favourablyfavorablyadv.
/ˈfeɪv(ə)rəbli/, U.S. /ˈfeɪvər(ə)bli/, /ˈfeɪvrəbli/ In a favourable manner.
1. † b. With undue favour or partiality. Obsolete.
a. With favour or kindness; graciously, indulgently.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [adverb] > graciously
holdec1000
holdelyc1000
sweetly?c1225
courteouslyc1290
graciouslyc1384
favourably1388
thankfully1513
handsomely1542
officiously1604
graciousa1617
1388 Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) Prol. xi We moun fauorably excuse hire [Judith] fro deedly synne in this doinge.
c1425 Wyntoun Cron. vi. viii. 25 He..tretyd þe Scottis favorably.
1509 J. Fisher Mornynge Remembraunce Countesse of Rychemonde (de Worde) sig. Avi v Why lokest thou fauourably vpon them yt despyse the?
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. xii He had fauorably harde his proctours.
1611 Bible (King James) Wisd. vi. 16 She..sheweth herselfe fauourably vnto them in the wayes. View more context for this quotation
1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. Introd. Pref. sig. a7v The Thoughts, which have been the favourablyest entertain'd by the Readers of my other Books.
1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. x. 196 Men..judge too favourably..where themselves, and their own Interest are concerned.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall III. 98 Hippo had been less favourably treated than the other cities of the province.
1883 A. Roberts O.T. Revision ii. 29 It has a claim to be fairly and even favourably considered.
ΚΠ
1430–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 339 Som men feyneþ and fauorabliche seiþ þat Seynt Patryk clensed þat lond of..venemous bestes.
1609 J. Skene tr. Stat. Robert III in Regiam Majestatem 52 Inquisitions taken favorablie, and be ignorant persons.
2. In favourable terms, or with a favourable result; to the credit or advantage of a person or thing.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > [adverb]
at, to greec1374
in greec1374
agreea1425
so best1602
favourably1655
approvingly1837
1655 E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1892) II. 239 I doe not wonder they write favourably of their Protectors affaires.
1783 Ld. Hailes Disquis. Antiq. Christian Church iv. 116 Epictetus had..spoken favourably of the Christians.
1872 R. W. Raymond Statistics Mines & Mining 17 Inyo was mentioned favorably in last year's report.
1885 Manch. Examiner 6 Sept. 5/2 Clemenceau's decision and vigour..contrast favourably with the timid and half-hearted utterances of M. Brisson.
Compounds
In combinations.
ΚΠ
1854 H. H. Wilson tr. Rig-veda II. 158 Creator of the Maruts, favourably-minded towards us, grant us those blessings which are most dear to thee.
1952 C. P. Blacker Eugenics: Galton & After ix. 219 A modest claim..is made..that wastage among favourably-assessed parachutists proved smaller than among those unfavourably assessed.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1388