† colourlyadv.
Obsolete. rare.
In a feigned or specious manner; colourably.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > dissimulation, pretence > semblance, outward show > [adverb]
colourablya1400
colourly?1550
speciously1647
plausibly1648
meretriciously1755
fairly1821
?1550 J. Bale Apol. agaynste Papyst f. cxviv To seke to deceyue God by a falsehede, colourly and slyely to dyssemble.
1643 Earl of Warwick Let. 7 Nov. in Publ. Navy Rec. Soc. (1963) 105 (modernized text) 101 The Lord Inchiquin did press the said master..to carry over more soldiers to the port of Bristol, which Basset did colourly undertake, and attended several days..till such time as he met with a convenient opportunity to make his escape.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
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adv.?1550