finelyadv.adj.

Brit.

/ˈfʌɪnli/, U.S.

/ˈfaɪnli/

Forms: Middle English fineliche, Middle English finliche, Middle English fynelich, Middle English fynliche, Middle English–1500s fynly, Middle English–1600s fynely, Middle English– finely, 1500s fynelye, 1500s fynlie (Scottish), 1500s–1600s finelie, 1500s–1600s finelye, 1500s–1600s finly, 1500s–1600s fynelie.

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: fine adj., -ly suffix².

Etymology: < fine adj. + -ly suffix².

A. adv.

†1. To the fullest degree; perfectly, completely; thoroughly, very well. Also (and in earliest use) in finely well. Obsolete (Scottish, English regional, and U.S. in later use).

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

the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > utterly

allOE

outlyOE

thwert-outc1175

skerea1225

thoroughc1225

downrightc1275

purec1300

purelyc1300

faira1325

finelyc1330

quitec1330

quitelyc1330

utterlyc1374

outerlya1382

plainlya1382

straighta1387

allutterly1389

starkc1390

oultrelya1393

plata1393

barec1400

outrightc1400

incomparablyc1422

absolutely?a1425

simpliciter?a1425

staringa1425

quitementa1450

properlyc1450

directly1455

merec1475

incomparable1482

preciselyc1503

clean?1515

cleara1522

plain1535

merely1546

stark1553

perfectly1555

right-down1566

simply1574

flat1577

flatly1577

skire1581

plumb1588

dead?1589

rankly1590

stark1593

sheera1600

start1599

handsmooth1600

peremptory1601

sheerly1601

rank1602

utter1619

point-blank1624

proofa1625

peremptorily1626

downrightly1632

right-down1646

solid1651

clever1664

just1668

hollow1671

entirely1673

blank1677

even down1677

cleverly1696

uncomparatively1702

subtly1733

point1762

cussed1779

regularly1789

unqualifiedly1789

irredeemably1790

positively1800

cussedly1802

heart1812

proper1816

slick1818

blankly1822

bang1828

smack1828

pluperfectly1831

unmitigatedly1832

bodaciously1833

unredeemedly1835

out of sight1839

bodacious1845

regular1846

thoroughly1846

ingrainedly1869

muckinga1880

fucking1893

motherless1898

self1907

stone1928

sideways1956

terminally1974

c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 5907 And armed him fineliche wel.

c1390 Castle of Love (Vernon) (1967) l. 1133 Hou fynliche in herte God loueþ þe.

c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1391 (MED) I wowche hit saf fynly.

a1425 (a1399) Forme of Cury (BL Add.) 200 in C. B. Hieatt & S. Butler Curye on Inglysch (1985) 144 Menge it fynelich wel þat it sit not to þe pot.

c1600 (c1350) Alisaunder (Greaves) (1929) 1199 Fende mee finliche well, to fonde my strength.

1655 N. Culpeper et al. tr. L. Rivière Pract. Physick vii. i. 152 The Tumor vanished, and she was finely cured.

1773 J. Everet Let. 5 Apr. in Morley's Ess. Scrophulous Disorders (1790) xliii. 55 I am got finely well of my Complaints... It has been healed up about three months.

a1886 D. Grant Sc. Stories (1888) 153 ‘Do you understand his sermons?’ ‘Finely that, Mem.’

1902 Inst. Tie Aug. 431/1 ‘Did you like the first piece?’ ‘Yes,’ I said, ‘that pleased me finely.’

†2. With great skill or superior workmanship; consummately; intricately; exquisitely. Obsolete.Now merged in sense A. 6a.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [adverb]

lieflyc900

merelyeOE

fairOE

lovelya1375

featously1377

belliche1394

finelya1400

buttylly1496

lovelilya1500

well-favouredly1528

beautifully1538

beauteously1592

bonnily1595

love-likely1621

bonny1650

beautiful1767

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adverb] > with skilled or elaborate workmanship

quaintlyc1300

curiously1340

finelya1400

exquisitely1535

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 6563 Hit ys of gold finely diȝt.

c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 3220 (MED) Þe flore vndire þe fote fynely was paued, Couerd all of cristall & oþire clere stanes.

a1500 (c1400) Vision of Tundale (Adv.) (1843) l. 1656 Of red gold fynly ennamelyd.

1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 85^v And finely finisht vp the ship.

1602 tr. G. Corrozet Memorable Conceits 111 She brought out of her Coffer certaine Poppets..made very finely.

1672 J. Davies Anc. Rites Durham 17 A goodly fine Lantern, or Letteron, of Brass..with a great Pelican on the height of it, finely gilt.

1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 391 Great Columns..finely engraven with Fruits and Foliage.

1763 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting III. ii. 85 In the great anti-chamber are several dead fowl over the chimney, finely executed.

†3. In a clever or intellectually subtle manner; cunningly; craftily. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adverb]

craftilyeOE

craftlyOE

hagherlyc1175

hendc1275

craftfully?c1335

taughtlya1382

craftiouslyc1450

handsomely1528

finely1538

skilfully1565

artfully1608

peritely1657

the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > sharpness, shrewdness, insight > [adverb]

sharplyc897

redlyc1275

wellc1450

finely1538

aptly1578

acutely1600

shrewdly1600

penetratingly1670

sagaciously1678

penetratively1697

cutely1762

keenly1824

downily1845

percipiently1924

insightfully1932

sharp-wittedly1934

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [adverb] > astutely

yeplya900

smeighlyc1200

finely1538

shrewdly1600

astuciously18..

knowingly1805

astutely1826

1538 T. Elyot Dict. Vafre, craftily, fynely in deceyuyng.

1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes ii. f. 293^v The argumente of his frendes he did moste fynely [L. argutissime] wrest to the contrarie of their menyng.

