flatlyadv.
/ˈflatli/, U.S. /ˈflætli/ 1. In a flat or prostrate position. ? Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > horizontal position or condition > [adverb] > in a flat position
platc1300
flatlyc1425
platlings1447
aflat1626
c1425 Wyntoun Cron. viii. xxxviii. 69 He..ran And layd hym at þe erd flatly.
1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. Dv At his looke she flatly falleth downe. View more context for this quotation
2.
a. With small curvature.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > curved surface > [adverb] > convexly > with little convexity
flatly1797
1797 T. Holcroft tr. F. L. Stolberg Trav. II. l. 205 It was very flatly arched.
b. As on a flat surface; without relief.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > flatness or levelness > [adverb]
plaina1398
levelly1837
flatly1883
1883 C. C. Perkins Hist. Handbk. Ital. Sculpt. 116 Plants, fruits, and flowers are..treated flatly, and not in the round.
3.
a. In a plain, blunt, or decisive manner; without ambiguity, qualification, or hesitation; plainly, bluntly; decisively.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > dogmatic assertion > [adverb]
flatly1562
peremptorily1571
flat1577
pontifically1582
roundly1596
categorically1603
plonkingly1965
1562 T. Cooper Answere Def. Truth f. 38, in Apol. Priuate Masse If I should flatly deny, that the mynister receiued.
1578 Bk. Christian Prayers in Private Prayers (1851) 541 To speak flatly, those only are the things, that are..hurtful unto us.
a1618 W. Raleigh Prerogatiue Parl. (1628) 9 He was flatly denied the Subsedy demanded.
1761–2 D. Hume Hist. Eng. (1806) IV. lxii. 641 The common council of London flatly refused to submit.
1809 N. Pinkney Trav. South of France 57 He..flatly told me, that I must either have that or none.
1879 J. McCarthy Hist. our Own Times II. xxix. 389 He seldom expresses any opinion one day without flatly contradicting it the next.
b. In the unqualified sense of the statement; absolutely, completely.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > utterly
allOE
allOE
outlyOE
thwert-outc1175
skerea1225
thoroughc1225
downrightc1275
purec1300
purelyc1300
faira1325
finelyc1330
quitec1330
quitelyc1330
utterlyc1374
outerlya1382
plainlya1382
straighta1387
allutterly1389
starkc1390
oultrelya1393
plata1393
barec1400
outrightc1400
incomparablyc1422
absolutely?a1425
simpliciter?a1425
staringa1425
quitementa1450
properlyc1450
directly1455
merec1475
incomparable1482
preciselyc1503
clean?1515
cleara1522
plain1535
merely1546
stark1553
perfectly1555
right-down1566
simply1574
flat1577
flatly1577
skire1581
plumb1588
dead?1589
rankly1590
stark1593
sheera1600
start1599
handsmooth1600
peremptory1601
sheerly1601
rank1602
utter1619
point-blank1624
proofa1625
peremptorily1626
downrightly1632
right-down1646
solid1651
clever1664
just1668
hollow1671
entirely1673
blank1677
even down1677
cleverly1696
uncomparatively1702
subtly1733
point1762
cussed1779
regularly1789
unqualifiedly1789
irredeemably1790
positively1800
cussedly1802
heart1812
proper1816
slick1818
blankly1822
bang1828
smack1828
pluperfectly1831
unmitigatedly1832
bodaciously1833
unredeemedly1835
out of sight1839
bodacious1845
regular1846
thoroughly1846
ingrainedly1869
muckinga1880
fucking1893
motherless1898
self1907
stone1928
sideways1956
terminally1974
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. I. ii. i. sig. G.ijv/2 Mankind being flatly corrupted by sinne.
1583 G. Babington Very Fruitfull Expos. Commaundem. i. 70 Such thinges as flatlie and directly are contrarie to the loue of thee.
1641 J. Milton Reason Church-govt. 14 Flatly against Scripture.
1693 R. Bentley Boyle Lect. vii. 32 Which is flatly impossible.
1849 J. Ruskin Seven Lamps Archit. ii. 29 Of all sin there is..no one more flatly opposite to the Almighty.
1874 J. T. Micklethwaite Mod. Parish Churches 187 This is of course..flatly impossible.
4.
a. In a dull or spiritless manner; without zest; insipidly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > [adverb] > in bland or insipid manner
colourlessly1572
tamely1600
flatly1644
frigidly1647
insipidly1699
vapidly1847
monochromatically1890
unatmospherically1913
anonymously1939
1644 K. Digby Two Treat. ii. Concl. 461 We shall but flatly relish the most poinant meates.
1697 K. Chetwood Pref. to Pastorals in J. Dryden tr. Virgil Wks. sig. ****1v That Famous passage of Lucan..Which Brelæuf has render'd so flatly.
1708 Brit. Apollo 14–16 July The Line [is] flatly Dull and Poor.
1865 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend II. iii. vi. 50 He did not appear to have hidden anything, so went off rather flatly.
1885 Manch. Examiner 22 July 3/1 It..simply says ineffectively and flatly what has been said effectively and brightly by a score of writers.
b. Commerce. With little competition.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > trading conditions > [adverb] > with little competition
flatly1887
1887 Daily News 8 July 6/8 The more important parcels offered in public sale to-day went off flatly.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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