† highlyadj.
Obsolete (Scottish in later use).
1. High, lofty; exalted.In later use only in the alliterative phrase highly on height.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > majesty, glory, or grandeur > [adjective]
higheOE
drightlikeOE
highlyOE
drightfula1225
prouda1275
principalc1385
solemna1387
gentlec1390
high and mighty1400
imperial?c1400
royalc1405
kinglyc1425
sublimatec1425
lordfulc1429
lordlyc1440
assumpt1447
raiseda1450
haught1470
kinglikec1485
lordlike1488
triumphant1494
greatlya1500
princely?a1510
supereminent1531
princelike1532
lofta1547
lofty1548
regal1561
supernal1562
haughty1563
excelse1569
queen-like?1571
majestical1578
erecteda1586
augustious1591
ennobled1592
imperious1592
enthronized1593
august1594
high-born1598
sublimed1602
jovial1604
majestic1606
enthroned1609
starred1615
exalted1623
majestuous1633
reared1638
sublimary1655
majestative1656
kingrik1663
superb1663
grand1673
celse1708
stilted1744
canonized1790
queenly1791
apotheosized1794
princified1857
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > vertical extent > [adjective] > great or considerable
higheOE
steepOE
heaven-highOE
highlyOE
brentc1400
hightc1480
hichty1513
procere1542
tall1548
spiringa1552
towereda1552
tower-like1552
upstretched1563
airy1565
excelse1569
haughty1570
topless1589
lofty1590
procerous1599
kiss-sky1603
skyish1604
topful?1611
aspiringc1620
sky-high1622
hiddy1632
tiptoed1632
sublime1635
towering1638
soaring1687
mountain high1693
clamberinga1717
skied1730
towery1731
pyramidic1740
skyey1750
skyward1792
skyscraping1797
exulting1798
high-reaching1827
steepling1892
high-rise1964
hi1972
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xi. 95 Of ðam twelf mynstrum þe he gestaðolode, wæron ðreo asette on healicum muntum.
OE Ælfric Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xiv. 20 Gebletsod ys se healica God [L. Deus excelsus].
lOE Homily: Gospel of Nicodemus (Vesp. D.xiv) in R. D.-N. Warner Early Eng. Homilies (1917) 86 Hwæt eart þu swa mycellic & lytel & hehlic, & swa wunderlic on anes mannes heowe, þæt þu hæfest us ofercumen?
a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Titus) (1963) 5 Nu cumes forð a feble mon. haldis him þah hehlich [a1250 Nero heihliche; ?c1225 Cleo. aȝelich, c1230 Corpus Cambr. ahelich] ȝif he haues a wid hod & a lokin cape.
?c1450 Pistel of Swete Susan (Pierpont Morgan) l. 6 (MED) His halle and his harbegage hyly [c1390 Vernon heiȝ] on hyht.
1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. aiiiiv He had that heynd to ane hall hiely on hight.
2. Splendid, glorious, fine, noble.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective] > and noble or magnificent
dearOE
freelyOE
athelOE
highlyOE
dearwortha1175
noblec1325
worshipful1340
dearworthyc1374
ingenuous1598
valuable1598
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) v. 51 Nan gereord nis swa healic swa ebreisc.
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1900) II. 136 Heofonlic leoht..stod up to heofonum swilce healic sunnbeam ofer ealle ða niht.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 183 Wyth his hiȝlich here, þat of his hed reches.
3.
a. Of high degree or intensity; great, profound; (of sin) heinous.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > quality of being special or extraordinary > [adverb]
hurec893
sunderlyeOE
highlyOE
namelya1200
sunderlepesa1200
sunderlepea1225
specialc1230
specially1340
specially1340
serelya1375
principallyc1390
especially?a1400
rathestc1400
singularlyc1430
selfly1503
singular1530
enspecial1534
inespecially1557
nearly1560
peculiarly1561
inespecial1569
especial1591
speciouslya1616
nominately1641
chief1645
perpendicularly1658
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective]
hardOE
heavyc1000
highOE
highlyOE
stourc1275
largec1330
intensec1400
violent1430
profoundc1450
vehementc1485
intensive1526
advanceda1533
vengeable1532
Herculean1602
well-advanced1602
deep1605
dense1732
abysmal1817
intensitive1835
holy1837
high-level1860
major1942
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xxxiv. 292 Ðær wæs ða gehæfd gehende ðære byrig swilce halig stow, mid healicum gedwylde, and weofod geset mid micclum wurðmynte swilce ðær gereste sum halig cyðere.
