| 释义 |
mainly, adv.|ˈmeɪnlɪ|
Forms: 3 mainliche, 5 maineliche, manly, 4–7 maynly, 5–6 maynely, -lie, 6–7 mainely, 7– mainly.
[f. main a. + -ly2.]
†1. Of physical actions: With force, vigour, or violence; mightily, vigorously, violently. Obs.
c1275Lay. 1915, I grop hine bi þan gurdle, and hine mainliche heof. Ibid. 14705 To-gadere hii come and mainliche on-slowe. a1400–50Alexander 2042 Fra morne to þe mirke niȝt maynly þa cocken [Dubl. MS. manly þai feghtyn]. 1582Stanyhurst æneis iv. (Arb.) 103 Not to the sky maynely, but neere sea meanelye she [sc. a bird] flickreth. 1586Marlowe 1st Pt. Tamburl. ii. i. (1590) B 2 b, Such breadth of shoulders as might mainely beare Olde Atlas burthen. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. vii. 12 The geaunt strooke so maynly mercilesse, That could have overthrowne a stony towre. 1603Holland Plutarch's Mor. 163 When he would rid the ground of some wilde bushes,..he laieth at them mainely with his grubbing hooke or mattocke. 1621Lady M. Wroth Urania 553 A terrible, fierce and mighty boare, issued out of the wood, running mainly at Amphilanthus. 1640tr. Verdere's Rom. Rom. III. 50 One of them took his Scimitar..and..strook so mainly at his head, that [etc.]. 1656Manasseh ben Israel Vind. Judæorum in Phenix (1708) II. 396 Every day the Jews [they] mainly strike, and buffet, shamefully spitting on them.
b. Of the production of sound: Lustily, loudly.
c1275Lay. 808 He..his horn mainliche bleu. 13..E.E. Allit. P. B. 1427 Maynly his marschal þe mayster vpon calles. 1563Homilies ii. Passion ii. (1640) 184 He cried mainely out against sinners. 1631Weever Anc. Funeral Mon. 15 They..cried out mainly. 1881E. Slow Wiltsh. Rhymes 123 Mainly he did roar.
†c. Of expression, thought: Vehemently, strongly; earnestly, eagerly. Obs.
c1400Destr. Troy 13860 This mild of his moder so mainly dessiret, þat [etc.]. a1400–50Alexander 1217 Þan was ser Meliager moued & maynly [Dubl. MS. manly] debatis. Ibid. 3424 My mekill miȝtfull gods I maynly ȝow swere. 1588J. Udall Demonstr. Discipl. (Arb.) 76 Men mainly suspected of notorious transgressions. 1611Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xvi. (1623) 847 His..opinion..was as mainely opposed by the Cardinall.
†2. In a great degree; greatly, considerably, very much, a great deal. Also occas. entirely, perfectly. Obs.
c1400–50Alexander 934 His men & all þe Messadones full maynly ware stourbed. 1562J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 111 Thou fleest that vice not meanly nor barely, But mainely, scrupulously. 1602Shakes. Ham. iv. vii. 9 As by your Safety, Wisedome, all things else, You mainly were stirr'd vp. 1605― Lear iv. vii. 65, I am mainely ignorant What place this is. 1616Beaum. & Fl. Scornful Lady ii. i, The people are so mainely giuen to spoonemeate. 1617Fletcher Mad Lover iii. iv, Still she eyes him mainlie. 1628Digby Voy. Medit. (1868) 6 Perceiuing she [sc. a ship] gott mainely of vs wee gaue ouer our chace. 1702Farquhar Inconstant ii. i, I like her mainly. 1772Foote Nabob iii. Wks. 1799 II. 318 Things are mainly changed since we were boys. 1800Lamb Lett. vi. to Manning 51, I think we should suit one another mainly.
†b. Abundantly, copiously; lavishly. Obs.
1618J. Bullokar in Farr S.P. Jas. I (1847) 291 This precious liquor..Whose sweet-distilling drops full mainly showres Adowne his neck. 1632Lithgow Trav. i. 25 This Prouince is mainely watered through the middle with stately Po. Ibid. ix. 381 Danser tooke the presence of the Bashaw for a great fauour, and mainely feasted him with good cheare.
c. Used as an intensive with adjs. and advs. = Very, exceedingly. = main adv. Now dial.
1670Eachard Cont. Clergy 127 This invention pleases some mainly well. 1684Bunyan Pilgr. ii. 191 She loveth Banqueting, and Feasting mainly well. 1718D'Urfey Grecian Heroine v. ii, I like mine mainly well, faith. 1748Smollett Rod. Rand. xxiv. (1760) I. 193 The captain was mainly wroth, and would certainly have done him a mischief. 1890Glouc. Gloss., Main, Mainly, very, exceedingly.
3. For the most part; in the main; as the chief thing, chiefly, principally.
1667Milton P.L. xi. 519 Ungovern'd appetite,..a brutish vice, Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve. 1695Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth iv. 188 The metallick..matter..was..originally..interspersed..amongst the..Matter, whereof the said Strata mainly consist. 1820Marshall Const. Opin. (1839) 218 The cause depends mainly on the validity of this act. 1874Green Short Hist. iv. §3. 183 The body of commissioners which the King nominated were mainly Scotch. 1894J. T. Fowler Adamnan Introd. 15 It is with Ireland that we are mainly concerned. |