freelyadv.

Brit.

/ˈfriːli/, U.S.

/ˈfrili/

Forms: see free adj., n., and adv. and -ly suffix²; also Old English fredlice (in a late copy, transmission error), Old English freolre (in a late copy, transmission error).

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: free adj., -ly suffix².

Etymology: < free adj. + -ly suffix². Compare Old High German frīlīhhēn (Middle High German vrīlīche, vrīlīchen, German freilich, now only in sense ‘of course, admittedly’), Middle Dutch vrīlīke, Middle Low German vrīlīke, vrīlīken.

a. Of one's own accord, spontaneously; without constraint or reluctance; unreservedly, without stipulation; readily, willingly.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > free will > [adverb]

freelyeOE

wilfullyc1000

by one's willOE

of oneselfOE

self-willesOE

of one's own willOE

willyOE

with one's willc1175

voluntarilyc1374

wilfulc1380

of one's own heada1393

willea1400

willilya1400

of (free) voluntyc1402

of or at one's (own) voluntyc1402

of one's own motion1419

of (also by, with) one's (own) goodwill?a1425

on one's own heada1425

of (also by, on, upon) one's own accorda1450

activelyc1454

willinglyc1475

voluntary1480

liberallya1500

of one's own swinge1548

voluntariously1550

voluntarlyc1568

for favour1574

at voluntary1585

of, out of, upon, or at (a person's) own voluntary1585

selfly1595

motu proprio1603

ultroneously1627

unimposedly1647

spontaneously1660

needlessly1710

unmechanically1764

eOE (Mercian) Vespasian Psalter (1965) xciii. 1 Deus ultionum dominus deus ultionum libere egit : god wreca dryhten god wręca freolice dyde.

OE Metrical Creed 15 Ides unmæne [sc. the Virgin Mary], heo þæt ærende onfeng freolice, and ðe fæder sylfne under breostcofan bearn acende.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 5547 Þe folc..of Flaundres freoliche him fulsten.

c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) 209 Gij him answerd freliche: ‘Sir, ichil wel bleþeliche’.

c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 888 And right as frely as he sente hir me As frely sente I hire to hym agayn.

a1475 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (Laud) (1885) 139 (MED) The reaume off Ffraunce givith neuer ffrely off thair owne gode will any subsidie to thair prince.

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Diii These..gyftes & graces, he hath gyuen to vs frely.

1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. 48 Let vs freely forsake all such things [sc. worldly goods].

a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) i. i. 112 Lord Timon, heare me speake. Tim. Freely good Father.

1699 J. Evelyn Kalendarium Hortense (ed. 9) 6 Let none..despise..these short Directions, so freely and ingenuously imparted.

1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II. at Loyal A Horse is said to be loyal, who freely bends all his Force in obeying and performing any manage he is put to.

1774 Story Aeneas & Dido Burlesqued 45 I'd freely give a golden guinea If I could have a pickaninny.

1833 I. Taylor Fanaticism viii. 333 Prejudice and antiquated jealousy did not freely yield themselves up.

1862 J. Ruskin Unto this Last 82 He may either give it us freely, or demand payment for it.

1889 Harper's Mag. Aug. 413/2 They told me freely the ingredients of their preparations, bringing me samples of each component part.

1916 ‘B. Cable’ Action Front 200 These average good men who had ‘joined up’ freely, who had longed for the end of home training and the transfer ‘out Front’.

1953 ‘P. Lanham’ & A. S. Mopeli-Paulus Blanket Boy's Moon i. ii. 23 I freely promise that I will go no more at night from beer-drink to beer-drink.

1989 L. Kennedy On my Way to Club xx. 349 Speer..freely admitted and was repentant for his share of the guilt.

2002 J. C. Wharton Nature Cures v. 123 These and like-minded bands of healers..freely acknowledged Quimby as their founder.

b. With freedom of will or choice.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > free will > [adverb] > with freedom of will

in one's free will?c1225

at a person's willc1300

abandonc1330

freely1340

wilfully1340

contingently1601

electively1636

facultatively1887

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 86 Uri-wyl, huer-by he may chyese, and do, uryliche oþer þet guod oþer þet kuead.

1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) ii. ii. 28 They [sc. angels] haue myght & power frely to chese to vnderstonde & to loue.

1595 W. Perkins Expos. Creed Apostles 106 Yet was hee [sc. Adam] not bound by any necessitie, but had his libertie freely to chuse or refuse either good or euill.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 538 Freely we serve, Because wee freely love, as in our will To love or not.