1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 196 Where as he him selfe by Hannibal was first finely handled and deceyued.

a1639 H. Wotton Parallel betweene Earle of Essex & Duke of Buckingham (1641) 6 Wee rate this one secret, as it was finely carried at 4000. pounds in present mony.

a. In or into minute particles or small pieces; to a fine point or edge; so as to be delicate in structure or texture.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adverb] > on a minute scale

finely1542

minutely1794

the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [adverb] > with particular care

choicelya1375

particularly1489

nice?1544

nicely1651

finely1718

1542 T. Elyot Bibliotheca at Attenuate Sclenderly, subtilly, fynely.

?1543 T. Phaer tr. N. de Houssemaine Treat. Pestilence i. vii. f. xxi^v, in tr. J. Goeurot Regiment of Lyfe Half an ounce of yelow saunders fynelye poudred.

?1550 H. Llwyd tr. Pope John XXI Treasury of Healthe sig. Tviii Make them into pouder fynelye.

1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball i. i. 4 The leaves are much more jagged..finelier cut.

1606 H. Peacham Art of Drawing iv. 10 Get you black lead, sharpened finelie.

1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais 2nd Bk. Wks. xvi Another [pocket] he had all full of Euphorbium very finely pulverised.

1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 10 Mar. (1965) I. 383 Napkins, as finely wrought as the finest handkercheifs.

1732 Method learning to Draw iii. 29 Take Rose-pink finely ground and powdered, mix it well with a little Sanders Blue, till the Powder appears of the Colour you want.

1816 L. Hunt Story of Rimini iii. 16 The other finelier spun.

1853 R. Blakey Angler's Compl. Guide to Rivers & Lakes Eng. v. 84 The wings should stand well apart, taper finely at their extremities, and retain their shape in the water.

1873 J. H. Beadle Undeveloped West iii. 74 The soil pulverizes finely in summer. It is never water soaked, consequently never ‘bakes’ or clods.

1930 Daily Tel. 9 Apr. 15/1 (advt.) Attractive three-piece suit in tweedknit..designed with..new tuck-in pullover finely woven to tone with suit.

1968 I. Kostov Mineral. 530 Kalicine and teschemacherite occur as finely crystalline white masses.

2002 National Trust Mag. Summer 32/1 Finely chop the chilli, add to the cake batter and mix it thoroughly.

b. figurative and in figurative contexts.

ΚΠ

a1575 N. Harpsfield Treat. Divorce Henry VIII (1878) (modernized text) 227 This interpretation is finely spinned..out of the lawyer's fantastical head.

1657 I. B. Heroick Educ. vii. sig. G Artifices are nets, which are easily discovered if they be too grosse, and are quickly broken if they be more finely woven.

1693 J. Dryden Disc. Orig. & Progr. Satire in Prose Wks. (1800) III. 212 Here is the Majesty of the heroick finely mixed with the venom of the other.

1704 J. Colbatch Coll. Tracts 523 Methinks, these Notions seem to be a little too finely spun.

1829 B. Field Visitor 73 The thread of his life appeared to be so finely attenuated, as to want but a breath to sever it.

1885 Bookseller 5 Mar. 240/2 The distinction in these mixed races seems very finely drawn.

1946 L. B. Lyon Rough Walk Home 27 The retina of a blind man's finger-tips though fine, is not so finely spun as hope's.

1963 H. Kane Dead in Bed xiv. 107 This kid, inside, is too finely-meshed, too sensitive.

1991 National Trust Mag. Spring 24/1 The dividing line between health and gastronomy was finely drawn.

5. With reference to action, speech, etc.: with subtlety or delicacy. Also: in a refined manner; elegantly.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [adverb] > with delicacy

subtlyc1350

at point devicec1390

point-devicec1425

subtilelya1513

finely1542

to the point device1542

by point device1575

critically1607

exquisitely1626

nicely1638

delicately1776

the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > fastidiousness > [adverb]

over-delicately1357

preciouslyc1430

daintethlyc1440

pickedlya1528

finely1542

nicely1547

fastidiously?1555

daintily1561

curiously1573

sizely?1578

fine1579

overnicely1582

squeamishly1606

finically1659

just so1683

superfinely1693

hypercritically1715

meticulously1900

1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes Pref. sig. ✭vii^v Thei dooe plainly expresse & sette out the veraye naturall inclinacion and disposicion of eche speaker that thei procede from, briefly, finely [L. argute], quippyngly, and meryly within the boundes of good maner.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward V f. xviii He would that poinct should be..more fynely & closely handled.

1608 Yorkshire Trag. sig. B^v Chide me? Doo't finely then.

a1625 J. Fletcher Loyal Subj. ii. ii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ddd4 ^v/1 You will divide too, shortly, Your voice comes finely forward.

1710 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1886) II. 369 In y^e City of Rome they spoke more finely..than in Provinces.

1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 345. ¶21 The new Passion that was awakened in him [sc. Adam] at the sight of her [sc. Eve] is touched very finely.

1851 E. B. Browning Casa Guidi Windows i. ii. 2 Who..touched the heart of us So finely that the pity scarcely pained!

1867 F. Francis Bk. Angling iii. 63 The angler is compelled to fish as finely as possible.

1916 A. C. Bristol Present Phase Woman's Advancem. 66 She will not think hugely, awkwardly, terribly; she will think finely, delicately, exquisitely.

2008 J. S. Mackley tr. in Leg. St. Brendan App. 2. 274 Brendan spoke finely and gently.

a. In a manner that elicits admiration; admirably; excellently.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > splendour > [adverb]

splendidiously?a1475

finely?1552

splendidously1640

transplendently1664

splendidly1675

the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adverb] > and nobly or splendidly

micklelyeOE

highlyeOE

freelyOE

dearworthlyc1230

gloriously1393

dearworthilya1400

farrandlyc1400

stately?a1439

finely?1552

gallantly1552

goldenly1580

rarely1581

sightly1592

superbly1769

splendidly1774

splendiferously1841

swell1856

in there1944

?1552 V. Leigh Pleasaunt Playne & Pythye Pathewaye ii. sig. Ciii I coulde then fynelie playe, On the harpe, moche better, then nowe.