OE Rule St. Benet (Corpus Cambr.) xxxviii. 62 Sy þænne healic swige [a1225 Winteney heahlic swie; L. summum fiat silentium] æt þæm gereorde, þæt nanes mannes stefn oðþe reonung þærinne gehyred ne sy.
c1175 ( Homily in A. O. Belfour 12th Cent. Homilies in MS Bodl. 343 (1909) 54 Ic nabbe nænne healicne gylt idon.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 5132 Þat Seuarus in his hirede hæfde hehliche grið.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 264 He ne may naȝt zigge, bote yef þer by heȝliche clom.
b. Of the voice: raised, loud; powerful, strong.Only in Old English.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > loud or resonant
loud971
highlyOE
stithc1000
strongOE
steepc1275
stiff1377
strengthfula1382
gross1398
stentorious15..
open-mouthed?1533
wildc1550
preclare?1553
strainable1569
trolling1581
main1582
wide-mouthed1589
full-mouthed1594
wide-mouth?c1599
stentorian1606
trump-like1609
stentorophonic1678
strenuous1680
open-mouth1702
stentorial1754
stentoronic1762
full-throated1820
trumpety1822
Stentor1837
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > loud or resonant > raised (of voice)
highlyOE
highOE
hautaina1375
raised1579
exalted1711
uplifted1828
elevated1829
OE Gifts of Men 93 Sum cræft hafað circnytta fela, mæg on lofsongum lifes waldend hlude hergan, hafað healice beorhte stefne.
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1900) II. 282 Þa hæþenan þa clypodon mid healicre stemne, and cwædon mid geleafan þæt Crist wære soð God.
4. Haughty, proud.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > haughtiness or disdainfulness > [adjective]
overmoodeOE
highlyOE
overmoodOE
overmoodyOE
orgelc1175
dangerous?c1225
orgula1275
orgulousc1275
fiercec1290
hautain1297
highfulc1325
squeamousc1325
deignousc1330
digne1340
disdainousc1374
sirlya1375
lordlyc1390
high-hearteda1398
haught1430
haut1430
coppedc1449
excellentc1450
fastidious?a1475
loftyc1485
dain?1507
hichty1513
stiff-necked1526
supercilious1528
haughty1530
taunt?a1534
disdainfula1542
high in the instep1555
skeighc1560
queen-like?1571
surlyc1572
stately1579
coy1581
paughtya1586
steya1586
disdained1598
dortya1605
lordlike1605
overly1606
magnatical1608
stiff1608
surly-borne1609
high-sighted1610
lofty-minded1611
sublimed1611
patronizing1619
lording1629
sublimated1634
cavaliering1642
uncondescending1660
nose-in-the-air1673
sidy1673
fastuose1674
uncondescensive1681
condescending1707
stiff-rumped1728
fastidiose1730
cavalier1751
ogertful1754
pawky1809
supercilian1825
splendid1833
touch-me-not1852
pincé1858
high-stepping1867
eyeglassy1871
sniffy1871
cavalierly1876
snifty1889
Olympian1900
ritzy1920
mugwumpish1923
blasé1930
stiff-arsed1937
nose-high1939
OE Genesis B 294 His engyl..spræc healic word dollice wið drihten sinne.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Gouernaunce of Princis (1993) v. 69 It afferis till all grete princis..tobe euer hamely and debonair..& nocht tobe hyely na jrefull.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid ix. x. 13 Rycht proud and hely [1553 hiely] in his breist and hart.
a1550 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Wemyss) cxxxiv. l. 2975 Bot þat assythit nocht þe party, That wes hely and of gret mycht.
