† merelyadv.¹

Forms: see mere adj.¹ and -ly suffix²; also early Middle English merlucor (comparative); Scottish pre-1700 merely.

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: mere adj.¹, -ly suffix².

Etymology: < mere adj.¹ + -ly suffix².In Old English there is also attested a corresponding adjective mǣrlic magnificent, glorious, splendid, which did not survive into Middle English.

Obsolete.

Magnificently, excellently, splendidly, wonderfully.

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

eOE Cleopatra Gloss. in J. J. Quinn Minor Lat.-Old Eng. Glossaries in MS Cotton Cleopatra A.III (Ph.D. diss., Stanford Univ.) (1956) 154 Insigniter, mærlice.

OE Homily (Corpus Cambr. 421) in A. S. Napier Wulfstan (1883) 261 Efne swa he us mærlicor gifeð, swa we him mærlicor þancian scylon.

OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 334 He..beheold gleawlice hu he be gode mihte mærlicost writan.

OE Lambeth Psalter: Canticles i. 235 Cantate domino quoniam magnifice fecit : singað forðan þe he mærlice weorhte.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 2677 Þe king..ane neowe burh makede..mærliche feier.

?a1600 (a1500) Sc. Troy Bk. (Cambr.) l. 337 in C. Horstmann Barbour's Legendensammlung (1882) II. 223 Ascendande wp þe greces gray, Rith merely maide of marble-stane.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online December 2020).

merelyadv.²

Brit.

/ˈmɪəli/, U.S.

/ˈmɪrli/

Forms: see mere adj.² and -ly suffix².

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: mere adj.², -ly suffix².

Etymology: < mere adj.² + -ly suffix².

†1.

a. Without admixture or qualification; purely; exclusively. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > state or quality of being simple, unmixed, or uncompounded > [adverb] > without addition or qualification

simplya1325

singlya1400

simpliciter?a1425

merelyc1449

nudelya1631

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 34 (MED) Forto speke pureli and mereli of dyuynyte as it tretith articles of feith.

?1555 Here begynneth Dyfference Astron. sig. Biii The blod renneth merely throughe the vaynes of the body.

a1556 T. Cranmer in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) II. App. AA. 98 Soch other moral Lernyngs, as are merely deryved out of Scripture.

1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Cc1 These Narrations..not to be mingled with the Narrations, which are meerely and sincerely naturall.

1637 G. Gillespie Dispute against Eng.-Popish Ceremonies iii. iv. 63 Such things as are not merely, but mixedly Divine.

1645 E. Pagitt Heresiogr. 92 This witnesse of the Spirit is meerely immediate.

b. Without the help of others; solely. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > one > condition of being alone > [adverb] > acting alone

apartc1400

merelyc1487

singly1609

unto oneself1643

on one's own hook1812

single-handedly1882

on one's own1895

single-o1948

c1487 J. Skelton tr. Diodorus Siculus Bibliotheca Historica Proh. 7 Hercules..enforced hym-self to take vpon hym merely of his own motyue hydeous aduentures & many daungerous ieopardies.

1601 T. Bodley in Lett. to T. James (1926) 15 Whatsoeuer your self shall do in that behalf, I would neither haue it done in the Vniversities name, nor in mine, but merely of your self, for that ether they haue passed their promises vnto yow, or happely to others, that were willed to impart it to yow.

1608 D. Tuvill Ess. Politicke, & Morall f. 2 To deliuer it vnto them, as if it had proceeded meerly from himselfe.

a. Absolutely, entirely; quite, altogether.rare after 1800.

ΘΚΠ

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

1546 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 197 What goodes, catalles,..or other stuff, do merely belong..to all the sayd promocions.

1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxii. 148 That therefore baptisme by heretiques is meerely voyde.

1601 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Trauellers Breuiat 40 Their gouernment is meerely tyrannicall: for the great Turke is so absolute a Lord [etc.].

a1620 M. Fotherby Atheomastix (1622) ii. iii. §2. 214 It is meerely impossible, that any thing should be the cause of it selfe.

a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Honest Mans Fortune v. iii, in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Xxxxx4/2 I..am as happy In my friends good as it were meerly mine.