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 114 The castle of Norham..quhilk Bischop Fox..furnist fynlie with men of weir.

1661 S. Pepys Diary 19 May (1970) II. 103 Captain Cooke, Mr. Gibbons, and others of the King's Musique were come to present my Lord with some songs and Symphonys, which were performed very finely.

1670 W. Walker Idiomatologia Anglo-Latina 358 Thou hast play'd thy part finely.

1719 T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth I. 256 Here is one can Oagle finely.

1759 J. Mills tr. H. L. Duhamel du Monceau Pract. Treat. Husbandry ii. i. 132 The corn came up finely.

1807 G. Chalmers Caledonia I. i. iv. 135 Lockhart-hall..is finely situated on the right bank of the Clyde.

1850 T. T. Lynch Memorials Theophilus Trinal 81 Greenish tints, finely contrasting with its [sc. the moon] own soft white.

1901 H. W. Wilson With Flag to Pretoria II. xxviii. 671 The militia,..though raw troops now for the first time under fire, behaved finely.

1961 Connoisseur Dec. p. xiv (advt.) A rare Longton Hall Vase finely painted with flowers.

2000 O. Davies in A. Hastings et al. Oxf. Compan. Christian Thought 299/1 It is this that constitutes the unity of her work, finely expressed in the recurrent image of viriditas , or ‘greenness’.

b. ironically. Cf. fine adj. 7c.

ΚΠ

1579 W. Fulke Heskins Parl. Repealed in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 222 He scoffeth finely at our spirituall sifting of the sacrament so fine.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) v. iii. 20 Wee'll betray him finely .

1694 R. South 12 Serm. II. 613 I doubt not but you will find that Kingdom..finely governed in a short time.

1728 C. Cibber Vanbrugh's Provok'd Husband i. i. 9 Ay! ay!..Batchelors' Wives, indeed, are finely govern'd.

1778 F. Burney Let. Sept. in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1994) III. 154 When we are away, I suppose she pays us off finely!

1869 Dublin Univ. Mag. Sept. 282/2 I'm afeard she'll prove it only too ready; 'twill shame us finely.

1883 R. L. Stevenson Treasure Island i. iv. 30 My heart was beating finely when we two set forth.

1921 H. Granville-Barker Guitry's Deburau i. 72 Oh, and I have been beaten finely For nearly—and not quite—breaking my neck.

2009 J. Beverley Secret Wedding xxviii. 346 A part of him..growled with rage. She'd fooled him finely.

7. With reference to dress: showily; smartly.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [adverb] > in specific way

to (also into, unto) one's (also the) shirtc1300

in or of (a) suitc1325

in ragsa1350

in (also on) one's shirtc1380

in suit of or with1389

thinlya1400

in suit with1488

finely?1552

raggedly1552

smoothly1579

garish1590

briskly1592

in one's waistcoat1607

in mourning1621

in cuerpoa1640

in gala1757

airily1768

plain1808

in mufti1816

in, on one's stocking-soles1827

seedily1837

in beaver1840

back to front1869

dowdily1887

dossily1903

head-to-toe1946

sharp1951

sharply1965

understatedly1972

?1552 W. Baldwin tr. ‘P. Esquillus’ Wonderfull Newes sig. Aviii About Peter Aloysius were Catamites innumerable, hauyng all the partes of theyr body finely [L. molliter] clothed.

1570 B. Googe tr. T. Kirchmeyer Popish Kingdome iv. f. 57^v First in the morning finely drest [L. culti], they iet the streetes about.

1658 J. Burbury tr. G. Gualdo Priorato Hist. Christina Queen of Swedland 461 The Princesses and Ladies, most finely attired, and resplendent.

1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. vi. v. sig. Nn6 Many of them as finely and as richly dress'd, as if [etc.].

1717 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 18 Apr. (1965) I. 347 Her She Slaves, finely dress'd, were rang'd on each side.

1791 R. Townley Jrnl. kept Isle of Man I. 16 A great number of boys and girls, neatly dressed, and finely decked out with ribbonds of various colours.

1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Tonse, to dress, to deck, to trim. Tonsed, dressed up. ‘Thou's finely tonsed this morning.’

1889 P. B. Du Chaillu Viking Age I. xxxvii. 521 Between the sessions of the Thing amusements took place, among them that of saga-telling; and the people who attended were often finely dressed.

1921 Notable Coll. Japanese Color Prints Property of C. Schraubstadter §301 A maid is holding an umbrella over two finely attired ladies.

1991 P. Jenkins Fields of Vision 63 Middle-aged, all in suits, very finely dressed, with their big valises.

B. adj.

In good health; = fine adj. 15. Now rare (English regional and Irish English in later use).

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > [adjective] > of health: good > healthy

wholeeOE

isoundOE

i-sundfulc1000

ferec1175

soundc1175

fish-wholea1225

forthlyc1230

steadfasta1300

wella1300

safec1300

tidya1325

halec1330

quartc1330

well-faringc1330

well-tempered1340

well-disposeda1398

wealyc1400

furnished1473

mighty?a1475

quartful?c1475

good1527

wholesomea1533

crank1548

healthful1550

healthy1552

hearty1552

healthsome1563

well-affected?1563

disposed1575

as sound as a bell1576

firm1577

well-conditioned1580

sound1605

unvaletudinary1650

all right1652

valid1652

as sound as a (alsoany) roach1655

fair-like1663

hoddy1664

wanton1674

stout?1697

trig1704

well-hained1722

sprack1747

caller1754

sane1755

finely1763

bobbish1780

cleverly1784

right1787

smart1788

fine1791

eucratic1795

nobbling1825

as right as a trivet1835

first rate1841

in fine, good, high, etc., feather1844

gay1855

sprackish1882

game ball1905

abled1946

well-toned1952

a hundred per cent1960

oke1960

1763 T. Percy Let. 27 Feb. in Percy Lett. (1946) II. 37 My wife and brat thank God are finely, as can be expected.

1793 H. M. Reynolds Diary 30 Sept. in E. Greg Reynolds–Rathbone Diaries & Lett. (1905) 66 My beloved sister had a painful night, but appeared so finely in the morning.

