solidlyadv.
/ˈsɒlɪdli/ In a solid manner.
1. in combination.1861 F. Nightingale Notes on Nursing (new ed.) 42 In the solidly built old houses.
a. So as to be fixed or firm; firmly, securely.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > absence of movement > [adverb] > in a stable manner > firmly (fixed)
stronglyeOE
fasteOE
stitha1000
hardOE
fastlyOE
steadfasta1300
stithlya1300
steevec1330
a-rootc1374
firmlyc1374
hard and fastc1380
sadc1380
sadlya1398
steadfastlya1400
stronga1400
stalworthlyc1440
solidatively?1541
hardfast1548
secure1578
sickera1586
solidly?1611
tighta1625
securely1642
steevely1790
inexcussably1816
tightly1866
?1611 G. Chapman in tr. Homer Iliads xiv. Comm. Hector..standing it so solidly; for without that consideration, the stone could neuer haue recoild so fiercely.
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1644 (1955) II. 270 The stone is..now crack'd in many places, but solidly joyned.
1868 W. Morris Earthly Paradise i. 279 Who on the altar fixed it [sc. an image] solidly Against the beating of the winds and waves.
1889 Internat. Ann. Anthonys Photogr. Bull. 403 The hyposulphite of soda is held pretty solidly by the gelatine.
b. transferred or figurative (esp. with found, establish).
ΚΠ
1637–50 J. Row Hist. Kirk Scotl. (Wodrow Soc.) 332 Learned men finding Paræus's doctrine to be solidlie founded upon the trueth of God.
1673 tr. E. de Refuge Art of Complaisance vi. 54 This vertue..upon which all the commerce of this life might be very solidly establish'd.
a1797 H. Walpole Mem. George II (1847) I. i. 3 His brother's jealousy was solidly grounded.
1813 R. Wilson Private Diary (1862) II. 445 Now Switzerland can be solidly linked in the connection of independent nations.
1884 Kendal Mercury & Times 31 Oct. 4/7 All this..will serve only to weld the followers of Mr. Gladstone more solidly together.
2. With solid or valid arguments or reasons; on solid or good grounds.Frequently in the 17th cent.
ΚΠ
1651 R. Baxter Plain Script. Proof Infants Church-membership & Baptism 275 Determining it..most solidly and excellently.
1675 tr. W. Camden Hist. Princess Elizabeth (rev. ed.) iii. 289 Their Books were..solidly confuted by Learned men.
1693 J. Evelyn tr. J. de La Quintinie Compl. Gard'ner ii. v. iv. 86 The Tast is the only and real Judge to whom it belongs to Judge Solidly, and without appeal, as well of the Maturity, as of the Goodness.
1720 D. Waterland 8 Serm. Divinity of Christ 275 This appears to be only a groundless surmise, as is largely and solidly proved by..Bp. Bull.
1757 E. Burke Philos. Enq. Sublime & Beautiful i. §16. 30 Aristotle has spoken so much and so solidly upon the force of imitation.
1853 M. Kelly tr. J. E. A. Gosselin Power of Pope II. 167 (note) Muratori proves solidly..the antiquity of these copies.
1878 E. White Life in Christ (ed. 3) ii. xiii. 151 [This] may be solidly inferred from the following premisses.
3. In a real as opposed to a superficial or apparent manner; really, thoroughly, truly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > [adverb] > in reality
in substancea1393
indeed1412
in realitya1513
in nature1605
solidly1625
under the skin (also skins)1896
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > process of reasoning, ratiocination > argument, source of conviction > [adverb] > with strong reasons
strongly1395
pregnantlya1438
solidly1625
cogently1646
1625 J. Hart tr. P. Forestus Arraignm. Urines i. ii. 16 Hippocrates.., not superficially, but solidly learned.
1640 Ld. J. Digby Speech Triennial Parl. (1641) 12 Neither the people can be prosperous and secure, nor the King himselfe solidly happy.
c1667 in Publ. Catholic Rec. Soc. (1906) 3 66 This most sweet childe was solidly vertuous.
1747 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 27 Mar. (1932) (modernized text) III. 891 I..sacrificed a thousand real pleasures to it; and made myself solidly uneasy by it.
