| 释义 |
morally, adv.|ˈmɒrəlɪ|
[f. moral a. + -ly2.]
†1. In a moral sense; with a moral meaning or purpose. Obs. rare.
a1400Hylton Scala Perf. (W. de W. 1494) ii. xliii, Whan Jhesu is mayster it is expowned and declared litterally: morally: mystily: and heuenly. 1509Hawes Past. Pleas. xiii. (Percy Soc.) 51 They take no hede nothyng they wryte, Whyche morally dyd so nobly endyte, Reprovyng vyce.
2. In respect of moral character or conduct; from the point of view of ethics or of the moral law; with reference to moral responsibility.
c1449Pecock Repr. ii. (Rolls) 155 Sum vntrewe opinioun of men is such that for it her conuersacioun is the worse morali. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 153 What so euer vertue enclyneth or moueth man or woman morally to moo thynges than one perteyneth to the actyue lyfe. 1634Documents agst. Prynne (Camden) 40 They are all able umpyres of all vices and vertues, of thinges that are morally good or evill. a1716South Serm. (1727) II. 321 For generally speaking, to take away the Life of a Man, is neither morally Good, nor Morally Evil. 1790Burke Fr. Rev. 28 The house of lords..is not morally competent to dissolve the house of commons. 1841Myers Cath. Th. iii. §9. 33 The testimony of the best men morally as to the immediate origin of their thoughts and feelings may conceivably not be trustworthy. 1859Kingsley Misc. (1860) I. 124 A government is morally bound to keep itself in existence. 1897M. Kingsley W. Africa 499 Morally speaking, the African is far from being the brutal fiend he is often painted.
3. In accordance with morality; virtuously.
a1540Barnes Wks. (1573) 312/2 Those poore men that marry, be cause they would not all onely lyue vertuously beefore God, but also morally before the world. 1685Dryden Sylvæ Pref. a 2 To take away rewards and punishments, is only a pleasing prospect to a Man, who resolves before hand not to live morally.
4. On grounds of moral evidence.
1645[see certain a. 4]. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. vi. §76 It being morally sure, that the Earl of Essex would put himself in their way. 1660Jer. Taylor Duct. Dubit. i. v. Rule ii. §5 But there is a Negative doubt which is called Morally negative; that is, when there is no way of being readily and clearly determined, but yet the doubt is founded upon some slight conjecture, and no more. 1660R. Coke Power & Subj. 95 God did scarce ever leave men so destitute, but they were morally certain to whom they did owe their topical and natural obedience. 1667in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 48 The said Manley was gone for England, and, as he himselfe hath given out and is morally supposed, will not returne. 1692Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) II. 462 He was morally assured of success. 1782F. Burney Cecilia iii. iv, It's quite morally impossible I should raise such a sum. 1808Lieut. Col. Symes in J. Moore Narr. Campaign Spain (1809) 131 It is morally impossible that they can stand before a line of French infantry. 1869Bradshaw's Railway Manual XXI. 174 It is morally certain that there will be enough net income at the end of next half-year to pay the full year's interest. 1966‘R. Standish’ Widow Hack ix. 97 Morally certain that I had not been seen, I returned to my car.
5. Comb.: morally-given a., whose inclinations are on the side of morality.
1896A. Morrison Child of the Jago 25 So well-conducted, morally-given and respectable a gathering. |