitches her from you.
1961 E. Waugh Unconditional Surrender ii. iii. 88 Mr Crouchback had faithfully borne all his responsibilities.
2003 K. Daswani For Matrimonial Purposes (U.K. ed.) 44 Perhaps I hadn't been using my sunscreen very faithfully.
2. † b. Assuredly, in truth. Obsolete.
a. With full or devout religious faith; (also more generally) with trust or confidence.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > [adverb]
trulyOE
boldlyc1175
sickerlyc1275
tristly1340
redelya1375
redilya1375
surelyc1380
tristilyc1380
certainc1384
faithfullyc1384
trustilyc1390
certainlya1400
trustlya1400
undoubtinglyc1400
absolutely?a1425
positivelyc1443
assuredly1508
traist1508
traistfully1508
crousea1525
constantlya1538
resolutely1540
suredly1551
trestly1568
cocksure1579
resolvedly1610
assurantly1619
emphatically1629
decretorily1660
convincedly1812
unmisgivingly1842
solid1937
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Royal) (1850) 3 John 5 Moost dere, thou doist feithfully [L. fideliter], what euer thou werchist in to britheren.
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 162 (MED) He beleueth not feithfully in god.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xxxvii. l. 395 Feythfully now trosteth to Me.
c1450 Jack Upland's Rejoinder (Digby) l. 381 in P. L. Heyworth Jack Upland (1968) 113 I afferme faiþfully þat þat is Cristis body.
1537 T. Paynell tr. Erasmus Comparation Vyrgin & Martyr f. 21 It is also a sure thynge, trusting faythfully in hym, to rise and rebelle agaynst the worlde.
1552 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 141 Most faythfully beleving..yt my sowle..shall rest wth Abraham.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) iii. ii. 42 If his occasion were not vertuous, I should not vrge it halfe so faithfully . View more context for this quotation
1673 Sundry Set-forms of Prayers 1 Let me daily more and more lament my former sinful life, trusting faithfully in thy rich mercies, through the merits of Jesus Christ.
1769 Stranger Unknown's Call 4 All have not the Knowledge of God, as believing faithfully with their Hearts unto Righteousness.
1779 J. Hanway Seaman's Christian Friend 182 Grant me grace to live faithfully, and according to thy will.
1841 N. Amer. Rev. July 102 Faithfully trusting in the destiny of this wide spreading nation.
1894 Punch 5 May 213/1 I faithfully supposed I could purchase with the freehold any spook which it enclosed.
1920 J. D. Beresford Imperfect Mother vi. 273 The response he had so faithfully expected.
1970 F. Rosenthal Knowl. Triumphant viii. 286 All of them must be devoted to a life of high virtue and must faithfully believe in the wisdom of the master philosopher.
2011 Earth Mother iv. 101 Throughout the ages, we have been called to faithfully trust in God.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > sincere emotion > [adverb]
in all one's hearteOE
of heartOE
with (also mid) all one's heartOE
with one's heartOE
heartlyc1225
innerlyc1330
dearlya1350
heartilya1375
with a whole hearta1375
faithfullyc1405
affectiouslya1420
affectuously?a1425
affectuallyc1425
mainlyc1450
from (also fro) one's heart1477
cordiallyc1515
precordially1534
earnestfulc1540
hearty1570
affectedly1582
roundly1603
devoutly1604
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > [adverb] > assuredly, indeed
soothlyc825
forsoothc888
wiselyc888
sooth to sayOE
i-wislichec1000
to (‥) soothOE
iwis?c1160
certesa1250
without missa1275
i-witterlic1275
trulyc1275
aplight1297
certc1300
in (good) fayc1300
verily1303
certain1330
in truthc1330
to tell (also speak, say) the truthc1330
certainlya1375
faithlya1375
in faitha1375
surelya1375
in sooth1390
in trothc1390
in good faitha1393
to witc1400
faithfullyc1405
soothly to sayc1405
all righta1413
sad?a1425
in certc1440
wella1470
truec1480
to say (the) truth1484
of a truth1494
of (a) trotha1500
for a truth?1532
in (of) verity1533
of verityc1550
really1561
for, in, or into very?1565
indeed1583
really and truly1600
indeed and indeed1673
right enough1761
deed1816
just1838
of a verity1850
sho1893
though1905
verdad1928
sholy1929
ja-nee1937
only1975
deffo1996
c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 1066 That oother feithfully Shal be myn heir as I haue ay supposed.