1552 Abp. J. Hamilton Catech. i. xii. f. 32 Thai..that ar in thair wordis prydful, helie, vaine glorious.
?1553 (c1501) G. Douglas Palice of Honour (London) iii. l. 1542 in Shorter Poems (1967) 98 Roboam quhilk throw his hely [1579 Edinb. helie] pride Tynt all his ligis hartis.
a1586 A. Arbuthnot in W. A. Craigie Maitland Folio MS (1919) I. xxix. 108 Bot with the heich ȝit man I heichlie be.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
highlyadv.
/ˈhʌɪli/, U.S. /ˈhaɪli/ 1. In a high position or location; aloft, on high; so as to be tall or elevated. Now rare.In quot. a1616 in figurative context.high is now usual in this use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > high position > [adverb]
upc888
highOE
highlyOE
thereupc1000
anovenOE
overOE
boveOE
on, upon (the) lofta1100
aloftc1175
bibufennc1175
on higha1200
abovec1225
anovenonc1300
in heighta1340
on or upon height1340
ahighc1350
outh1389
over loftc1430
aheight1477
supernally1596
lofty-like1604
sublimely1625
way up1843
thereabove1891
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xiv. 145 And asette ðis gewrit sona to ðære rode, bufon cristes heafde, healice to tacne.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 4033 Þe king hafde his kine-helm hæhliche [c1300 Otho hehliche] on hæfde.
c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 464 Þou sall be heuedede..And seyn heyly be hangede.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis i. 2 King Æolus, highly In castel setled.
1598 A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau Frenche Chirurg. 46 b/2 That the membre be collocated softlye, smoothly and highlye.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) ii. iii. 120 The Dust on antique Time would lye vnswept, And mountainous Error be too highly heapt, For Truth to o're-peere. View more context for this quotation
1680 C. Phelpes Antidote against Desperation 192 They said (as persons that would not see, when Gods hand was so highly lifted up) This fellow doth not cast out Devils.
1735 T. Morgan Mech. Pract. Physick xvi. 351 The excrementitious Salts and Sulphurs..have been most highly raised by glandular Digestion and Fermentation.
1790 W. Marshall Rural Econ. Midland Counties II. 4 The burners [at a lime kiln] make their layers unusually thick: the stone half a yard, and the coal five or six inches; coaling very highly.
1841 Q. Jrnl. Agric. 12 No. 55. 365 The head is small, the thorax large and gibbous, rising highly above it.
1900 Home Needlework Mag. Oct. 313 Flowers are mostly worked in Satin stitch, highly raised... Flowers are embellished with French knots.
1905 Portland Ideal Cook Bk. (Geo. Wright Woman's Relief Corps, No. 2, Portland, Oregon) 63 They [sc. watercress leaves] should then be shaken free of wet, and piled highly in a glass dish.
2000 J. E. Snyder Saga Joe Monk vi. 60 Books stacked highly on the floor.
2. In or to a high rank or social status; from a family of high rank.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > [adverb]
highlyOE
up1509
greatly1684
OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Corpus Oxf.) v. xvii. 458 He þreo winter healice þa cyricean wæs reccende & styrende [L. ecclesiam sublimiter regens].
c1450 ( J. Walton tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Linc. Cathedral 103) 84 He þat worldly is most fortunate, And set most hily in prosperite, Full litel þing his blisse may abate.
a1500 (?a1450) Gesta Romanorum (Harl. 7333) (1879) 122 He shulde wedde hir, & be hiliche avauncyd.
1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie lxiii. 380 Yet the wickeddest sorte will needes be highliest exalted.
1625 W. Morrell New-England 18 The consort of his bed must be of blood Coequall..And highly bred in all high parts of state.
1684 G. S. Anglorum Speculum 159 Geo. Monk highly descended, Commenced Captain in the Martial University in the Low Countries.
