agreeablyadv.
/əˈɡriːəbli/, U.S. /əˈɡriəbli/ 1. In pleasing manner; enjoyably, pleasantly. (Now the most common sense.)See also to be agreeably surprised at Phrases 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [adverb] > with agreeable manner > kindly or in good part
agreeably?c1400
agreea1425
amiably1753
the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > [adverb]
sweetlyc900
queemlyOE
lustly971
winlyc1000
sootlya1125
to (a person's) queemc1175
lustilya1225
avenantlya1375
pleasinglya1398
queema1400
beinc1400
farrandlyc1400
pleasantlyc1400
pleasantlya1425
queemfullyc1425
thankfullyc1480
greablyc1500
dulcely1508
dulcea1525
pleasant1553
agreeably?1567
pleasurably1580
sugarly1587
flattering1597
sweet1597
attractively1640
well-pleasingly1645
welcomely1646
flatteringly1661
relishingly1677
satisfyingly1743
sweetsome1799
smilingly1806
dulcetly1810
gratifyingly1822
honeyedly1832
enjoyably1877
suavely1883
congenially1884
a fair treat1884
?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iii. met. i. l. 1744 Þe sterres shynen more agreably [v.r. aggreablely] whan þe wynde Nothus letiþ his ploungy blastes.
?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter sig. VV.iii An expert musicion in ordering of his instruments, and setting of his tunes agreably.
1665 S. Patrick Parable of Pilgrim xiii. 84 Which strikes the mind so agreeably, that one cannot chuse but dance for joy.
1716 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 26 Sept. (1965) I. 274 I need not..tell you how agreably time slides away with me.
1782 Gulliver's Lect. in R. Johnson Lilliputian Libr. I. v. 9 We have passed our time very agreeably; yet I must own, that there is nothing like home.
1842 T. B. Macaulay Lays Anc. Rome in Q. Rev. Mar. 252/2 He..tells very agreeably the stories of Elfleda and Elfrida.
1879 Mrs. A. G. F. E. James Indian Househ. Managem. 87 Pomegranate-water..an agreeably cooling drink.
1905 J. Masefield Sea Life Nelson's Time iv. 82 A pastime in which cards, blasphemy, and hard knocks were agreeably mingled.
1921 F. S. Mathews Field Bk. Wild Birds & their Music (rev. ed.) 276 He will sometimes ramble on for an hour, whistling and warbling very agreeably.
2002 Chicago Tribune 21 Oct. ii. 1/3 [He] crooned flyaway melodies in his agreeably cracked tenor.
2. In a manner that indicates agreement or accord; amicably, harmoniously, agreeingly.In early use: †in a friendly manner, willingly (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > [adverb]
conveniently1398
agreeably?c1400
answeringlyc1443
accordinglyc1449
cordantlyc1475
together1502
agreeingly1563
harmonically1604
uncrossly1615
sympathetically1621
coincidently1629
harmoniously1632
concordantly1646
congruously1656
concordiouslya1670
sympathically1684
consistently1706
compatibly1736
symphonically1854
?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) ii. pr. iv. l. 1108 Wiþ hem þat euery fortune receyuen agreablely or egaly.
a1475 ( S. Scrope tr. Dicts & Sayings Philosophers (Bodl. 943) (1999) 128 (MED) A good receiued agreably & with-holden gladly is grete taking away.
1553 J. Bale Vocacyon f. 16v Willinge them [sc. the Lords] to appoint me to the bishoprick... Wherunto they all agreably consentinge, [etc.].
1597 F. Bacon Ess. f. 3 To speake agreeably to him with whome we deale.
1697 W. Wynne et al. tr. Caradoc of Llancarvan Hist. Wales 57 Ievaf and Iago who had jointly and agreeably, till now, managed the Government of Wales..began to quarrel.
1707 J. Oldfield Ess. Improvem. Reason 367 We must love our Neighbour..and therefore must Think, and Speak, and Act agreeably in relation to him.
1786 W. Gilpin Observ. Picturesque Beauty II. 256 It may be observed further, that cattle and sheep mix very agreeably together.
1825 Minutes of Evid. Select Comm. Combination Laws 48 in Parl. Papers (H.C. 417) IV. 565 We say, if you will not do so and so, we shall not work very agreeably with you.
1896 J. Ralph Alone in China 235 He had intended to marry his daughter to Cloud-touching Pine; the two men had discussed the match agreeably.
1957 Life 18 Nov. 162/2 Although she considered herself an American..she was attracted to the fervid David and went along agreeably with his views.
2001 R. Russo Empire Falls (2002) 86 His father nodded agreeably, and if Miles hadn't known better he'd have sworn Max had given in.
3. † b. Without construction. In a way that corresponds to something else or (of two or more things) to each other; in the same way, correspondingly, equally, similarly. Obsolete.† c. In a way that corresponds to circumstances; suitably, fittingly. Obsolete. rare.
a. With to, †unto, with. In a manner suiting, matching, or corresponding to something; in conformity or accordance with something. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > [adverb] > so as to agree with another thing
accordinglyc1449
according1480
consonant1483
agreeing1526
consonantly1532
agreeably1534
suitably1548
agreeable1549
correspondently?a1560
sortly1566
agreeingly to1612
consentaneously1660
consistently1708
consistent1732
correspondingly1835
1534 W. Marshall tr. Erasmus Playne & Godly Expos. Commune Crede ii. f. 42 Sayncte Peter agreably vnto these wordes of his mayster, sayeth [etc.].
1587 W. Allen Yeelding vp of Citie of Dauentrie sig. A4 The olde holie fathers,..agreably to the Scriptures,..determine restitution to be specially necessarie.