a1520 Myrroure of our Ladye 77 Amen..ys a worde of affermynge, and ys as moche as to say, as Treuly, or Faythfully.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 31v And þou faithfully a fole & a freke mad May be countid in this case.
3. † a. In a convincing or assuring manner; sincerely. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > act of convincing, conviction > [adverb]
faithfullya1400
forcibly1578
persuadedly1638
convincively1646
convictively1664
convincingly1774
psychagogically1849
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > faithfulness or trustworthiness > [adverb]
tristilyc1330
traistlya1340
faithlyc1350
faithfullya1400
fayfully?a1400
trothlya1400
truefullya1400
trustilya1450
trustworthily1827
reliably1846
trustedly1856
dependably1862
a1400 (?a1325) Medit. on Supper of our Lord (Harl.) (1875) l. 249 (MED) He warned hem feyþfullye, What þey shulde suffre are þey shuld dye.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Merlin (1904) I. l. 1236 (MED) Sche hath me told ful feithfully..that jn mannes compenye neuere sche were.
c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame (Fairf. 16) (1878) l. 963 So feythfully to me spake he.
a1500 (a1425) Metrical Life St. Robert of Knaresborough (1953) l. 105 Faythfully þan spake the frere And sayd, ‘Robertt, welcom here’.
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) ii. vii. 196 If that you were the good Sir Rowlands son, As you haue whisper'd faithfully you were. View more context for this quotation
b. With solemn or binding assurances.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > [adverb]
under oatha1325
on (also upon) one's faithc1405
faithfullyc1450
on (also upon) one's word1582
sacramentally1599
votally1614
promissorily1650
engagingly1651
obligingly1655
votively1857
c1450 King Ponthus (Digby) in Publ. Mod. Lang. Assoc. Amer. (1897) 12 63 I swer and promys you faithfully that I shall not discouere you.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxliv Promisyng faithfully, shortly to sende for her.
1675 in O. Airy Essex Papers (1890) I. 307 Wee..doe undertake and faithfully promise..That in our respective congregations wee shall publike and solemnly declare, and denounce, all toreys, murtherers, thieves & Robors.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 310 They promis'd faithfully to bear their Confinement with Patience.
1781 J. H. Campe Robinson the Younger xxvi. 196 Upon which he shook hands with his fellow-combatant, and both vowed faithfully to assist each other, to the last drop of their blood.
a1817 J. Austen Northanger Abbey (1818) II. ix. 180 Isabella promised so faithfully to write directly. View more context for this quotation
a1893 T. B. Reed Tom, Dick & Harry (1894) xi. 128 All which I faithfully undertook to do, and sat down to my delicate task.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses iii. xviii. [Penelope] 711 And I promised him yes faithfully Id let him block me.
1950 L. G. Miller Story of Ernie Pyle xvi. 166 She vowed faithfully that she would write me early Sunday morning and send it here.