1704 Earl of Cromarty Speech Parl. Scotl. July 11 She is one of the Heads and highly situate.
1798 S. Lee Young Lady's Tale in H. Lee Canterbury Tales II. 14 What might not the highly born, highly bred, beautiful Miss Arden, promise herself?
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xiv. 495 A much greater proportion of the opulent, of the highly descended, and of the highly educated.
1887 J. Hutchison Lect. Philippians x. 103 God highly exalted Him. This super-exaltation, then, is described as of God's favour.
1908 H. S. Mott N.Y. of Yesterday iv. 114 Not many families in Holland, outside the ranks of royalty, were more highly positioned than the Strijckers.
1998 D. Zillman Connections Sexuality & Aggression ii. 52 The highly born ones, males and females alike, had unrestricted sexual access to persons of lower rank.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > pre-eminence > [adverb]
highlyOE
overalla1225
with the firstc1300
principally1340
principalc1390
in principala1393
chiefly14..
ratherestc1400
rathestc1400
primarily1587
kat' exochen1588
paravant1590
pre-eminently1590
primely1610
cardinally1631
transeminently1642
paramountly1798
par eminence1823
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xvii. 313 Gif ænig gesceaft is god þonne is seo godnys of ðam scyppende: Se ðe is healice god.
OE tr. Defensor Liber Scintillarum (1969) vii. 72 Precipue in tempore orationis intenta nihil malum nihil superfluum recipit : healicust on tide gebedes atiht nan yfel naht oferflowende onfehð.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 27 Þe ilke zenne him to-delþ ine þri boȝes heȝliche.
a1400 (?c1300) Lay Folks Mass Bk. (Royal) (1879) 121 Lord, saue þo the prest..þat he fulfille þis sacrament..first heghly [c1450 Newenh. princypaly] to þin honoure.
4. † c. With a raised voice; loudly, aloud. Cf. high adv. 4b. Obsolete.
a. At or to a high degree or level; to a great extent; greatly, intensely; extremely, very.With verbs such as commend, esteem, extol, honour, praise, value, etc., coloured by or passing into senses 4b, 5c.Now the most common sense.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb]
stronglyeOE
felec950
strongeOE
highlyOE
highOE
greatlya1200
stourlya1225
greata1325
dreec1330
deeplya1400
mightya1400
dreichlyc1400
mighty?a1425
sorec1440
mainlyc1450
greatumly1456
madc1487
profoundly1489
stronglya1492
muchwhata1513
shrewlya1529
heapa1547
vengeance?1548
sorely1562
smartlyc1580
mightly1582
mightily1587
violently1601
intensively1604
almightily1612
violent1629
seriously1643
intensely1646
importunately1660
shrewdly1664
gey1686
sadly1738
plenty1775
vitally1787
substantively1795
badly1813
far1814
heavily1819
serious1825
measurably1834
dearly1843
bally1939
majorly1955
sizzlingly1956
majorly1978
fecking1983
OE Crist I 383 Eala seo wlitige..heofoncund þrynes,..þa mid ryhte sculon..eorðware ealle mægene hergan healice.
OE Blickling Homilies 33 He wolde þæt his lof þe healicor weoxe.
OE Form of Confession (Royal 2 B.v) in Anglia (1889) 11 113 On eallum þisum heafodleahtrum ic healice agylte.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 3 Here cumeð ure king, wule we..him..heiliche wurðie.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1798 Hiȝliche þei heriede god of þat hap fallen.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xvii. xxxi. 928 In þe north londe men..hongeþ often þe reed in here dennes to make hem hyly delicious and lykynge.
1415 in T. Rymer Fœdera (1709) IX. 301 I have hyle offendyd to zoure Hynesse.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 577 For his leawte..rewardyt and yat hely.
a1500 (?a1450) Gesta Romanorum (Harl. 7333) (1879) 54 When the Emperoure herd this, he was hily meved in all his bowels.
1508 Mirk's Festyuall (de Worde) f. xlix Then this mayster..thanked god hyghly.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms xlvii. 1 Greate is ye Lorde & hyelie to be praysed.