1818 H. J. Todd Johnson's Dict. Eng. Lang. at Finely 7 In Cumberland a man in good health being asked how he is, answers ‘he is finely’.

a1855 W. T. Spurdens Forby's Vocab. E. Anglia (1858) III. 16 ‘How is your wife, John, after her groaning?’ ‘Finely, sir, thank 'ee.’

1933 M. L. Davies & G. D. Thomson tr. M. O'Sullivan Twenty Years A-growing i. 3 ‘How are you now?’ ‘I am finely.’

Compounds

C1.

a. With past participles forming adjectives, as finely chopped, finely tempered, finely wrought, etc.

ΚΠ

1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. 1 Tim. ii. f. viii Trymmyng them selues fyrst with a greate a doo by a glasse, with fynely [L. arte] rolled heare or enbrodryng of golde.

1599 R. Linche Fountaine Anc. Fiction sig. G The well-hewen and finely-polish'd face of that Colosse.

1664 H. More Modest Enq. Myst. Iniquity ii. ii. xvii. 438 They shall use the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God..against the finely-wrought subtilties.

a1672 P. Sterry Disc. Freedom of Will (1675) 122 Through this Image, as a finely-shadowed Vail, it [sc. the intellectual soul] hath a view of God himself.

1728 J. Thomson Spring 39 The finely-checker'd Duck.

1765 P. Collinson in Philos. Trans. 1764 (Royal Soc.) 54 65 Four finely-veined transparent wings.

1823 J. Badcock Domest. Amusem. 61 The finely divided, loamy or fructiferous part of the soil.

1869 C. Boutell tr. J. P. Lacombe Arms & Armour vii. 120 Their finely-tempered blades.

1875 W. McIlwraith Guide Wigtownshire 94 The..finely-situated..Endcliffe House.

1906 Musical Times 47 125/1 The Symphony Orchestra's concert..was chiefly noticeable for a finely-rendered performance of Mozart's ‘Jupiter’ Symphony.

1955 J. B. Shephard Land of Tikoloshe 110 Made from finely ground mealie meal which is boiled up into a thin porridge.

1991 J. Blair & N. Ramsay Eng. Medieval Industries xiii. 341 A finely-woven cloth with densely-packed weft-stripes.

2014 New Yorker 20 Jan. 14/2 The pleasantly sweet beet burger, accompanied by torshi, a pickle of finely chopped vegetables.

finely-bred adj.

ΚΠ

1657 G. Swinnock Gods are Men 31 Its probable some of you, may be nobly born, finely bred, highly advanced.

1741 J. Kelly Pamela's Conduct in High Life II. x. 74 She is finely bred,..and indeed it is allowed by all, that she wants no Accomplishment.

1870 Farmer's Mag. Jan. 26/1 They always go for a finely-bred Berkshire [pig] in Bingley Hall.

1963 Dominion (Wellington) 31 Aug. 7 Born and reared on the inhospitable plains, a horse developed a stamina that no finely-bred animal possessed.

2006 B. J. Hirschy Field Spaniel 28/2 A slight arch to the neck..adds to the aristocratic, finely bred appearance when the animal is viewed from the side.

finely cut adj.

ΚΠ

1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball lxxi. 105 Greater and broader then the leaues of Yerrow or Milfoyle, but not so finely cut [Fr. menu incisées] as Milfoyle.

1640 J. Parkinson Theatrum Botanicum xxx. 86 This small Camomill..having some few hoary whitish greene finely cut leaves.

1768 R. R. Orig. Camera Obscura 78 Drawing such crowded houses, as to enable the Managers to burn only Wax Candles in finely cut Chandeliers.

1866 ‘G. Eliot’ Felix Holt I. i. 20 Her hands..lay on her folded black-clad arms like finely-cut onyx cameos.

1939 N.Y. Herald Tribune 16 Mar. 22/6 A pasty stuff made of plantain flour with chicken, a little finely cut beef, olives, raisins and chick peas.

2006 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 19 Mar. 29 Those finely cut features are framed by long red sideburns.

finely pinnated adj.

ΚΠ

1778 J. Abercrombie Universal Gardener & Botanist at Schinus They being pretty ever-greens, with finely pinnated leaves, merit a place in the collection of our tender exotics.

1870 C. Kingsley in Good Words 239 Finely-pinnated mimosa leaves.

1998 C. M. Grimm tr. S. Luetjohann Healing Power Black Cumin 146 Black cumin has also been called ‘small fennel’, which can probably be explained by its similarity to the finely pinnated leaves.

finely-timed adj.

ΚΠ

1659 T. Burton Diary (BL Add. MS 15863) His was a finely tim'd speech.

1779 Public Advertiser 11 Aug. The finely-timed Festivity of their Bowls.

1893 Atlantic Monthly Feb. 195/1 The finely timed alternate strokes of two choppers.

1954 Billboard 19 June 51/3 Footwork is excellent and both have a flair for finely timed aero interpolations.

2006 T. White Animation from Pencils to Pixels xvi. 449 A finely-timed hold in the action can be as effective as all-action and all-moving animation.

C2.

finely axed adj. now rare = fine-axed adj. at fine adj., adv., and n.² Compounds 4.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > stone or rock > [adjective] > finely-axed

finely axed1856

1856 Minutes Proc. Inst. Civil Engineers 15 440 A water-tight joint, with the cill of finely-axed Aberdeen granite.

1936 Scotsman 17 Sept. 7/5 An Aberdeen firm..has secured the sub-contract for the polished and finely axed work of the new Government buildings.