1699 Bp. G. Burnet Expos. 39 Articles (1700) x. 117 No man is accountable, rewardable or punishable, but for that in which he acts freely.

1732 D. Millar Omniscience of God 229 Foreseeing which, of two or more possible things, the Agent will freely choose.

1795 J. Mellen Great & Happy Doctr. Liberty 29 They acted freely, and their actions originated from themselves.

1838 H. W. Herbert Cromwell I. i. vi. 107 You are too greatly agitated yet, calmly to hear, and freely to decide on that, which..you must consider warily and well!

1892 Old & New Test. Student 15 211 Adam was created in the full possession of his powers so that he could freely choose between good and evil.

1946 T. H. White Mistress Masham's Repose i. 11 It seems impossible that he could have chosen her freely, considering what she was.

1947 Times 16 July 6/5 It was most undesirable that we should attempt in any way to..force a solution. Whatever was done must be freely done.

1983 H. J. Berman Law & Revol. iv. 177 This blessedness requires that man freely submit his will to God.

2001 C. Coker Humane Warfare i. 19 Humane wars are likewise predicated on the belief that martyrdom is illegitimate unless freely chosen.

2. Without constraint or reserve in regard to speech; unreservedly, frankly, openly, plainly.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > sincerity, freedom from deceit > [adverb] > frankly

freelyeOE

unreservedly1708

candidly1762

outspokenly1855

straight1874

man to man1902

(straight) from the shoulder1904

squat1909

eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xv. 89 Oft eac ða unwaran lareowas for ege..ne durron forðon ryht freolice læran & unforwandodlice sprecan.

c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 73 Freolice he spæc her, and ful andrædlice, hwa mihte openiȝan þa unsceapenæ eaȝen and him sihðe ȝifen, buton ðe ðe ȝeisceop ær Adam of eorðan and Euam of his ribbe?

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 477 (MED) Whan kyng Henry was dede men demede of hym and spak freliche what þey wolde.

1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) ii. 58 b We must speak freelie without supping vp our wordes, and bringing them but half forth.

1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. ii. 252 I freely told you.

1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica i. viii. 32 To speake freely what cannot bee concealed.

1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. i. iv. 16 He may speak his mind freely to me without fear of offending.

1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. ii. 46 We were shewn a room where we could converse more freely.

1817 W. Scott Rob Roy III. xii. 322 His unrequired presence prevented me from speaking freely to Syddall.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 69 She well knew that she was not handsome, and jested freely on her own homeliness.

1884 Leeds Mercury 24 Oct. 8/2 He..freely criticised the policy of the Government in South Africa.

1906 J. Galsworthy Man of Property 42 Old Jolyon was too much of a Forsyte to praise anything freely; especially anything for which he had a genuine admiration.

1951 M. Lavin Single Lady & other Stories 14 In her own university days there was nothing, absolutely nothing, that was not discussed freely.

1982 J. Simms Unsolicited Gift iii. 71 People talk so freely about their experience of birth that you should know what to expect.

2000 Wasafiri Autumn 43/2 The advantages of liminality have allowed me to write freely about ‘hush-up’ and hushed-up experience.

3. Without restraint or restriction upon action or activity; without hindrance, inhibition, or interference.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > easiness > [adverb] > without hindrance or encumberment

freelyeOE

wellOE

freec1250

glidderly13..

without (also but) lettingc1330

oliver current1466

smootha1500

pronewise1585

currently1586

glib1594

glibly1607

clearly1612

swimminglya1640

smoothly1668

uninterrupted1677

unobstructedly1788

smack-smooth1802

sweetly1825

sweet1846

unimpededly1846

hitchlessly1910

society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > [adverb]

freelyeOE

eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) xviii. 45 Sio sawl færð swiðe friolice to hefonum, siððan hio..for þæm carcern[e þ]æs lichoman onlesed bið.

OE Wærferð tr. Gregory Dialogues (Hatton) (1900) ii. Pref. 95 He wæs þa gita on þissere eorðan, þæt he mihte freolice brucan hwilwendlicra þinga [OE Corpus Cambr. hwilwendlice lifigean swa ma manna doð].

c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) xciii. 1 (MED) God ys Lord of vengeaunces; God of vengeaunce did frelich [L. libere].

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 2238 Þat ai quen we se ani chesun, Freli may climb vp and dun.