1648 R. Boyle Seraphic Love (1660) 62 Rare Musick, which..the knowingst Artists still do highliest value.
1684 tr. S. Blankaart Physical Dict. 92 Decussorium is a Chyrurgeons Instrument wherewith the Dura Mater being highly pressed, is accurately adjoyned to the Scull.
1710 Ld. Shaftesbury Soliloquy 102 The highly rated burlesque Poem.
1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World v. 178 They would be highly to blame if they did not lay hold of this opportunity.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1775 I. 468 He did not vaunt of his new dignity, but I understood he was highly pleased with it.
1836 J. S. Mill in London Rev. Jan. 368 The feelings of a highly-educated and sensitive girl.
1852 H. Watts tr. L. Gmelin Hand-bk. Chem. VII. 214 All ketones are highly combustible.
1883 J. Martine Reminisc. Royal Burgh Haddington 317 He..manured highly so as to produce heavy crops.
1938 Life 7 Feb. 31/2 He is highly intelligent, despite his somewhat ludicrous appearance.
1950 E. Bradner Northwest Angling iii. i. 172 As a sport fish, the salmon is highly valued by the anglers of the Pacific Coast.
2001 Independent 11 July i. 12/5 She is highly unlikely to serve prison time.
b. At a high rate, amount, or price.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > high price or rate > [adverb]
highlyc1225
exorbitantly1837
stiffly1885
c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Bodl.) (1981) 210 (MED) Ich..wule..wið kinewurðe ȝeoues ȝelden ow hehliche ower ȝong hider.
c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. vii. l. 300 (MED) Bote he beo heihliche I-huret, elles wol he chide.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 15224 His auen lauerd þaim for to selle, als heili als he might.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xiii. l. 180 I schal it ȝow ȝelden be Mani wayes..I schal ȝow hyghly qwyten Er that ȝe pas.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. lviv Other were sore fined and highly raunsomed.
1633 A. Munday et al. Stow's Surv. of London (new ed.) 330/1 Throughout the whole precinct of that Colledge, many other houses were builded, and highly priced, letten to strangers.
1652 C. Cotterell tr. G. de Costes de La Calprenède Cassandra iii. 65 My life..is not worth one of your tears, and by so rich a price it would be too highly paid for.
1727 J. Arbuthnot Tables Anc. Coins xix. 200 Great Men who mis-served their Country, were often fined very highly.
1791 Ld. Gardenstone Travelling Memorandums I. 134 Toulon, where I paid highly for good accommodation and entertainment.
1848 Reasoner No. 120. 246 If the public..do not want his wares,..or they are too highly priced, he must abide the consequence.
1860 Allen's Indian Mail 6 Oct. 730/3 The accountancies and auditorships, being appointments of much responsibility, were of course highly paid.
1922 S. Graham Europe—Whither Bound? xii. 159 She thinks it bad policy to charge highly for railway fares and letter postage.
1999 R. A. Posner Problematics Moral & Legal Theory (2002) 75 Their work is neither highly valued by society nor highly remunerated.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adverb] > with raised voice or loudly
loud971
highc1225
on highc1225
highlyc1275
mainlyc1300
with full (also open) mouthc1300
alouda1325
greatly1340
ahigha1400
loudlya1400
on or upon heightc1405
on, upon (the) loftc1420
on loudc1450
in heightc1480
big1556
to the loudesta1616
full-mouthedly1681
in loud1682
stentoriously1685
trumpet-mouthed1767
at the top of one's throat1819
at the top of one's throat1819
out loud1821
stentorianly1880
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 413 Heihliche [c1300 Otho heþliche] he cleopede.
c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 1286 They herde..Hornez of olyfantez full helych blawen.
c1480 (a1400) St. Lawrence 708 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 422 Hely scho sa[i]d, þat al mycht heyre.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lxxxiii. 262 I began to stryue with my brother so hyely that Gybouars myght here me.