1981 Heritage of Austral. (Austral. Heritage Comm.) iii. 101/4 The style reflects Scottish lowland traditions; with finely axed masonry, Gothic detail and an imposing central bell-cote.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	finely
释义	finelyadv.adj. Brit. /ˈfʌɪnli/, U.S. /ˈfaɪnli/ Forms: Middle English fineliche, Middle English finliche, Middle English fynelich, Middle English fynliche, Middle English–1500s fynly, Middle English–1600s fynely, Middle English– finely, 1500s fynelye, 1500s fynlie (Scottish), 1500s–1600s finelie, 1500s–1600s finelye, 1500s–1600s finly, 1500s–1600s fynelie. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: fine adj., -ly suffix². Etymology: < fine adj. + -ly suffix². A. adv. †1. To the fullest degree; perfectly, completely; thoroughly, very well. Also (and in earliest use) in finely well. Obsolete (Scottish, English regional, and U.S. in later use). 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 the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > utterly allOE allOE outlyOE thwert-outc1175 skerea1225 thoroughc1225 downrightc1275 purec1300 purelyc1300 faira1325 finelyc1330 quitec1330 quitelyc1330 utterlyc1374 outerlya1382 plainlya1382 straighta1387 allutterly1389 starkc1390 oultrelya1393 plata1393 barec1400 outrightc1400 incomparablyc1422 absolutely?a1425 simpliciter?a1425 staringa1425 quitementa1450 properlyc1450 directly1455 merec1475 incomparable1482 preciselyc1503 clean?1515 cleara1522 plain1535 merely1546 stark1553 perfectly1555 right-down1566 simply1574 flat1577 flatly1577 skire1581 plumb1588 dead?1589 rankly1590 stark1593 sheera1600 start1599 handsmooth1600 peremptory1601 sheerly1601 rank1602 utter1619 point-blank1624 proofa1625 peremptorily1626 downrightly1632 right-down1646 solid1651 clever1664 just1668 hollow1671 entirely1673 blank1677 even down1677 cleverly1696 uncomparatively1702 subtly1733 point1762 cussed1779 regularly1789 unqualifiedly1789 irredeemably1790 positively1800 cussedly1802 heart1812 proper1816 slick1818 blankly1822 bang1828 smack1828 pluperfectly1831 unmitigatedly1832 bodaciously1833 unredeemedly1835 out of sight1839 bodacious1845 regular1846 thoroughly1846 ingrainedly1869 muckinga1880 fucking1893 motherless1898 self1907 stone1928 sideways1956 terminally1974 c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 5907 And armed him fineliche wel. c1390 Castle of Love (Vernon) (1967) l. 1133 Hou fynliche in herte God loueþ þe. c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1391 (MED) I wowche hit saf fynly. a1425 (a1399) Forme of Cury (BL Add.) 200 in C. B. Hieatt & S. Butler Curye on Inglysch (1985) 144 Menge it fynelich wel þat it sit not to þe pot. c1600 (c1350) Alisaunder (Greaves) (1929) 1199 Fende mee finliche well, to fonde my strength. 1655 N. Culpeper et al. tr. L. Rivière Pract. Physick vii. i. 152 The Tumor vanished, and she was finely cured. 1773 J. Everet Let. 5 Apr. in Morley's Ess. Scrophulous Disorders (1790) xliii. 55 I am got finely well of my Complaints... It has been healed up about three months. a1886 D. Grant Sc. Stories (1888) 153 ‘Do you understand his sermons?’ ‘Finely that, Mem.’ 1902 Inst. Tie Aug. 431/1 ‘Did you like the first piece?’ ‘Yes,’ I said, ‘that pleased me finely.’ †2. With great skill or superior workmanship; consummately; intricately; exquisitely. Obsolete.Now merged in sense A. 6a. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [adverb] lieflyc900 merelyeOE fairOE lovelya1375 featously1377 belliche1394 finelya1400 buttylly1496 lovelilya1500 well-favouredly1528 beautifully1538 beauteously1592 bonnily1595 love-likely1621 bonny1650 beautiful1767 the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adverb] > with skilled or elaborate workmanship quaintlyc1300 curiously1340 finelya1400 exquisitely1535 a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 6563 Hit ys of gold finely diȝt. c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 3220 (MED) Þe flore vndire þe fote fynely was paued, Couerd all of cristall & oþire clere stanes. a1500 (c1400) Vision of Tundale (Adv.) (1843) l. 1656 Of red gold fynly ennamelyd. 1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 85^v And finely finisht vp the ship. 1602 tr. G. Corrozet Memorable Conceits 111 She brought out of her Coffer certaine Poppets..made very finely. 1672 J. Davies Anc. Rites Durham 17 A goodly fine Lantern, or Letteron, of Brass..with a great Pelican on the height of it, finely gilt. 1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 391 Great Columns..finely engraven with Fruits and Foliage. 1763 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting III. ii. 85 In the great anti-chamber are several dead fowl over the chimney, finely executed. †3. In a clever or intellectually subtle manner; cunningly; craftily. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adverb] craftilyeOE craftlyOE hagherlyc1175 hendc1275 craftfully?c1335 taughtlya1382 craftiouslyc1450 handsomely1528 finely1538 skilfully1565 artfully1608 peritely1657 the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > sharpness, shrewdness, insight > [adverb] sharplyc897 redlyc1275 wellc1450 finely1538 aptly1578 acutely1600 shrewdly1600 penetratingly1670 sagaciously1678 penetratively1697 cutely1762 keenly1824 downily1845 percipiently1924 insightfully1932 sharp-wittedly1934 the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [adverb] > astutely yeplya900 smeighlyc1200 finely1538 shrewdly1600 astuciously18.. knowingly1805 astutely1826 1538 T. Elyot Dict. Vafre, craftily, fynely in deceyuyng. 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes ii. f. 293^v The argumente of his frendes he did moste fynely [L. argutissime] wrest to the contrarie of their menyng. 