excellentlyadv.
/ˈɛksələntli/, /ˈɛksəln̩tli/, /ˈɛksl̩(ə)ntli/, U.S. /ˈɛks(ə)ləntli/ In an excellent manner or degree.† 1. So as to surpass (others). Const. of. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > surpassing excellence > [adverb]
sovereignlyc1340
excellentlyc1400
by (an, way of) excellencec1450
transcendingly1528
exquisitely1535
precellently?1567
divinely1582
par excellence1584
pre-eminently1590
superlatively1596
surpassing1598
by (way of) eminency1608
superexcellently1615
by (way of) eminence1621
transcendently1623
surpassingly1658
exquisitively1660
par eminence1823
heavenlike1832
transcendentally1870
the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > outdoing or surpassing > [adverb]
excellentlyc1400
transcendingly1528
transcendently1623
overshadowingly1842
unsurpassably1859
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 2423 Þes wer forne þe freest, þat folȝed alle þe sele Ex-ellently of alle þyse oþer.
2. In an unusual degree; exceedingly, superlatively, surpassingly:† a. with verbs (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > extremely or exceedingly > surpassingly
passinga1382
passinglya1382
excellentlyc1460
overpassingc1475
passantlya1500
surpassing1598
superpassing1608
surpassingly1658
c1460 tr. Thomas à Kempis Imitation of Christ 145 Dispute not..why þis is so gretly peyned, & he is so excellently lifte up.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing iii. iv. 12 I like the new tire within excelently . View more context for this quotation
b. with adjectives: now only in good sense (with mixed notion of sense 3).
ΚΠ
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection Pref. sig. Aiiv For it may be ryght well, that some be excellently lerned, and yet, [etc.].
1548 R. Hutten tr. J. Spangenberg Sum of Diuinitie sig. Bv By the lawe is sin excellently giltye.
a1625 J. Fletcher Pilgrim i. ii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ggggg/2 A sorrow shewes in his true glory When the whole heart is excellently sorry.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. iv. 15 Excellently wise, or excellently foolish.
1677 J. Dryden Authors Apol. Heroique Poetry in State Innocence Pref. sig. b2v Comedy is both excellently instructive, and extreamly pleasant.
1827 R. Southey Select. from Lett. (1856) IV. 37 Believing that he is an excellently good man.
c. with adverb well (archaic).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adverb]
fairlyOE
goodlyc1275
finec1330
properlyc1390
daintily?a1400
thrivinglya1400
goodlily?1457
excellent1483
excellently1527
excellently1529
curiously1548
jollilyc1563
admirably1570
beautifully1570
singularly1576
bravelyc1600
famouslya1616
manlya1616
primely1622
prime1648
eximiously1650
topping1683
egregiously1693
purely1695
trimmingly1719
toppinglya1739
surprisingly1749
capitally1750
brawly1796
jellily18..
stammingly1814
divinely1822
stunningly1823
rippingly1828
jam up1835
out of sight1835
first-rately1843
first rate1844
like a charm1845
stunning1851
marvellously1859
magnificently1868
first class1871
splendidly1883
sterlingly1883
tip-top1888
like one o'clock1901
deevily1905
goodo1907
dandy1908
bonzer1914
great1916
juicily1916
corkingly1917
champion1925
unbeatably1928
snodger1946
beaut1953
smashingly1956
groovily1970
awesome1984
1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes i, in Wks. 121/1 Many an holy bishop..excellently wel lerned in scripture.
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Rr2 A Science excellent, and excellently well laboured. View more context for this quotation
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 270. ⁋1 His Part, and that of the Maid..are excellently well performed.
3. Extremely well.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adverb]
fairlyOE
goodlyc1275
finec1330
properlyc1390
daintily?a1400
thrivinglya1400
goodlily?1457
excellent1483
excellently1527
excellently1529
curiously1548
jollilyc1563
admirably1570
beautifully1570
singularly1576
bravelyc1600
famouslya1616
manlya1616
primely1622
prime1648
eximiously1650
topping1683
egregiously1693
purely1695
trimmingly1719
toppinglya1739
surprisingly1749
capitally1750
brawly1796
jellily18..
stammingly1814
divinely1822
stunningly1823
rippingly1828
jam up1835
out of sight1835
first-rately1843
first rate1844
like a charm1845
stunning1851
marvellously1859
magnificently1868
first class1871
splendidly1883
sterlingly1883
tip-top1888
like one o'clock1901
deevily1905
goodo1907
dandy1908
bonzer1914
great1916
juicily1916
corkingly1917
champion1925
unbeatably1928
snodger1946
beaut1953
smashingly1956
groovily1970
awesome1984
1527 Bible: Isa. xii. 5 in Lewis Eng. Transl. Bible (1731) 16 Synge unto the Lorde, for he hath done excellentlye.
1553 R. Eden in tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India Ded. sig. aaij Howe excellently the Poet Homere had set forth his heroical factes.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 247 A companie of braue souldiors excellently furnished.
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler 51 And so excellently cook'd this fish. View more context for this quotation
1782 V. Knox Ess. cxxxii, in Wks. (1824) II. 68 He [Erasmus] has written so excellently that, etc.
1826 M. R. Mitford Our Village II. 82 Health and accomodation—points never forgotten by our excellently-intentioned governess.
1872 J. Morley Voltaire ii. 61 Excellently constituted as Fontenelle was in a great many ways.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.c1400