?a1518 H. Watson Ualentyne & Orson (1555) xcvii. sig. Xxiii Valentyne..slewe sarazyns on euery syde in cryenge hyghly saynt George, and reclaymynge God.
1618 B. Robertson Crowne of Life ix. 357 How highly shall my soule crie out, greatly ioying and praising thee.
5. † a. With due dignity or ceremony; honourably, nobly; splendidly, gloriously; in high style; richly. Obsolete.† b. With reverence or devotion; solemnly; sincerely, earnestly. Obsolete.Quot. OE1 has alternatively been interpreted as showing sense 4c.
ΘΚΠ
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
eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xiv. 81 He bið genied mid ðæm folgoðe ðæt he sceal healice sprecan [L. summa dicere].
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xii. 125 Se unwæra on ende oft modegað on godum weorcum and nele Gode ðancian ðe hine mid halgum mægnum healice geglengde.
?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1137 Munekes him namen & bebyried him heglice in þe minstre.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Royal) 586 Þer lette sophie..setten achirche & don hire bodi þrin in stanene þruh hehliche.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 143 Hech monnes Messager me schal hechliche vnderfon.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 12299 Þa wimmen..hah-lukest [c1300 Otho hehlokest] iscrudde.
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 2319 Þe folk..Bitauhte him..Þe cunnriche..And made him king heylike and wel.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 22767 Þus heili, bot wel heiliker, Sal cum to deme þe demester.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Melibeus (Hengwrt) (2003) §304 Right so rede .I. þt they be heighly & souereynly gerdoned.
1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 63 Ye haue seruid me hyely & well.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) clxxii. 684 The quene went forth hyely acompanyed.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. xxxiiijv These Ambassadours were highly receiued of the Emperor Sygismond.
1581 N. Woodes Conflict of Conscience (new ed.) ii. i. sig. B.iiiv By Sol vnderstand, Popish principalytie, With whom full highly I am entertained.
1651 J. Ogilby Fables of Æsop Paraphras'd 52 They plunder all the Corn, And highly feast from Evening to the Morn.
1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. J. Albert de Mandelslo 8 in Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors The Dutch entertain'd me very highly.
1707 L. Echard Hist. Eng. iii. xvi. 854 The Conspirators..drunk and feasted highly, pleasing themselves with the Expectations of great Honours.
1777 W. Eddis Let. 6 Aug. in Lett. from Amer. (1792) 429 I have lately made an excursion to Long Island, and was highly entertained in my progress through a rich, beautiful, and well cultivated country.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > melancholy > seriousness or solemnity > [adverb]
highlyOE
deeplyc1300
solemnlya1325
sadlya1375
soberly1382
demurelyc1400
sadc1400
seriouslyc1425
solemnya1470
murely1474
solemnedlyc1480
solenny1480
in (good, sober, serious) sadness1545
gravely1553
staidly1571
solemniouslya1578
solidly1632
in sad earnest1637
ponderously1637
in jest-earnest1642
in all seriousness1679
joking apart1745
unhumorously1768
solidly1799
in sober earnest1836
mirthlessly1853
votively1857
smilelessly1869
unmirthfully1872
unsmilingly1879
inhumorously1898
soberingly1923
straightfacedly1977
OE Crist I 389 Seraphinnes cynn..singað ful healice hludan stefne.
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 48 Ic eom þin hælend, þe þu healice wurðost, and mid eallum mode and mægne lufast.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 11875 Þær wass godess temmple. & tær wass godd hehlike & wel. Wurrþedd onn eorþe. & þeowwtedd.
c1300 St. Patrick's Purgatory (Laud) l. 81 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 202 Heo..heiȝliche songun þe letanie, and holi water with hem bere.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2336 (MED) Do now, god, þi grace, & late me haue al þe harm, heiȝeliche i beseche.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) Prol. l. 69 (MED) God I take hyȝly to wyttenesse That I this wirk of hertly lowe humblesse Toke vp-on me.
c1450 (?a1400) Parl. Thre Ages (BL Add. 31042) l. 178 Heghely I a-vowe, There schall no hode..one my hede sitt Till þat I..iustede hafe.
a1500 (?a1450) Gesta Romanorum (Harl. 7333) (1879) 2 Þer met wiþ him a clerke, the which hielie beheld him.
