| 释义 |
▪ I. † ˈmeanly, a.1 Obs.
In 2 mænelik, 3–4 menelich.
[aphetic f. OE. ᵹemǽnelic, f. ᵹemǽne (see i-mene) + -lic -ly1.]
Common, general.
c1200Ormin 2503 All wass mænelike þing Whatt littless se þeᵹᵹ haffdenn. a1300in Rel. Ant. I. 282 Ich i-leve..in Ihesu Crist oure meneliche loverd.
▪ II. † meanly, a.2 Obs. rare—1.
[f. mean a.2 + -ly1.]
Moderate.
c1374Chaucer Boeth. i. pr. vi. 19 (Camb. MS.) By lyghte and Meenelyche remedyes [L. mediocribus fomentis].
▪ III. meanly, a.3 rare—1.|ˈmiːnlɪ|
[f. mean a.1 + -ly1.]
= mean a.1
1827Capt. Hardman Waterloo 2 Away I ran into his meanly old hoard.
▪ IV. meanly, adv.1|ˈmiːnlɪ|
[f. mean a.1 + -ly2.]
1. Indifferently, ill, poorly, badly; with mean attire or equipment.
1587Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 1959/2 Sir William Hamilton, and James Leirmonth..whose message was so meanlie liked, that they were faine to send an herald into Scotland for other ambassadors. 1600J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa iii. 170 They are passing rich, yet go they very meanly attired. 1670Dryden 2nd Pt. Conq. Granada (1672) 163 [Many of Shakspere's plays] were..so meanly written, that the Comedy neither caus'd your mirth, nor the serious part your concernment. 1748Richardson Clarissa IV. 55, I think, my dear, I am not meanly off. 1757Burke Abridgm. Eng. Hist. ii. vi, Their towns were meanly built and more meanly fortified. 1783― Sp. Fox's E. India Bill Wks. 1842 I. 300 Ministers..caused persons meanly qualified to be chosen directors. 1851Borrow Lavengro lxviii, A rather pretty-looking woman, but..meanly dressed.
2. With reference to rank, state in life, etc.: Basely, lowlily.
1594Shakes. Rich. III, iv. iii. 37 His daughter meanly haue I matcht in marriage. 1674Evelyn Diary 22 July, She was much censur'd for marrying so meanly, being herselfe allied to the Royal family. 1765Bickerstaff Maid of Mill i. v. 10 To what purpose could a man of his distinction cast his eyes on a girl, poor, meanly born? 1869Browning Ring & Bk. ix. 1135 I' the very breast of Jove, no meanlier throned!
3. In a way that shows a mean or base disposition, or a small mind; shabbily; sordidly, niggardly, stingily, illiberally.
1602Marston Antonio's Rev. iv. ii, He that's a vilaine, or but meanely sowl'd. 1687Dryden Hind & P. i. 436 Nor will I meanly tax her constancy. 1784Mann in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 428 That M. Lavoisier..should meanly appropriate to himself Mr. Cavendish's excellent discovery. 1876Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. iv, We cannot speak a loyal word and be meanly silent..in the same moment.
4. to think meanly of: to have a mean estimate of; to characterize in one's thought as of little worth.
1642Rogers Naaman 387 Thinke the meanlier of us when we thinke the highliest of ourselves. 1768Goldsm. Good-n. Man i. i, Can Olivia think so meanly of my honour?
▪ V. † meanly, adv.2 Obs.
Forms: see mean a.2 Also 4 menly, 6 mennly.
[f. mean a.2 + -ly2.]
1. In the mean or middling degree or manner; half way between two extremes; moderately, tolerably; fairly, moderately well.
c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 31 He..synneþ not menely but greuously. c1450Lydg. & Burgh Secrees 2694 Fleshe soffte of disposicioun, Or meenely sharp and of mene stature. 1533More Confut. Wks. 808/2 A church of folke, not menely good, but of folk so good, so pure, & so cleane, that [etc.]. 1548–77Vicary Anat. ii. (1888) 20 Strong, and tough, meanly betweene hardenes and softnes. 1599Porter Angry Wom. Abingt. (1841) 42 Canst thou read? Nich. Forsooth, though none of the best, yet meanly. 1641Milton Reform. ii. Wks. 1851 III. 41 He that is but meanly read in our Chronicles, needs not to be instructed. 1763Murdoch in Phil. Trans. LIII. 182 When a meanly-refrangible ray passes from water into air.
b. At a moderate speed, neither fast nor slow.
1625Purchas Pilgrims II. 1141, I asked them how many leagues from Toro to Cairo,—they told me 7 days journey going meanly.
2. With express or implied limitation: Only moderately; not above the average; hence (coalescing with meanly adv.1 1), slightly, indifferently, poorly.
1600Surflet Country Farm i. xv. 101 They are set on a row..in an ouen verie meanly warme. 1695Dryden tr. Du Fresnoy's Art Paint. Pref. 30 In the Reign of Domitian,..Poetry was but meanly cultivated, but Painting eminently flourish'd. 1707Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) I. 327 He shews himself..to be very meanly skill'd in the Fathers.
b. not meanly: in no slight degree. So also more than meanly.
1590Shakes. Com. Err. i. i. 59 My wife, not meanely prowd of two such boyes. 1656Earl of Monmouth tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnass. ii. xiv. (1674) 159 It would have been more than meanly pleasing to the Literati. a1662Heylin Laud ii. (1671) 242 Laud..was not meanly offended, as he had good reason to be. |