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 1106 Hit ferde freloker in fete in his fayre honde.

a1425 (?c1384) J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 362 (MED) Þanne Goddis lawe myȝte freeli renne bi þe lymytis þat Crist haþ ordeyned.

c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 174 Frely to haue passage throu all realmes.

1503–4 Act 19 Hen. VII c. 34 §8 Every suche Woman..[shall] frely enjoye..all hir owne inheretaunce.

1576 G. Baker tr. C. Gesner Newe Jewell of Health i. f. 17^v To thende the fire maye..burne the freelyer.

1609 J. Skene tr. Regiam Majestatem 38 The woman may frelie marie, against the will of the over-lord.

1679 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. viii. 149 That the Light may the freelier play upon the Glass.

1695 Ld. Preston tr. Boethius Of Consol. Philos. i. 10 I began to breathe more freely.

1790 W. Marshall Rural Econ. Midland Counties I. 143 On this bar or string of iron, a ring, with a chain passing to the wheels, plays freely from end to end.

1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 103 The water in the mill-tail will not run off freely, but stands pent up in the wheel-race.

1874 J. Morley On Compromise 1 The right of thinking freely and acting independently.

1879 Cassell's Techn. Educator viii. 91/1 These wheels turn freely upon the shaft.

1908 Animal Managem. (War Office) 17 The skin..when handled, should feel ‘loose’ and freely movable over the structures beneath.

1956 S. Bedford Legacy (1984) ii. i. 33 The old gentlemen, his father's guests, wept freely.

1982 I. Asimov Foundation's Edge (1983) i. 17 Once I am home, I presume I may then go about my business freely—that I may leave, for instance, if I choose.

2002 Good Weekend (Austral.) 6 July 11/2 People were forced together in the air-raid shelters, unable to move freely.

4. Without stint; generously, liberally; plentifully, abundantly, profusely.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > giving > liberal giving > [adverb]

roomlyOE

freelyOE

unsparelya1225

largelyc1225

largec1350

liberallyc1410

unsparinglya1500

beneficially1530

bounteously1531

plenteously1535

frankly1551

well1565

well-favouredly1570

bountifully1580

prodigally1590

amply1594

munificently1594

royally1601

prodigal1603

generously1623

ungrudginglya1631

lavishly1769

unstintingly1857

spaciously1864

open-handedly1924

the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > abundance > [adverb] > liberally or without stint

roomlyOE

freelyOE

unwaindandlyc1425

roundc1450

liberally1509

superabundantly1530

spareless1567

meeterly1589

generously1623

handsomely1686

unstintedly1849

OE Genesis A (1931) 1342 Fed freolice feora wocre oð ic þære lafe lagosiða eft reorde under roderum ryman wille.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 12332 (MED) Iesus tok þis corn..And freli it abute him delt.

c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 20 For þay schal frely be refete ful of alle gode.

a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) iii. 1719 He spendeth, jousteth, maketh festeynges; He yeveth frely ofte.

1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 iv. i. 301 You would drinke freely .

1611 Bible (King James) Gen. ii. 16 Of euery tree of the garden thou mayest freely eate.

1659 D. Pell Πελαγος 100 (note) Throw your monies away freely in the Alehouse.

1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World ii. 89 We eat very freely.

1782 W. Cowper Hope in Poems 147 Bestow'd on man..Royally, freely, for his bounty sake.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 431 The blood flowed freely.

1879 Cassell's Techn. Educator (new ed.) IV. 23/2 He lived in princely style and spent his money freely.

1883 Rep. Geol. Explor. N. Zealand 39 Gold has been found freely.

1892 Dixon's Seed Catal. 37 Brachycome Iberidifolia..blooms freely, and is useful for bedding.

1904 R. E. Lee Recoll. & Lett. Gen. R. E. Lee xx. 364 To keep him free from fever-and-ague, my brother dosed him freely with cholagogue.

1946 P. G. Wodehouse Let. 6 Apr. in Yours, Plum (1990) iii. 106 I always knew we were for it, as we went in freely for hot water and heaters during those cold months.

1988 B. Chatwin Utz 21 The sale of his Sudetenland farms..allowed him to spend money freely.

2004 S. Dudley Calypso Music in Trinidad vi. 102 Chutney songs also include Trinidadian idioms that Indians use as freely as creoles.