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 56/2 Euery man laughed..to here it then so sodainly so highly taken.
1568 T. North tr. A. de Guevara Dial Princes (rev. ed.) i. xxviii. f. 41v In that he spake he said highly and like a Philosopher.
1605 A. Munday tr. G. Affinati Dumbe Divine Speaker v. 46 The words of the Euangelist Saint Iohn, where most highly he saith: Quod factum est, in ipso vita erat.
c. With high esteem, appreciation, or praise. Chiefly with think, speak, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [adverb] > with high respect
highly1532
1532 L. Cox Art or Crafte Rhetoryke sig. Bviv The excellent & moost highly named philosopher Plato.
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 387 When we thinke the highliest of ourselves.
1657 R. Baxter One Sheet against Quakers 10 Can they yet think highlier of themselves, or speak highlier of themselves, then this?
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones V. xiv. v. 144 He..would have had us consider ourselves as highly, as if we had been the richest Heiresses.
1794 E. Pendleton Let. 30 Dec. in Lett. & Papers (1967) II. 631 Some speak highly, others the contrary, of its comparative merit.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 119 He spoke highly of them to Barillon.
1877 Jackson's Oxf. Jrnl. 10 Nov. 7/4 He highly regarded the writings of the great lights of the Church in the past.
1909 Musical Times 50 590/2 Brahms evidently thought highly of the native music of his country.
1953 B. Pym Jane & Prudence ii. 21 Mrs Glaze seems to be an excellent cook. Pritchard spoke very highly of her.
2002 K. D. Parhizgar Multicultural Behavior & Global Business Environments vi. 155 People who do not think and believe highly of themselves are likely to be pessimistic about themselves and others.
d. To a high degree of artistic quality or finish; with excellent workmanship; elaborately. Cf. high-finished adj. at high adv. Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > [adverb] > artistically executed or ornamented
elaborately1633
highly1715
1715 J. Richardson Ess. Theory of Painting 156 'Twould be loss of Time to a Painter to finish such things highly.
1775 T. Campbell Diary 27 Mar. (1947) 63 It is a beautiful room & highly finished, with colums..resembling porphiry.
1802 W. Paley Nat. Theol. xxvii. Concl. 579 The hinges in the wings of an earwig..are as highly wrought, as if the Creator had had nothing else to finish.
1842 T. B. Macaulay Let. 24 June in G. O. Trevelyan Life & Lett. Macaulay (1876) II. ix. 110 They are not expected to be highly finished.
1869 A. R. Wallace Malay Archipel. I. ii. 33 Highly painted and decorated clothes-boxes.
1913 G. Murray Euripides & his Age 201 The only normal variation is not towards prose but towards a still more highly wrought musical lyric.
1990 J. Summerson Unromantic Castle ii. 36 Plans and elevations of nearly 200 buildings, mostly in ink..some highly finished, others lightly sketched.
1990 C. Whistler Michelangelo & Raphael Drawings xxiv. 54 This motif is highly worked, with the contours strengthened, adding to the sculptural feel of this group.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > [adverb]
sideOE
highOE
proudlyOE
proudc1384
moodilyc1400
highlya1425
orgulousa1470
strutlyc1480
orgulouslya1500
loftily1548
stoutlya1554
state1579
garishly1593
pridefullya1600
aloft1613
great1625
pridinglya1677
Olympically1839
the mind > emotion > anger > indignation or resentment > [adverb]
highOE
unworthilyc1384
highlya1425
unkindly1550
offensively1589
stomachously1593
stomachfully1611
resentingly1698
resentfully1744
huffishly1755
indignantlya1783
offendedly1804
huffily1860
snarlingly1862
huffingly1864
grudgefully1882
injuredly1886
miffily1958
miffishly1968
a1425 (a1400) Northern Pauline Epist. (1916) 1 Tim. vi. 17 (MED) To þe ryche men of þis worlde bidde þou not to sauoure heyly [L. sublime sapere] nor to hope in þe vncerteynys of þeire Richessys.