1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 196 Where as he him selfe by Hannibal was first finely handled and deceyued. a1639 H. Wotton Parallel betweene Earle of Essex & Duke of Buckingham (1641) 6 Wee rate this one secret, as it was finely carried at 4000. pounds in present mony. 4. a. In or into minute particles or small pieces; to a fine point or edge; so as to be delicate in structure or texture. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adverb] > on a minute scale finely1542 minutely1794 the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [adverb] > with particular care choicelya1375 particularly1489 nice?1544 nicely1651 finely1718 1542 T. Elyot Bibliotheca at Attenuate Sclenderly, subtilly, fynely. ?1543 T. Phaer tr. N. de Houssemaine Treat. Pestilence i. vii. f. xxi^v, in tr. J. Goeurot Regiment of Lyfe Half an ounce of yelow saunders fynelye poudred. ?1550 H. Llwyd tr. Pope John XXI Treasury of Healthe sig. Tviii Make them into pouder fynelye. 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball i. i. 4 The leaves are much more jagged..finelier cut. 1606 H. Peacham Art of Drawing iv. 10 Get you black lead, sharpened finelie. 1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais 2nd Bk. Wks. xvi Another [pocket] he had all full of Euphorbium very finely pulverised. 1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 10 Mar. (1965) I. 383 Napkins, as finely wrought as the finest handkercheifs. 1732 Method learning to Draw iii. 29 Take Rose-pink finely ground and powdered, mix it well with a little Sanders Blue, till the Powder appears of the Colour you want. 1816 L. Hunt Story of Rimini iii. 16 The other finelier spun. 1853 R. Blakey Angler's Compl. Guide to Rivers & Lakes Eng. v. 84 The wings should stand well apart, taper finely at their extremities, and retain their shape in the water. 1873 J. H. Beadle Undeveloped West iii. 74 The soil pulverizes finely in summer. It is never water soaked, consequently never ‘bakes’ or clods. 1930 Daily Tel. 9 Apr. 15/1 (advt.) Attractive three-piece suit in tweedknit..designed with..new tuck-in pullover finely woven to tone with suit. 1968 I. Kostov Mineral. 530 Kalicine and teschemacherite occur as finely crystalline white masses. 2002 National Trust Mag. Summer 32/1 Finely chop the chilli, add to the cake batter and mix it thoroughly. b. figurative and in figurative contexts. ΚΠ a1575 N. Harpsfield Treat. Divorce Henry VIII (1878) (modernized text) 227 This interpretation is finely spinned..out of the lawyer's fantastical head. 1657 I. B. Heroick Educ. vii. sig. G Artifices are nets, which are easily discovered if they be too grosse, and are quickly broken if they be more finely woven. 1693 J. Dryden Disc. Orig. & Progr. Satire in Prose Wks. (1800) III. 212 Here is the Majesty of the heroick finely mixed with the venom of the other. 1704 J. Colbatch Coll. Tracts 523 Methinks, these Notions seem to be a little too finely spun. 1829 B. Field Visitor 73 The thread of his life appeared to be so finely attenuated, as to want but a breath to sever it. 1885 Bookseller 5 Mar. 240/2 The distinction in these mixed races seems very finely drawn. 1946 L. B. Lyon Rough Walk Home 27 The retina of a blind man's finger-tips though fine, is not so finely spun as hope's. 1963 H. Kane Dead in Bed xiv. 107 This kid, inside, is too finely-meshed, too sensitive. 1991 National Trust Mag. Spring 24/1 The dividing line between health and gastronomy was finely drawn. 5. With reference to action, speech, etc.: with subtlety or delicacy. Also: in a refined manner; elegantly. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [adverb] > with delicacy subtlyc1350 at point devicec1390 point-devicec1425 subtilelya1513 finely1542 to the point device1542 by point device1575 critically1607 exquisitely1626 nicely1638 delicately1776 the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > fastidiousness > [adverb] over-delicately1357 preciouslyc1430 daintethlyc1440 pickedlya1528 finely1542 nicely1547 fastidiously?1555 daintily1561 curiously1573 sizely?1578 fine1579 overnicely1582 squeamishly1606 finically1659 just so1683 superfinely1693 hypercritically1715 meticulously1900 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes Pref. sig. ✭vii^v Thei dooe plainly expresse & sette out the veraye naturall inclinacion and disposicion of eche speaker that thei procede from, briefly, finely [L. argute], quippyngly, and meryly within the boundes of good maner. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward V f. xviii He would that poinct should be..more fynely & closely handled. 1608 Yorkshire Trag. sig. B^v Chide me? Doo't finely then. a1625 J. Fletcher Loyal Subj. ii. ii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ddd4 ^v/1 You will divide too, shortly, Your voice comes finely forward. 1710 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1886) II. 369 In y^e City of Rome they spoke more finely..than in Provinces. 1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 345. ¶21 The new Passion that was awakened in him [sc. Adam] at the sight of her [sc. Eve] is touched very finely. 1851 E. B. Browning Casa Guidi Windows i. ii. 2 Who..touched the heart of us So finely that the pity scarcely pained! 1867 F. Francis Bk. Angling iii. 63 The angler is compelled to fish as finely as possible. 1916 A. C. Bristol Present Phase Woman's Advancem. 66 She will not think hugely, awkwardly, terribly; she will think finely, delicately, exquisitely. 2008 J. S. Mackley tr. in Leg. St. Brendan App. 2. 274 Brendan spoke finely and gently. 6. a. In a manner that elicits admiration; admirably; excellently. