† openlyadj.
Obsolete.
Plainly seen, heard, or understood; clear, manifest; public.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > manifestness > openness or unconcealedness > [adjective]
openlyeOE
underna900
openeOE
utterly12..
unhida1300
perta1325
apert1330
nakeda1382
public1394
patenta1398
foreign?c1400
overtc1400
unrecovered1433
publicalc1450
open-visageda1513
bare1526
uncloaked1539
subject1556
uncovered1577
unmasked1590
facely1593
undisguised1598
female1602
unveiled1606
unshrouded1610
barefaceda1616
disclouded1615
unhiddena1616
broad-faced1643
with full miena1657
undissembled1671
frank1752
bald-faced1761
unconfidential1772
ostensible1782
unglossed1802
undisguising1813
unvisored1827
unconcealed1839
disprivacied1848
disguiseless1850
bald1854
unobscured1879
visible1885
open door1898
above ground1976
eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xvi. 105 Ðara openlican weorc we gesioð, ac we nyton hwelc hira inngeðonc bið.
OE Wulfstan 1st Sunday in Lent (Hatton 113) 235 Þa ðe healice on openlican synnan hy sylfe forgyltan.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 10389 He seȝȝde þuss. Wiþþ opennlike spæche. Namm i nohht wurrþi.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 5 Ure louerd ihesu cristes openliche tocume.
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 219 Þe ancre on hire meidnes for openliche gultes legge penitence.
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 11404 (MED) So byt God to me and þe Þat opunly shal þy shryfte be.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
openlyadv.
/ˈəʊp(ə)nli/, U.S. /ˈoʊp(ə)nli/ a. In a manner that is easy to see or understand; clearly, plainly. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > clarity > [adverb]
openlyOE
clearly1340
lightsomely?1510
perspicuously1592
luculently1613
dilucidly1638
lucidlyc1705
luminously1816
transpicuously1852
pellucidly1868
limpidly1870
OE Blickling Homilies 181 Buton ic openlice gecyþe þæt ic God sylfa sy, ne onmun þu me nanre are wyrþne.
lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) xix. 46 Cato, se wæs eac Romana heretoga; se wæs openlice uðwita.
lOE tr. R. d'Escures Sermo in Festis Sancte Marie Virginis in R. D.-N. Warner Early Eng. Homilies (1917) 136 Þæt we hit þæs þe openlucor mugen understanden, trahtnigen we hwæt oðre halgen wyrceð on Marthen wisen.., & hwæt oðre halgen behealdeð & hercnigeð on Marie wisen.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) Pref. l. 55 Þiss iss to seggenn opennliȝ. Þe laferrd cristess karrte.
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 9 Hwer he funde in hali writ religiun openlukest descriueþ & isutelet þen is i sein iames canonial epistel.
c1330 (?c1300) Speculum Guy (Auch.) (1898) 822 Al þis i seie sikerliche, Far to speken openliche What hit is for to mene.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 73 (MED) Ine heuene þou sselt yzy open-liche hou uirtues and guode dedes byeþ heȝliche yolde.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 97 (MED) Agellus spekeþ more opounlyche [L. planius]..in þis manere.
?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 135 Fewles..will hails men..spekand als openly as þai ware men.
1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope v. xiii He that can or shalle proue more openly that he hath the most parte.
a1500 (?1382) J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 171 (MED) Ten lawes..tellen opunly how prestis shulde lyfne a pore lif.
a1586 Lindsay MS f. 78, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Opin That is oppinlie fals knychtis that adionis fayth to diuinouris.
1682 J. Norris tr. Hierocles Golden Verses Pref. 34 Many things might have been deliver'd more openly and clearly.
b. Visibly, manifestly. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > manifestness > [adverb]
couthlyc900
sutelichec900
openlyOE
witterlyc1175
kithlya1300
witnessfullyc1374
evidentlya1382
plainlya1382
graithc1394
eberlya1400
express14..
manifest1431
patently1441
manifestlyc1475
evident?1520
grossly1526
apparently1533
clear1550
apparent1565
clearly1569
notoriously1589
plain1590
perspicuously1592
perspectively1598
transparently1617
liquidlya1631
visibly1631
obviously1638
fairly1655
perspiculously1661
remarkably1666
squarely1860
OE Ælfric Homily: Sermo de Die Iudicii (Corpus Cambr. 178) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1968) II. 607 Ure Hælend Crist ne cymð na to mancynne openlice æteowed on þissere weorolde ær þam micclan dæge þonne he mancynne demð.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 88 (MED) We him [sc. God] ssolle yzy ase he ys openliche..huanne we ssolle by ine paradys.