?c1450 tr. Bk. Knight of La Tour Landry (1906) 21 Whanne thei will[e] speke high [e] ly, lete hem be, and go from hem.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) viii. 143 Schir amer spak sa hely [1489 Adv. heyly].
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 60/1 He tooke it so highly that his embasiate was deluded.
1562 J. Heywood Sixt Hundred Epigrammes xcvii, in Wks. sig. DDivv In thy walke, walke not to hyly.
1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts i. 128 Why shouldest thou take it so highly, as to undertake a warre hereupon?
1667 M. Poole Dialogue between Popish Priest & Protestant 70 I have heard some of your Priests ranting highly against our Translation.
1793 G. Morris in J. Sparks Life G. Morris (1832) II. 272 The Council here talk so highly to Great Britain that you, who know mankind, will conclude them to be afraid.
Compounds
highly bred adj. = high-bred adj.; (in later use also) (esp. of an animal or plant) inbred (inbred adj. 3), esp. to the point of producing deleterious effects.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > [adjective] > of descent or breeding
ykynde1420
generous1574
well-bred1585
well-descended1591
well nutrimenteda1592
high-descended1600
well-derived1600
high-bred1613
highly bred1625
high-blooded1632
of (good, noble, etc.) familya1639
pedigree1861
1625 W. Morrell New-Eng. 18 The consort of his bed must be of blood Coequall, when an of-spring comes as good, and highly bred in all high parts of state.
1756 Hist. Reynard Fox 8 It..is a common case with many beasts, as nobly born, perhaps, and highly bred as you can boast to be.
1817 M. Edgeworth Ormond xix, in Harrington & Ormond III. 15 Ever after, when he saw a disposition to it in any woman, however highly bred, highly accomplished, or highly gifted, he considered her as a person of mean mind.
1877 Spirit of Times 24 Nov. 448/2 She was bred and is now in foal to Col. West's highly-bred young horse Contractor.
1944 H. G. Wells '42 to '44 182 The highly bred dogs are mostly physical and mental defectives.
2001 J. Babinard in G. C. Nelson Genetically Modified Organisms in Agric. xxvi. 271 Many crop varieties of sugarcane, tomato, potato, rice, corn, oats and other highly bred crops contain genes or chromosome segments derived from different wild relative species.
highly paid adj. earning or providing a high rate of pay.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > payment for labour or service > [adjective] > paid by wages > well-paid
well-paid1590
well-hired1593
well-metalled1609
well-feed1646
highly paid1799
high-paying1833
1799 Pitt's Union 14 The pampered and highly paid clergy..would take wing to London.
1882 19th Cent. Nov. 788 The Board schools..have..many advantages, derived from..their superior staffing, and more highly paid teachers.
1919 Amer. Mag. Sept. 126/1 (advt.) A young man..accepted a highly paid position as a head designer for a manufacturing firm.
2008 Irish Independent 28 Nov. 24/2 I think it's incredible and unacceptable that people in highly paid positions think they can just ride off in the sunset and leave the investigation into the expenditure of taxpayers' money handicapped.
highly strung adj. very sensitive, tense, or nervous (cf. strung adj. 4b).
ΚΠ
1825 U.S. Lit. Gaz. 1 June 183 A want of unison, arising from hearts and minds too highly strung, is the fountain of the poet's proverbial unhappiness.
1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. VII. 855 We have already seen how highly strung and excitable the subjects of chorea usually are.
1943 Ld. Alanbrooke Diary 24 Aug. in War Diaries (2001) 448 He was in a bad ‘prima donna’ highly strung condition.
1988 H. David Fitzrovians (1989) i.10 The ultra–sensitive, highly strung and carelessly Bohemian poet.
2003 Bird Keeper June 31/2 Flycatchers, tanagers and other softbills are often highly strung and will struggle if not securely held.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.OE
adv.eOE