†5. Nobly; excellently, beautifully. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social class > nobility > [adverb]

freelyOE

nobly1591

the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adverb] > and nobly or splendidly

micklelyeOE

highlyeOE

freelyOE

dearworthlyc1230

gloriously1393

dearworthilya1400

farrandlyc1400

stately?a1439

finely?1552

gallantly1552

goldenly1580

rarely1581

sightly1592

superbly1769

splendidly1774

splendiferously1841

swell1856

in there1944

OE Death of Edward (Tiber. B.i) 22 Syððan forð becom freolice [OE Tiber. B.iv freolic] in geatwum, kyningc kystum god, clæne and milde, Eadward se æðela, eðel bewerode, land and leode.

c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) 197 Under hire nebscheft al se freoliche ischapet.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 14442 Þa weoren..an hundred and sixti þusend freoliche iwapned.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 70 (MED) Yef þou wylt libbe vriliche, lyerne to sterue gledliche.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2634 On þe fairest on face and frelokest ischapen.

?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 10 (MED) Fulle frely he lyued here.

?c1450 Pistel of Swete Susan (Pierpont Morgan) 98 (MED) Þer was fowles and frute freliche fayre.

1568 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1930) IV. 184 Of statur large, and frely [a1525 Asl. farly] fair of face.

†6. In freedom, with the rights of free birth; with absolute possession (of property, liberties, etc.); without servitude. freely begotten: of gentle birth. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > [adverb] > in freedom or without servitude

freelylOE

society > law > legal right > right of specific class, person, or place > [adverb] > with rights of free man

freelylOE

society > law > legal right > right of possession or ownership > tenure of property > [adverb] > in absolute possession

freelylOE

allodially1734

udally1909

lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough interpolation) anno 656 Ða cwæð seo kyning, hit is litel þeos gife, ac ic wille þet hi hit hælden swa kynelice & swa freolice, þet þær ne be numen of na geld na gaule, buton to þa munecan ane.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 2713 Ȝe scullen..habben freoliche eoure lond.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 4791 Belin king..freoliche [c1300 Otho freliche] hine lette faren, and alle his iueren.

a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 45 (MED) Ah, feyre þinges, freoly bore, when me ou woweþ, beþ war.

1415 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 24 Hers of his body frelych be-gotun.

c1450 (c1386) G. Chaucer Envoy to Bukton (Fairf. 16) (1879) l. 31 God graunte yow your lyfe frely to lede In fredam.

c1450 tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Lyfe Manhode (Cambr.) (1869) 27 And that the gouernaunce of heuene longeth freeliche to me.

1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 228 He levys at ese that frely levys.

c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. iij^v/1 That citezens of london..of al their libarteis and fre vsage as holly and fully be restored. As them the tyme of ony our progenitours kingis frelyest and fullyest they had.

a1530 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Royal) viii. i. 65 Bot it suld joys all fredomys, Frawnchis, profyt, and customys, Alsa frely as before.

1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. ii. 247 I must freely haue the halfe of any thing that this same paper brings you.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) i. iv. 39 Thou shalt liue as freely as thy Lord, To call his fortunes thine.

1671 F. Philipps Regale Necessarium 612 A Canon or Prebend doth as freely hold his prebendary of the Church as the Bishop doth his Barony.

a. Without payment or cost, gratis; = free adv. 2. Now rare.Formerly also: †without recompense (obsolete).

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > charges > freedom from charge > [adverb]

freelyc1330

(all) for nought1535

at (formerly also for, of, on, upon) free cost1542

for nothing1569

without price1611

freea1631

free cost1648

gratuitously1717

buckshee1918

c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 5889 (MED) Þer men miȝtten haue frely Four c steden for gramerci.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. lii. 3 Freeli [L. gratis] ȝee ben sold.

a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 5965 Quod gratis accepistis, gratis date. He says ‘þat þat yhe haf of grace fre And frely resayved, frely gyf yhe’.

a1500 (?a1450) Gesta Romanorum (Harl. 7333) (1879) 307 (MED) Hir fadir myȝte haue had for þi ranson grete goodis, and sithe she deliuered þe so frely, she dud grete preiudice and harme to hire fadir.

a1553 in H. Cole Hen. VIII's Scheme Bishopricks (1838) 117 Borde and tabelyng frely in the late Monasterie to one scole~master.

1589 Act 31 Eliz. c. 6 §1 Freelye without anye rewarde.

1681 T. Delaune & B. Keach Τροπολογία ii. 140/1 Manna was a Gift, it was given to Israel freely, it cost them nothing.

1759 B. Martin Nat. Hist. Eng. I. 264 For 153 children to be taught freely.

1790 W. Hazlitt Disc. for Use of Families vii. 149 Let it be distributed freely. Or, at least, let them have it for the price which was formerly received for it.