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 1585 A myrrour openly Shewith all thing that stondith therby.
?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Paris) (1971) 106 When corrosioun and vlceratioun apperen openly..putte vppon þe byle balles of aldaroun.
2. † b. Generally, commonly; by or to people in general. Obsolete.
a. Without concealment; so that all may see, hear, or take notice; in public, publicly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > clearness, lucidity > [adverb]
sutelichec900
openlyOE
redelya1250
redlyc1275
in (also on) opena1382
distinctly1382
plainlya1393
lightsomely?1510
markly1533
natively1542
pervially?1611
dilucidly1638
unmistakably1665
realizingly1786
unambiguously1790
starkly1928
accessibly2003
society > communication > manifestation > manifestness > openness or unconcealedness > [adverb]
barelyc950
beforeOE
openlyOE
nakedly?c1225
in a person's bearda1250
opelyc1275
apertly1297
commonlya1325
opena1325
overtlyc1325
pertlya1375
plainc1380
in (also on) opena1382
in apertc1384
plainlyc1390
in open (also general) audiencea1393
aperta1400
in commonaltya1400
outa1400
without laina1400
in commonc1400
publishlyc1400
pertc1410
in publicc1429
on higha1450
in pert1453
to a person's facea1470
into heightc1480
forthward?1504
but hidel?1507
publicly1534
uncolouredly1561
roundly1563
famously1570
vulgarly1602
above board1603
round1604
displayedly1611
on (also upon) the square?1611
undisguisedly1611
broadly1624
discoveredly1659
unveiledly1661
under a person's nose1670
manifestly1711
before faces1762
publically1797
overboard1834
unashamedly1905
upfront1972
OE Blickling Homilies 193 Hie openlice þæt gesetton.
OE Rule St. Benet (Tiber.) (1888) xxiii. 55 Objurgetur, publice coram omnibus : he si geþread openlice toforan eallum.
c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 45 Nu beoð sume gultæs..ðe mon diȝollice sceal mid ȝesceade betan, & sume openlice, þæt oðre beon isteoredæ.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 13632 Opennliȝ biforenn mann.
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 79 Þe bereð tresor openliche i wei þet is al ful of reaueres & of þeoues, him luste leosen hit & beon irobbet.
?c1335 in W. Heuser Kildare-Gedichte (1904) 115 (MED) Now þe sundai opunlich Men holt al har cheping.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 65 (MED) Me zuereþ uals wytindeliche..oþer openliche oþer stilleliche.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 1402 (MED) Priueli un-perceyued sche praide william..to seche..hire chaumber..for he ne durst openly.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 13251 (MED) He bigan to preche, And openli [a1400 Gött. opinlik] þe folk to teche.
1480 W. Caxton Chron. Eng. ccxxi. 213 He opened the letter..and red it openly word by word.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xi. 633 The Erll of murreff oppynly Takis playne feld with his menȝhe.
1529 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1871) II. 7 At na nychtbowr..by fra the strangeris privalie or oppinlie.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) xv. 105 [We] dar neuyr pray appynly to send sic vengeance on ane euil prince.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 iv. i. 302 My loue to ye Shall shew it selfe more openly hereafter. View more context for this quotation
1645 J. Winthrop Declar. Former Passages 2 Notwithstanding which, Miantonimo and his confederates have both secretly and openly plotted and practised against the life of Uncas.
c1650 J. Spalding Memorialls Trubles Scotl. & Eng. (1850) I. 85 [They] protestit opinlie that thes samen suld not draw them wnder the compass of law.
1722 D. Defoe Moll Flanders 305 I knew that my Name was so well known among the People at Hicks's-Hall, the Old Baily, and such Places, that if this Cause came to be tryed openly,..no Court would give much Damages.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth IV. 69 The dog..openly declares his alacrity to pursue them.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. ii. 158 The words had been repeated to Wolsey, who mentioned them openly at his table.
1885 Spectator 30 May 714/2 The lady..flirts openly and unblushingly.
1934 R. Lynd Both Sides of Road x. 65 I know from other evidence that the Press is not free, and that one must not criticize Mussolini openly in a crowded railway carriage as one could criticize Mr. Ramsay MacDonald in England.
1986 P. Grosskurth Melanie Klein iii. i. 157 The fact that he lived openly with his mistress made him something of an enfant terrible.