1823 T. Jefferson Writings (1830) IV. 367 In this alliance, Louis, now avowedly, and George, secretly but solidly, were of the contracting parties.
1879 H. James Hawthorne 32 Hawthorne's countrymen are solidly proud of him.
4. Seriously, solemnly; earnestly.
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
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. x. 475 The two Iesuits..solidly protested, they were sorry from their heart.
1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso (1674) i. lxv. 83 He heard the Ottoman Emperor speak so solidly of the care which Princes ought to have.
1676 O. Heywood Autobiogr., Diaries, & Event Bks. (1883) III. 147 John Butterworth prayed solidly and tenderly.
1788 in T. W. Marsh Friends in Surrey & Sussex (1886) vi. 46 [The Friends having] solidly considered the same, are of opinion [etc.].
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1729 I. 31 He told me what he read solidly at Oxford was Greek.
5. In a quiet, sedate, or serious way or manner.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > [adverb]
evenlyOE
egallyc1374
soberly1382
sadly?a1400
wellc1405
digestlya1522
calmly1597
placidly1635
sedately1646
equanimously1652
recollectedly1654
serenely1690
composedly1702
dispassionately1717
serene1728
unperturbedly?1786
solidly1799
tranquilly1801
relaxedly1819
collectedly1838
comfortably1872
equably1873
unagitatedly1894
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
1799 in T. W. Marsh Friends in Surrey & Sussex (1886) ii. 18 After sitting solidly awhile he stood up and said [etc.].
1865 Daily Tel. 8 Nov. 4/4 The old complaints were inflammatory; folks lived slowly and solidly.
6. In a body; unanimously. Originally U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > agreement, concurrence, or unanimity > [adverb]
with (also of) one mouthOE
with (also of, at) one accordc1275
common assentc1300
at onec1320
with one stevenc1320
at a voicea1325
at one wordc1325
covinlichec1330
in one (also o) voicea1393
with one (also o, a) voice?a1400
in one vote1546
of all hands1548
perlassent1548
una voce1567
by common consent1574
consentively1578
concordably1579
currently1593
unanimately1599
by or with one assent1611
unanimously1611
unanimely1625
consentingly1660
harmoniously1671
univocally1671
consentaneously1817
concurringly1840
solidly1865
solid1884
1865 J. Bright in Morning Star 14 Mar. I was told by a citizen of New York..that in the United States alone 100,000 Irish votes were given, as he expressed, solidly—that is in one mass—for General M‘Clellan.
1868 M. E. Grant Duff Polit. Surv. 133 They [Congress] will vote solidly for repudiation in any form.
1886 Manch. Examiner 26 Feb. 5/5 The Roman Catholic and Nationalist elements..being solidly Tory.
Draft additions 1993
7. Continuously; without interruption. (Cf. solid adj. 21d.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > continuing > [adverb] > in a continuous manner or without stopping
fastlyOE
anonOE
everOE
everylikec1225
continuallyc1305
atreet1340
unceasinglyc1340
perpetuallyc1385
incessably1398
desselya1400
ithandlya1400
dreichlyc1400
restlessc1400
contunely1447
all alongc1450
dessantlyc1460
incessantly1481
still opece1488
uncessantlya1500
continuinglya1513
in ane1513
away1526
incessant1558
restlessly1567
square1570
stintless1598
ceaselessly?1606
residently1609
unrestingly1621
indesinently1651
jugially1654
unintermissively1656
constantly1682
hand to fist1706
forever1753
unintermittingly1784
round the clock1816
continuously1826
unpausingly1831
sustainedly1842
pauselessly1845
remorselessly1845
around the clock1872
play-by-play1889
ball-by-ball1906
non-stop1920
solidly1937
1937 W. H. Saumarez Smith Let. 20 Sept. in Young Man's Country (1977) ii. 91 I was on tour solidly from the 12th till the 16th.
1943 D. Welch Maiden Voy. xvii. 142 Mr Butler talked solidly to the Consul and did not think of leaving until after tea.
1967 A. S. Byatt Game xi. 165 She spent the next few weeks solidly working, closed away in the library.
1987 M. Ignatieff Russian Album v. 90 He cried solidly for six weeks.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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adv.?1611