1611 Bible (King James) 1 Esdras viii. 12 Agreeably to that which is in the Law of the Lord. View more context for this quotation
1660 tr. M. Amyraut Treat. conc. Relig. i. i. 6 A Providence..which disposes of all evenements of things agreeably to his will.
c1724 J. Swift 2nd Let. from Friend 3 Men shou'd act agreeably to the Motive of that Respect.
a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature (1805) VII. 2 I could easily conceal this slip of memory,..but I choose to let it stand, agreeably with the character of the Searches.
1835 C. Dickens Let. 8 Aug. (1965) I. 72 My dear Tom.—I inclose you the proof we spoke of, agreeably to your request.
1837 J. H. Newman Lect. Prophetical Office Church 108 Agreeably with this anticipation, the Church of Rome..is led to profess to know not only infallibly but completely.
1912 J. S. Phillimore tr. Philostratus In Honour of Apollonius of Tyana I. i. 31 Agreeably with this we find Damis recording that they inhabit Media, not far from Babylon.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > uniformity > [adverb]
evenOE
evenlya1398
evenlya1400
mackly1440
steadily1540
suantly1547
agreeably1561
agreeingly1563
uniformally1574
uniformly1577
levelly1610
invariably1646
constantly1651
homogeneously1651
equally1690
equably1715
unvariedly1780
suant1787
unrelievedly1832
consistently1861
synchronously1862
the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [adverb]
ylikeeOE
alsoOE
with likec1175
swilk12..
in (also on and without preposition) like mannerc1330
in semblable case(s, in case(s semblable1390
item1398
in likec1400
semblably1420
in like wise1422
likelya1425
likewisec1443
alikewisec1450
ylikedealc1450
in like casea1459
ylikewise1460
otherwaysc1485
semblable1490
sic-like1513
like1529
seemably1535
likeways1551
agreeably1561
fellowlikea1569
alliably1593
likewisely1605
in specie1632
similarly1657
resemblingly1661
kindredly1765
evenwise1866
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > conformity to or with a pattern, etc. > [adverb] > conformably or accordingly > to the premises stated
accordinglyc1440
according1480
conveniently1509
agreeably1561
1561 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger Hundred Serm. vpon Apocalips xxxii. 201 The Scripture euery where agreably witnesseth, that the sainctes in heauen are free from greues.
1563 2nd Tome Homelyes xiii. ii. f. 199 And Saint Peter most agreeablye writing in thys behalfe, sayth.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. vii. sig. Ee4 Two knights..The which were arm'd both agreeably . View more context for this quotation
1659 H. Hammond Paraphr. & Annot. Psalms 2 And agreeably the fiftieth Psalm inscribed..to Asaph.
1719 J. Chamberlayne tr. B. Nieuwentyt Relig. Philosopher II. xxii. §28 Another experiment proved the same no less agreeably.
1805 Instr. Clerk of Check in 1st Rep. Commissioners Civil Affairs Navy (1806) 56 Sums of Money which may..be..divided among the people..agreeably and in proportion to the respective rates of their daily Pay.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > expediency > [adverb] > opportunely or conveniently
opportunelyc1425
opportunately1552
opportune1667
conveniently1685
agreeably1753
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adverb]
wellOE
tidily1340
avenantlya1375
covenablyc1384
featlya1400
propera1400
queema1400
congruelyc1400
conably1411
cordingc1420
convenablyc1430
competentlyc1440
fitc1440
accordantlyc1443
accordinglyc1443
conveniently1447
at pointc1485
congruentlya1529
appliablyc1530
afferandly1536
suitingly1540
aptly1548
answerably1549
fitlyc1550
agreeingly1563
suitable1584
not unfitly1586
aptitudinallyc1600
handsome1600
sortfully1606
sortably1607
congruouslya1620
accommodately1623
adaptlya1648
inabusivelya1677
suitably1681
agreeably1753
appropriately1795
suitly1913
righteous1948
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison II. xxix. 269 I was shy of forcing an opportunity, as none agreeably offered.
Phrases
P1. to be agreeably surprised: to be unexpectedly surprised and pleased (by some event, esp. the discovery that something is better than anticipated).
ΚΠ
1698 J. Crull Antient & Present State Muscovy I. xi. 320 Expecting every Moment to see them devoured by this Water-Dragon..they were agreeably surprized when they perceived the terrible Leviathan slain by his Conqueror [sc. St George].
1786 F. Burney Court Jrnls. & Lett. (2011) I. 51 At the Desert, I was very agreeably surprised by the entrance of Sir Richard Jebb.
1840 T. Moore Mem. (1856) VII. 275 Russell's berth was..the chief object of our attention, and I was most agreeably surprised by its roominess.
1908 R. Bagot Anthony Cuthbert xxi. 256 And yet you talk our language well—really very well. I am agreeably surprised.
2002 D. M. Kennedy et al. Amer. Pageant (ed. 14) I. 121/2 When..statesmen from widely separated colonies met around..council tables, they were often agreeably surprised by what they found.
P2. to be agreeably disappointed: to find that something is different from, but better or more pleasant than (what was anticipated or expected). Now archaic.After to be agreeably surprised at Phrases 1.
ΚΠ
1703 P. Motteux et al. tr. M. de Cervantes Hist. Don Quixote IV. 508 When I expected to have had an Account of thy Carelesness and Impertinence, Friend Sancho, I was agreeably disappointed with News of thy wise behaviour.
1819 J. W. Croker in L. J. Jennings Croker Papers (1884) I. v. 145 I am agreeably disappointed at finding ‘Don Juan’ very little offensive.
1952 Rotarian July 44 I was afraid Hearth in the Snow might be such a book;..but I was agreeably disappointed.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
adv.?c1400