2002 Irish Times (Nexis) 22 June 10 Some soldiers—even individuals who have appeared openly on television programmes since Bloody Sunday—have demanded the further concession of being screened.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [adverb] > prevalently > among people at large
openly?a1160
commonly?c1335
vulgarly?1507
popularly1576
vulgarily1655
publiclya1729
?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1137 Hi sæden openlice ðæt Crist slep, & his halechen.
c1390 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale 104 Another is whan a man hath synned openly, of which synne the fame is openly spoken in the contree.
c1425 Bk. Found. St. Bartholomew's (1923) 27 (MED) A certeyn man at Norwiche, openly I-know..hadde lost the rest of slepe.
c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Katherine (Arun. 396) (1893) Prol. 45 (MED) Therefore wil I..make thi lyef, that more openly it shalle Be knowe a-bovte of woman and of man.
1473 Rolls of Parl. VI. 83/1 The paryssh of Seynt Michell, openly called Pater noster Chirch, otherwise called Whityngton College.
a1500 tr. A. Chartier Quadrilogue (Rawl.) (1974) 168 (MED) The werkis ben wittenessed so opinly of this inportable famyn.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cxlix It was openly knowen, that the French kyng, was ready..to make open warre.
1581 W. Fowler Answer Hammiltoun sig. Biij Thy harlatrie is als oppingly knawin to vs in Scotland & in France.
1599 J. Rainolds Overthrow Stage-playes 101 You doe it [sc. wear women's clothes]..to represent an others person, by one that is openly knowne to be as hee is in deede.
1604 Bp. W. Barlow Summe Conf. at Hampton Court 93 The lying with a wench..was made openly knowne..by bringing the parties to the stoole of Repentance.
3. Without concealment of thought or feeling; without reserve; frankly, unreservedly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > unaffectedness or naturalness > [adverb] > straightforwardly or frankly
openlya1200
simplyc1325
plainlyc1390
frankly?1553
open-heartedly1611
heart-to-heart1654
unreservedly1708
straightforwardly1839
single-heartedly1857
straight1961
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 71 (MED) We shule tellen alle ure gultes..and noht mid faire worde hihten þo ateliche sinnes..ac shewen þere openliche þich [read wich] he is.
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 8861 (MED) Þe dekene..opunly with mouþe Shroue hym of alle þat he couþe.
a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 531 Þar-for Iob þus openly sayse; Homo, natus de muliere [etc.].
c1480 (a1400) St. Andrew 241 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 70 He bad þame opynly, þat þai suld hald þar way in hy.
1519 in W. C. Dickinson Sheriff Court Bk. Fife (1928) 162 Like as scho confessit & grantit opinly.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. ccxlixv Who should seme secretely to wyll more, than in the commission he did openly professe.
1578 J. Rolland Seuin Seages 173 This Nobill Quene..Callit hir Lord fals befoir his Ene, said oppinlie That he of falset was not clene.
1620 tr. G. Boccaccio Decameron I. iii. vii. f. 101v Altogether, confessed openly, that they did the deede.
1675 W. Wycherley Country-wife ii. 20 I do confess heartily and openly, I wish it were in my power to break the Match, by Heavens I wou'd.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones V. xv. ii. 205 The Girl is, I think, intoxicated, and nothing less than Ruin will content her. And to deal more openly with you, I expect every Day to hear she is run away with him. View more context for this quotation
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth vii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 169 I speak among neighbours and friends, and therefore I speak openly.
1853 E. C. Gaskell Ruth III. i. 15 She..spoke as openly as a child..of all occurrences which had taken place since then.
1915 V. Woolf Diary 3 Jan. (1979) I. 5 If the British spoke openly about W.C's & copulation, then they might be stirred by universal emotions.
1951 M. Lavin Single Lady 15 Matters that large-minded people would not hesitate to discuss openly and frankly.
1987 J. Briggs Woman of Passion Foreword xi While she seldom wrote entirely openly of her own experiences, she seldom wrote convincingly of anything else.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > [adverb] > of a door, gate, etc.
up1340
openlya1425
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 502 If that the passage opunly Hadde be unto me free.
1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer Prol. f. cccxxv Men..that wt with eeres openly sprad..swalowen the delyciousnesse of iestes and of ryme.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > an opening or aperture > [adverb] > with wide apertures
openly?1790
?1790 J. Imison Curious & Misc. Articles (new ed.) 48 in School of Arts (ed. 2) For your first practice, copy such prints as are openly shaded.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.eOE
adv.OE