1912 W. C. Braithwaite Beginnings of Quakerism 351 The Synod at Glasgow..had directed that no people in other parishes should..entertain them either freely or for money.

1968 Jrnl. Music Acad. Madras 39 39 The musicians, some of whom sang freely.

†b. Without penalty or punishment. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1480 W. Caxton Chron. Eng. cxxxvi. 116 Somme of hem lete he go frelych and somme lete he putte to the deth.

1549 R. Crowley Voyce Laste Trumpet sig. Dii Let none breake such lawes frely.

c1600 Wriothesley's Chron. Eng. (1875) I. 163 Which were discharged frelie without paying any fine to the cittie.

8. Entirely, completely, unreservedly. Also used as an intensifier: very. Scottish in later use. Sc. National Dict. (at cited word) records this sense as still in use in the Northern Isles, north-eastern Scotland, Angus, and Midlothian in 1953.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > [adverb]

fullyeOE

allesOE

fullOE

rightc1175

everydealc1300

wholec1300

whollya1325

finelyc1330

fairly1340

completec1374

gainlya1375

clearly1377

freelya1393

plaina1393

entire?a1400

entirelyc1400

oddlyc1400

sufficientlyc1440

expressc1475

totally1509

completely1526

finec1530

exactly?1531

sincerely1576

start1599

fillingly1611

circularly1618

solid1651

out-over1745

rotundly1775

roundedly?1802

whole hog1840

clear-away1883

whole cloth1917

righteous1948

the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > very

tooc888

swith971

wellOE

fullOE

rightc1175

muchc1225

wellac1275

gainlya1375

endlyc1440

hard?1440

very1448

odda1500

great1535

jolly1549

fellc1600

veryvery1649

gooda1655

vastly1664

strange1667

bloody1676

ever so1686

heartily1727

real1771

precious1775

quarely1805

murry1818

très1819

freely1820

powerfula1822

gurt1824

almighty1830

heap1832

all-fired1833

gradely1850

real1856

bonny1857

heavens1858

veddy1859

canny1867

some1867

oh-so1881

storming1883

spanking1886

socking1896

hefty1898

velly1898

fair dinkum1904

plurry1907

Pygmalion1914

dinkum1915

beaucoup1918

dirty1920

molto1923

snorting1924

honking1929

hellishing1931

thumpingly1948

way1965

mega1966

mondo1968

seriously1970

totally1972

mucho1978

stonking1990

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 2847 (MED) Al myn herte is upon on So frely, that in the persone Stant al my worldes joie.

c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) l. 683 I ȝow swor to ben al frely ȝour.

a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1906) ii. 484 (MED) As in the charter of feffement that Alise..made therof to the forsaid Religious women more better and frelyer shewith and witnessith.

1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. bii^v Our seymly souerane..will noght cese, Quhill he haue frely fangit your frendschip.

a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 173 Quhone flude and fyre sall our it frak And frelie frustir feild and fure.

1728 State Trials (1813) XVII. 139 The kennel was deep and dirty, and the pannel was deep in it, but not freely covered.

1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 78 Shapes war nor thae, I freely ween Cou'd never meet the soldier's ein.

1820 A. Sutherland St. Kathleen III. 103 By the siller ye sent me, I dootna bit ye've been freely lucky.

1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xi. 82 ‘I wud like freely weel to see them, man,’ said the stranger.

1934 J. M. Caie Kindly North 49 I dinna like tae speer,—but div ye freely think it's fair?

9. Without observance of or conformity to strict rule or convention; loosely, broadly; not literally or exactly.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > disorder > irregularity > unconformity > [adverb] > without strict adherence to rule, etc.

freely1744

the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > translation > [adverb] > freely

sententiouslyc1450

freely1870

1744 Universal Hist. (Dublin rev. ed.) I. Introd. 9 Which Words Dr. Cudworth has translated, somewhat freely Essential Goodness.

1791 J. Aikin Poems 101 (heading) A Chorus from the Hercules Furens of Seneca, freely translated.

1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre I. viii. 135 Freely pencilled houses and trees.