2007 J. Mills Crow Stone vi. 64 I promised faithfully I'd pass on the message to my dad.
4. In accordance with the facts or original; accurately, correctly, exactly, truthfully.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > [adverb] > in accordance with original
faithfullyc1425
sincerely1560
exactly1662
strictly1763
realistically1846
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > truthfulness, veracity > [adverb] > so as to match truth, exactly
rightlyeOE
rightOE
faithfullyc1425
preciselya1513
justlya1538
verbatim1566
strictly1602
exactly1662
correctlya1704
prezactly1835
sensu stricto1849
perzactly1850
'zackly1886
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [adverb]
rightlyeOE
righteOE
evenOE
evenlya1225
redlyc1275
justicelya1375
justilya1375
justlya1375
redilya1375
trulya1375
properlya1382
precisec1392
preciselyc1392
truec1392
straitlya1395
leala1400
arightc1405
by linec1420
justlyc1425
featlya1450
rule-righta1450
to the letter?1495
exquisitely1526
evenliklya1530
very1530
absolutely1538
jump1539
just1568
accurately1581
punctually1581
jumplya1586
arights1596
just so1601
plumb1601
compassly1606
nicelya1616
squarely1626
justa1631
adequately1632
mathematicallya1638
critically1655
exquisitively1660
just1665
pointedly1667
faithfully1690
correctlya1704
jus1801
jest1815
jes1851
neat1875
cleanly1883
on the nose1883
smack-dab1892
spot on1920
forensically1974
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) Prol. l. 261 Somme han the trouth spared In her writyng..nor tolde out feithfully.
c1475 J. Capgrave Life St. Katherine (Rawl.) (1893) iii. l. 1386 Feythfully þe treuth tell now I schall.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 12v I will you faithfully enforme how ye fare shall.
1556 W. Lauder Compend. Tractate Dewtie of Kyngis sig. C3v I haue said ye veritie..faithfullie.
a1603 T. Cartwright Confut. Rhemists New Test. (1618) Pref. sig. Dv Both for propernesse of wordes, and truth of sense he hath wisely and faithfully translated.
1690 Def. Rights & Priviledges Univ. Oxf. Pref. Thus..do [we] faithfully keep an exact register of their contentions.
1712 Spectator No. 527. ⁋2 What I have faithfully related.
1792 Gentleman's Mag. 13/1 The church is faithfully represented in the annexed drawing.
1830 I. D'Israeli Comm. Life Charles I III. vi. 111 The countenance whose peculiar expression afterwards was so faithfully..transmitted to us.
1876 M. Oliphant Makers of Florence iii. 79 So came I..to judge faithfully with my proper eyes.
1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 903/2 He enjoyed the opportunity of daily hearing his discourse, and made it his practice faithfully to commit to writing ‘the excellent things that usually fell from him’.
1942 Amer. Cinematographer Apr. 190/1 A secretary sits over in one corner with a stenotype, faithfully recording..everything that's said.
2001 Art Room Catal. Autumn 3/2 Exquisitely coloured flowers are faithfully reproduced in our uplifting print.
Phrases
yours faithfully: a (usually formal) subscription to a letter, esp. (in later use) one where the recipient is addressed as Dear Sir or Madam rather than by name. Also faithfully yours, and (now archaic) faithfully thine, thine faithfully.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > correspondence > letter > letter or note [phrase] > concluding phrases
your (affectionate, very, etc.) friend1454
aggradation1533
Yours ever1564
yours faithfully1564
I (will) remain1600
pro bono publico1640
sincerely1702
regards1775
yours respectfully?1777
yours truly1788
1564 T. Lever in M. Coverdale Certain Lett. Martyrs 689 From Zurich the .52. of Octob. by yours faithfully in Christ. Thomas Leauer.
1711 R. M. Summary of Divine Truths Pref. sig. A4v Thine faithfully devoted. R. M.
1836 C. Dickens Let. 18 Feb. (1965) I. 132 Believe me (in Pickwickian haste) Faithfully Yours Charles Dickens.
1868 Times 23 June 10/6 Yours faithfully, Edmund Venables. The Precentory, Lincoln, June 20.
1894 Friend 19 May 344/1 Faithfully thine, Rachel C. Mather.
1917 Reform Advocate 13 Jan. 733/2 I am, Yours most faithfully.., Jacob H. Schiff.
2009 P. Barry & D. Griffiths Head First Programming ii. 66 Consider yourself on notice. Yours faithfully, Head of Internet Affairs.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adv.a1382