1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts i. 29 I have not meerely lied, in saying, she is my sister; but onely dissembled.

1662 in W. Fraser Douglas Bk. (1885) IV. 379 Both of them so handld mearly for their loyaltie to their master.

1728 J. Morgan Compl. Hist. Algiers I. Pref. p. ii I..wished, nay merely languished for their Destruction.

1788 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) VI. 283 Those countries that are merely Popish; as Italy, Spain, Portugal.

1932 S. Gibbons Cold Comfort Farm xiv. 205 Flora overheard two or three of the young women telling each other that, their dears, he was too creditable, and merely body-thrilling.

†b. As a matter of fact, actually. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > [adverb] > in fact, actually

in, of feata1400

in effectc1405

effectually1420

really?a1425

literallyc1429

(by) matter in deed1447

indeed1535

in fact1592

merely1596

de facto1602

essentially1604

in point of fact1628

upon1644

in point of event1650

effectively1652

in matter of fact1709

absolutelya1712

substantially1753

actually1762

positively1800

in actual fact1824

factually1852

as matter of fact1871

fair dinkum1891

dinkum1894

'smatter of fact1922

basically1927

1596 J. Harington Let. to Lady Russell in Metamorphosis Ajax (1814) p. xiii As I say merely in the booke, the 118 page.

1601 Ld. Mountjoy in F. Moryson Itinerary (1617) ii. 204 Not onely have [I] taken all occasions by the death of Captaines to extinguish their entertainement, but also have meerely discharged above five thousand.

3. Without any other quality, reason, purpose, view, etc.; only (what is referred to) and nothing more. Often preceded by not, with contrast usually expressed by but (cf. only adv. 2a).

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > state or quality of being simple, unmixed, or uncompounded > [adverb] > simply, only, or merely

butOE

onlya1325

alone?c1335

purelya1375

alonelya1400

nobbuta1400

simplya1400

plain1535

barely1577

merelyc1580

purea1616

singly1655

just1668

sommer1835

maara1931

the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adverb] > barely, scarcely, only, or just > merely or and nothing more

merelyc1580

merea1616

c1580 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalmes David xxxix. iii The greatest state we see, At best, is meerely vanity.

1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. liv. 114 The incarnation of the Sonne of God consisteth meerely in the vnion of natures.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) v. i. 451 Thoughts are no subiects Intents, but meerely thoughts.

1622 H. Peacham Compl. Gentleman x. 94 Diuers of his workes, are but meerely translations out of Latine and French.

1690 J. Locke Two Treat. Govt. i. ix. §88 Men are not Proprietors of what they have meerly for themselves.

1729 Bp. J. Butler Serm. in Wks. (1874) II. Pref. 5 The multitudes who read merely for the sake of talking.

1798 M. Wollstonecraft Maria x These remarks are not dictated by experience; but merely by the compassion I feel for many amiable women.

1841 M. R. Mitford in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford (1870) III. viii. 117 The hero must be young and interesting—must have to do, and not merely to suffer.

1856 B. Brodie Psychol. Inq. (ed. 3) I. iv. 131 It is not very common for any one to die merely of old age.

1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues I. 96 Perhaps Nicias is serious, and not merely talking for the sake of talking.

1888 F. Hume Madame Midas i. iv. 32 To many people Cowper is merely a name.

1902 W. S. Maugham Mrs. Craddock iii. 25 But Bertha's calm was merely external, her brain was in a whirl and her heart beat madly.