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > splendour > [adverb] splendidiously?a1475 finely?1552 splendidously1640 transplendently1664 splendidly1675 the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adverb] > and nobly or splendidly micklelyeOE highlyeOE freelyOE dearworthlyc1230 gloriously1393 dearworthilya1400 farrandlyc1400 stately?a1439 finely?1552 gallantly1552 goldenly1580 rarely1581 sightly1592 superbly1769 splendidly1774 splendiferously1841 swell1856 in there1944 ?1552 V. Leigh Pleasaunt Playne & Pythye Pathewaye ii. sig. Ciii I coulde then fynelie playe, On the harpe, moche better, then nowe. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 114 The castle of Norham..quhilk Bischop Fox..furnist fynlie with men of weir. 1661 S. Pepys Diary 19 May (1970) II. 103 Captain Cooke, Mr. Gibbons, and others of the King's Musique were come to present my Lord with some songs and Symphonys, which were performed very finely. 1670 W. Walker Idiomatologia Anglo-Latina 358 Thou hast play'd thy part finely. 1719 T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth I. 256 Here is one can Oagle finely. 1759 J. Mills tr. H. L. Duhamel du Monceau Pract. Treat. Husbandry ii. i. 132 The corn came up finely. 1807 G. Chalmers Caledonia I. i. iv. 135 Lockhart-hall..is finely situated on the right bank of the Clyde. 1850 T. T. Lynch Memorials Theophilus Trinal 81 Greenish tints, finely contrasting with its [sc. the moon] own soft white. 1901 H. W. Wilson With Flag to Pretoria II. xxviii. 671 The militia,..though raw troops now for the first time under fire, behaved finely. 1961 Connoisseur Dec. p. xiv (advt.) A rare Longton Hall Vase finely painted with flowers. 2000 O. Davies in A. Hastings et al. Oxf. Compan. Christian Thought 299/1 It is this that constitutes the unity of her work, finely expressed in the recurrent image of viriditas , or ‘greenness’. b. ironically. Cf. fine adj. 7c. ΚΠ 1579 W. Fulke Heskins Parl. Repealed in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 222 He scoffeth finely at our spirituall sifting of the sacrament so fine. a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) v. iii. 20 Wee'll betray him finely . View more context for this quotation 1694 R. South 12 Serm. II. 613 I doubt not but you will find that Kingdom..finely governed in a short time. 1728 C. Cibber Vanbrugh's Provok'd Husband i. i. 9 Ay! ay!..Batchelors' Wives, indeed, are finely govern'd. 1778 F. Burney Let. Sept. in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1994) III. 154 When we are away, I suppose she pays us off finely! 1869 Dublin Univ. Mag. Sept. 282/2 I'm afeard she'll prove it only too ready; 'twill shame us finely. 1883 R. L. Stevenson Treasure Island i. iv. 30 My heart was beating finely when we two set forth. 1921 H. Granville-Barker Guitry's Deburau i. 72 Oh, and I have been beaten finely For nearly—and not quite—breaking my neck. 2009 J. Beverley Secret Wedding xxviii. 346 A part of him..growled with rage. She'd fooled him finely. 7. With reference to dress: showily; smartly. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [adverb] > in specific way to (also into, unto) one's (also the) shirtc1300 in or of (a) suitc1325 in ragsa1350 in (also on) one's shirtc1380 in suit of or with1389 thinlya1400 in suit with1488 finely?1552 raggedly1552 smoothly1579 garish1590 briskly1592 in one's waistcoat1607 in mourning1621 in cuerpoa1640 in gala1757 airily1768 plain1808 in mufti1816 in, on one's stocking-soles1827 seedily1837 in beaver1840 back to front1869 dowdily1887 dossily1903 head-to-toe1946 sharp1951 sharply1965 understatedly1972 ?1552 W. Baldwin tr. ‘P. Esquillus’ Wonderfull Newes sig. Aviii About Peter Aloysius were Catamites innumerable, hauyng all the partes of theyr body finely [L. molliter] clothed. 1570 B. Googe tr. T. Kirchmeyer Popish Kingdome iv. f. 57^v First in the morning finely drest [L. culti], they iet the streetes about. 1658 J. Burbury tr. G. Gualdo Priorato Hist. Christina Queen of Swedland 461 The Princesses and Ladies, most finely attired, and resplendent. 1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. vi. v. sig. Nn6 Many of them as finely and as richly dress'd, as if [etc.]. 1717 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 18 Apr. (1965) I. 347 Her She Slaves, finely dress'd, were rang'd on each side. 1791 R. Townley Jrnl. kept Isle of Man I. 16 A great number of boys and girls, neatly dressed, and finely decked out with ribbonds of various colours. 1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Tonse, to dress, to deck, to trim. Tonsed, dressed up. ‘Thou's finely tonsed this morning.’ 1889 P. B. Du Chaillu Viking Age I. xxxvii. 521 Between the sessions of the Thing amusements took place, among them that of saga-telling; and the people who attended were often finely dressed. 1921 Notable Coll. Japanese Color Prints Property of C. Schraubstadter §301 A maid is holding an umbrella over two finely attired ladies. 1991 P. Jenkins Fields of Vision 63 Middle-aged, all in suits, very finely dressed, with their big valises. B. adj. In good health; = fine adj. 15. Now rare (English regional and Irish English in later use). ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > [adjective] > of health: good > healthy wholeeOE isoundOE i-sundfulc1000 ferec1175 soundc1175 fish-wholea1225 forthlyc1230 steadfasta1300 wella1300 safec1300 tidya1325 halec1330 quartc1330 well-faringc1330 well-tempered1340 well-disposeda1398 wealyc1400 furnished1473 mighty?a1475 quartful?c1475 good1527 wholesomea1533 crank1548 healthful1550 healthy1552 hearty1552 healthsome1563 well-affected?1563 disposed1575 as sound as a bell1576 firm1577 well-conditioned1580 sound1605 unvaletudinary1650 all right1652 valid1652 as sound as a (alsoany) roach1655 fair-like1663 hoddy1664 wanton1674 stout?1697 trig1704 well-hained1722 sprack1747 caller1754 sane1755 finely1763 bobbish1780 cleverly1784 right1787 smart1788 fine1791 eucratic1795 nobbling1825 as right as a trivet1835 first rate1841 in fine, good, high, etc., feather1844 gay1855 sprackish1882 game ball1905 abled1946 well-toned1952 a hundred per cent1960 oke1960 1763 T. Percy Let. 27 Feb. in Percy Lett. (1946) II. 37 My wife and brat thank God are finely, as can be expected. 1793 H. M. Reynolds Diary 30 Sept. in E. Greg Reynolds–Rathbone Diaries & Lett. (1905) 66 My beloved sister had a painful night, but appeared so finely in the morning. 1818 H. J. Todd Johnson's Dict. Eng. Lang. at Finely 7 In Cumberland a man in good health being asked how he is, answers ‘he is finely’. a1855 W. T. Spurdens Forby's Vocab. E. Anglia (1858) III. 16 ‘How is your wife, John, after her groaning?’ ‘Finely, sir, thank 'ee.’ 1933 M. L. Davies & G. D. Thomson tr. M. O'Sullivan Twenty Years A-growing i. 3 ‘How are you now?’ ‘I am finely.’ Compounds C1. a. With past participles forming adjectives, as finely chopped, finely tempered, finely wrought, etc. ΚΠ 1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. 1 Tim. ii. f. viii Trymmyng them selues fyrst with a greate a doo by a glasse, with fynely [L. arte] rolled heare or enbrodryng of golde. 1599 R. Linche Fountaine Anc. Fiction sig. G The well-hewen and finely-polish'd face of that Colosse. 1664 H. More Modest Enq. Myst. Iniquity ii. ii. xvii. 438 They shall use the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God..against the finely-wrought subtilties. a1672 P. Sterry Disc. Freedom of Will (1675) 122 Through this Image, as a finely-shadowed Vail, it [sc. the intellectual soul] hath a view of God himself. 1728 J. Thomson Spring 39 The finely-checker'd Duck. 1765 P. Collinson in Philos. Trans. 1764 (Royal Soc.) 54 65 Four finely-veined transparent wings. 1823 J. Badcock Domest. Amusem. 61 The finely divided, loamy or fructiferous part of the soil. 1869 C. Boutell tr. J. P. Lacombe Arms & Armour vii. 120 Their finely-tempered blades. 1875 W. McIlwraith Guide Wigtownshire 94 The..finely-situated..Endcliffe House. 1906 Musical Times 47 125/1 The Symphony Orchestra's concert..was chiefly noticeable for a finely-rendered performance of Mozart's ‘Jupiter’ Symphony. 1955 J. B. Shephard Land of Tikoloshe 110 Made from finely ground mealie meal which is boiled up into a thin porridge. 1991 J. Blair & N. Ramsay Eng. Medieval Industries xiii. 341 A finely-woven cloth with densely-packed weft-stripes. 2014 New Yorker 20 Jan. 14/2 The pleasantly sweet beet burger, accompanied by torshi, a pickle of finely chopped vegetables. b. finely-bred adj. ΚΠ 1657 G. Swinnock Gods are Men 31 Its probable some of you, may be nobly born, finely bred, highly advanced. 1741 J. Kelly Pamela's Conduct in High Life II. x. 74 She is finely bred,..and indeed it is allowed by all, that she wants no Accomplishment. 1870 Farmer's Mag. Jan. 26/1 They always go for a finely-bred Berkshire [pig] in Bingley Hall. 1963 Dominion (Wellington) 31 Aug. 7 Born and reared on the inhospitable plains, a horse developed a stamina that no finely-bred animal possessed. 2006 B. J. Hirschy Field Spaniel 28/2 A slight arch to the neck..adds to the aristocratic, finely bred appearance when the animal is viewed from the side. finely cut adj. ΚΠ 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball lxxi. 105 Greater and broader then the leaues of Yerrow or Milfoyle, but not so finely cut [Fr. menu incisées] as Milfoyle. 1640 J. Parkinson Theatrum Botanicum xxx. 86 This small Camomill..having some few hoary whitish greene finely cut leaves. 1768 R. R. Orig. Camera Obscura 78 Drawing such crowded houses, as to enable the Managers to burn only Wax Candles in finely cut Chandeliers. 1866 ‘G. Eliot’ Felix Holt I. i. 20 Her hands..lay on her folded black-clad arms like finely-cut onyx cameos. 1939 N.Y. Herald Tribune 16 Mar. 22/6 A pasty stuff made of plantain flour with chicken, a little finely cut beef, olives, raisins and chick peas. 2006 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 19 Mar. 29 Those finely cut features are framed by long red sideburns. finely pinnated adj. ΚΠ 1778 J. Abercrombie Universal Gardener & Botanist at Schinus They being pretty ever-greens, with finely pinnated leaves, merit a place in the collection of our tender exotics. 1870 C. Kingsley in Good Words 239 Finely-pinnated mimosa leaves. 1998 C. M. Grimm tr. S. Luetjohann Healing Power Black Cumin 146 Black cumin has also been called ‘small fennel’, which can probably be explained by its similarity to the finely pinnated leaves. finely-timed adj. ΚΠ 1659 T. Burton Diary (BL Add. MS 15863) His was a finely tim'd speech. 1779 Public Advertiser 11 Aug. The finely-timed Festivity of their Bowls. 1893 Atlantic Monthly Feb. 195/1 The finely timed alternate strokes of two choppers. 1954 Billboard 19 June 51/3 Footwork is excellent and both have a flair for finely timed aero interpolations. 2006 T. White Animation from Pencils to Pixels xvi. 449 A finely-timed hold in the action can be as effective as all-action and all-moving animation. C2. finely axed adj. now rare = fine-axed adj. at fine adj., adv., and n.² Compounds 4. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > stone or rock > [adjective] > finely-axed finely axed1856 1856 Minutes Proc. Inst. Civil Engineers 15 440 A water-tight joint, with the cill of finely-axed Aberdeen granite. 1936 Scotsman 17 Sept. 7/5 An Aberdeen firm..has secured the sub-contract for the polished and finely axed work of the new Government buildings. 1981 Heritage of Austral. (Austral. Heritage Comm.) iii. 101/4 The style reflects Scottish lowland traditions; with finely axed masonry, Gothic detail and an imposing central bell-cote. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adv.adj.c1330
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