1963 I. Murdoch Unicorn i. iii. 36 So far they had merely chattered and discussed possible reading.

1981 G. Battiscombe Christina Rossetti i. 19 Their clothes were not merely unfashionable but often positively ugly.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	merely
释义	† merelyadv.¹ Forms: see mere adj.¹ and -ly suffix²; also early Middle English merlucor (comparative); Scottish pre-1700 merely. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: mere adj.¹, -ly suffix². Etymology: < mere adj.¹ + -ly suffix².In Old English there is also attested a corresponding adjective mǣrlic magnificent, glorious, splendid, which did not survive into Middle English. Obsolete. Magnificently, excellently, splendidly, wonderfully. 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 eOE Cleopatra Gloss. in J. J. Quinn Minor Lat.-Old Eng. Glossaries in MS Cotton Cleopatra A.III (Ph.D. diss., Stanford Univ.) (1956) 154 Insigniter, mærlice. OE Homily (Corpus Cambr. 421) in A. S. Napier Wulfstan (1883) 261 Efne swa he us mærlicor gifeð, swa we him mærlicor þancian scylon. OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 334 He..beheold gleawlice hu he be gode mihte mærlicost writan. OE Lambeth Psalter: Canticles i. 235 Cantate domino quoniam magnifice fecit : singað forðan þe he mærlice weorhte. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 2677 Þe king..ane neowe burh makede..mærliche feier. ?a1600 (a1500) Sc. Troy Bk. (Cambr.) l. 337 in C. Horstmann Barbour's Legendensammlung (1882) II. 223 Ascendande wp þe greces gray, Rith merely maide of marble-stane. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online December 2020). merelyadv.² Brit. /ˈmɪəli/, U.S. /ˈmɪrli/ Forms: see mere adj.² and -ly suffix². Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: mere adj.², -ly suffix². Etymology: < mere adj.² + -ly suffix². †1. a. Without admixture or qualification; purely; exclusively. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > state or quality of being simple, unmixed, or uncompounded > [adverb] > without addition or qualification simplya1325 singlya1400 simpliciter?a1425 merelyc1449 nudelya1631 c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 34 (MED) Forto speke pureli and mereli of dyuynyte as it tretith articles of feith. ?1555 Here begynneth Dyfference Astron. sig. Biii The blod renneth merely throughe the vaynes of the body. a1556 T. Cranmer in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) II. App. AA. 98 Soch other moral Lernyngs, as are merely deryved out of Scripture. 1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Cc1 These Narrations..not to be mingled with the Narrations, which are meerely and sincerely naturall. View more context for this quotation 1637 G. Gillespie Dispute against Eng.-Popish Ceremonies iii. iv. 63 Such things as are not merely, but mixedly Divine. 1645 E. Pagitt Heresiogr. 92 This witnesse of the Spirit is meerely immediate. b. Without the help of others; solely. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > one > condition of being alone > [adverb] > acting alone apartc1400 merelyc1487 singly1609 unto oneself1643 on one's own hook1812 single-handedly1882 on one's own1895 single-o1948 c1487 J. Skelton tr. Diodorus Siculus Bibliotheca Historica Proh. 7 Hercules..enforced hym-self to take vpon hym merely of his own motyue hydeous aduentures & many daungerous ieopardies. 1601 T. Bodley in Lett. to T. James (1926) 15 Whatsoeuer your self shall do in that behalf, I would neither haue it done in the Vniversities name, nor in mine, but merely of your self, for that ether they haue passed their promises vnto yow, or happely to others, that were willed to impart it to yow. 1608 D. Tuvill Ess. Politicke, & Morall f. 2 To deliuer it vnto them, as if it had proceeded meerly from himselfe. 2. a. Absolutely, entirely; quite, altogether.rare after 1800. ΘΚΠ 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 1546 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 197 What goodes, catalles,..or other stuff, do merely belong..to all the sayd promocions. 1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxii. 148 That therefore baptisme by heretiques is meerely voyde. 1601 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Trauellers Breuiat 40 Their gouernment is meerely tyrannicall: for the great Turke is so absolute a Lord [etc.]. a1620 M. Fotherby Atheomastix (1622) ii. iii. §2. 214 It is meerely impossible, that any thing should be the cause of it selfe. a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Honest Mans Fortune v. iii, in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Xxxxx4/2 I..am as happy In my friends good as it were meerly mine. 1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts i. 29 I have not meerely lied, in saying, she is my sister; but onely dissembled. 1662 in W. Fraser Douglas Bk. (1885) IV. 379 Both of them so handld mearly for their loyaltie to their master. 1728 J. Morgan Compl. Hist. Algiers I. Pref. p. ii I..wished, nay merely languished for their Destruction. 1788 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) VI. 283 Those countries that are merely Popish; as Italy, Spain, Portugal. 1932 S. Gibbons Cold Comfort Farm xiv. 205 Flora overheard two or three of the young women telling each other that, their dears, he was too creditable, and merely body-thrilling. †b. As a matter of fact, actually. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > [adverb] > in fact, actually in, of feata1400 in effectc1405 effectually1420 really?a1425 literallyc1429 (by) matter in deed1447 indeed1535 in fact1592 merely1596 de facto1602 essentially1604 in point of fact1628 upon1644 in point of event1650 effectively1652 in matter of fact1709 absolutelya1712 substantially1753 actually1762 positively1800 in actual fact1824 factually1852 as matter of fact1871 fair dinkum1891 dinkum1894 'smatter of fact1922 basically1927 1596 J. Harington Let. to Lady Russell in Metamorphosis Ajax (1814) p. xiii As I say merely in the booke, the 118 page. 1601 Ld. Mountjoy in F. Moryson Itinerary (1617) ii. 204 Not onely have [I] taken all occasions by the death of Captaines to extinguish their entertainement, but also have meerely discharged above five thousand. 3. Without any other quality, reason, purpose, view, etc.; only (what is referred to) and nothing more. Often preceded by not, with contrast usually expressed by but (cf. only adv. 2a). ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > state or quality of being simple, unmixed, or uncompounded > [adverb] > simply, only, or merely butOE onlya1325 alone?c1335 purelya1375 alonelya1400 nobbuta1400 simplya1400 plain1535 barely1577 merelyc1580 purea1616 singly1655 just1668 sommer1835 maara1931 the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adverb] > barely, scarcely, only, or just > merely or and nothing more merelyc1580 merea1616 c1580 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalmes David xxxix. iii The greatest state we see, At best, is meerely vanity. 1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. liv. 114 The incarnation of the Sonne of God consisteth meerely in the vnion of natures. a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) v. i. 451 Thoughts are no subiects Intents, but meerely thoughts. View more context for this quotation 1622 H. Peacham Compl. Gentleman x. 94 Diuers of his workes, are but meerely translations out of Latine and French. 1690 J. Locke Two Treat. Govt. i. ix. §88 Men are not Proprietors of what they have meerly for themselves. 1729 Bp. J. Butler Serm. in Wks. (1874) II. Pref. 5 The multitudes who read merely for the sake of talking. 1798 M. Wollstonecraft Maria x These remarks are not dictated by experience; but merely by the compassion I feel for many amiable women. 1841 M. R. Mitford in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford (1870) III. viii. 117 The hero must be young and interesting—must have to do, and not merely to suffer. 1856 B. Brodie Psychol. Inq. (ed. 3) I. iv. 131 It is not very common for any one to die merely of old age. 1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues I. 96 Perhaps Nicias is serious, and not merely talking for the sake of talking. 1888 F. Hume Madame Midas i. iv. 32 To many people Cowper is merely a name. 1902 W. S. Maugham Mrs. Craddock iii. 25 But Bertha's calm was merely external, her brain was in a whirl and her heart beat madly. 1963 I. Murdoch Unicorn i. iii. 36 So far they had merely chattered and discussed possible reading. 1981 G. Battiscombe Christina Rossetti i. 19 Their clothes were not merely unfashionable but often positively ugly. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adv.¹eOEadv.²c1449
随便看	miserliest miserlike miserliness miserlinesses miserly miserous misers misery misery guts misery index misreporter misreporters misreporting misreports misreposed misrepresent misrepresentation misrepresentations misrepresentative misrepresented misrepresenter misrepresenters misrepresenting misrepresents misreprint

† merelyadv.1

merelyadv.2

† merelyadv.¹

merelyadv.²