1869 J. Phillips Vesuvius vii. 180 Only a freely sweeping line can justly express the form.

1870 F. M. Müller Sci. Relig. (1873) 122 Translate it somewhat freely.

1907 ‘N. Blanchan’ Birds Every Child should Know iv. 62 The excited bird, whose familiar..triplet has been too freely translated, he thinks, into Fol-low me, fol-low-me, fol-low-me.

1967 E. Short Embroidery & Fabric Collage i. 27 An abstract design can be based on freely drawn organic shapes.

1985 H. Clark Textile Printing 5 (caption) The so called ‘Tree of Life’, a symbolic image common on Indian painted and printed palampores (hangings), was freely adapted for European chintz.

2005 Independent 21 June 34/2 There were many who felt Taylor interpreted the Bible too freely to suit his theological positions.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	freely
释义	† freelyadj.n. Forms: see free adj., n., and adv. and -ly suffix¹. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with or formed similarly to Old Frisian frīlīk free, Old Saxon frīlīk noble, fair, Old High German frīlīh free (Middle High German vrīlīch , early modern German freilich ) < the Germanic base of free adj. + the Germanic base of -ly suffix¹.In Old English the prefixed form gefrēolic is also attested. Obsolete. A. adj. Free, noble; excellent, admirable, goodly; beautiful, lovely.A common complimentary epithet in Middle English poetry; cf. free adj. 3. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social class > nobility > [adjective] freelyOE freeOE noblea1250 sovereignful1508 stately?1549 noblemanly1812 the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective] > and noble or magnificent dearOE freelyOE athelOE highlyOE dearwortha1175 noblec1325 worshipful1340 dearworthyc1374 ingenuous1598 valuable1598 OE Riddle 14 13 Hwilum ic bordum sceal, heard, heafodleas, behlyþed licgan, hwilum hongige hyrstum frætwed, wlitig [on] wage, þær weras drincað, freolic fyrdsceorp. OE Beowulf (2008) 615 Þa freolic wif ful gesealde ærest Eastdena eþelwearde. c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Bodl.) (1981) 24 A meiden..feir ant freolich o wlite ant o westum. c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 193 (MED) Sone to deþ þer drewe Mani a frely fode. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 822 (MED) Alle freliche foules þat on þat friþ songe. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 8377 Þou freli king, sa ful o bliss. c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 162 To þis frelych feste þat fele arn to called. c1480 (a1400) St. Machor 192 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 6 Of hyre wit sche ȝed nere wod For sorrow of that frely fud. a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1897–1973) 49 (MED) Ryse vp now, with thi frely face. c1560 (a1500) Squyr Lowe Degre (Copland) 545 Undo thy dore! my frely floure. a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) 174 Rycht fair of face and frelie of fassoun,..he wes. a1801 Kemp Owyne i, in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1884) I. ii. 309/1 Come here, come here, you freely feed, An lay your head low on my knee. B. n. A person who is noble, excellent, etc.Cf. free n. 2. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social class > nobility > [noun] freedomeOE earlshipOE noblesse?c1225 anourc1330 freelya1350 nobleheada1382 nobletya1387 nobléc1395 nobilitya1400 generosity?a1475 apparage?1504 quality1579 society > society and the community > social class > nobility > [noun] > noble person or man earleOE wyeOE freeOE nobleman?c1225 athelc1275 noblec1325 douzepersc1330 freelya1350 hathela1350 gentlec1400 nobleness1490 gentle blood1575 comes1583 altezza1595 birth1596 nobility1841 a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 38 (MED) A sponne lengore þen y mette þat freoly ys to fede. c1400 (?c1380) Pearl 1155 (MED) Quen I seȝ my frely, I wolde be þere. c1475 (a1400) Awntyrs Arthure (Taylor) in J. Robson Three Early Eng. Metrical Romances (1842) 14 Of that freli to fold, And the kene knyȝte. Derivatives freelyhead n. [see -head suffix] free or voluntary action; spontaneity. ΘΚΠ society > morality > virtue > morally elevated quality > [noun] > specifically in a person honourc1300 virtuousnessc1449 freelyheadc1450 magnitude?a1475 nobility1508 ingenuity1598 c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 186 Þe vj. spanne in þe handyl of þi confessioun is frelyhede; þat frely..for loue & deuocyoun to god, þou art schreuyn. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022). freelyadv. Brit. /ˈfriːli/, U.S. /ˈfrili/ Forms: see free adj., n., and adv. and -ly suffix²; also Old English fredlice (in a late copy, transmission error), Old English freolre (in a late copy, transmission error). Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: free adj., -ly suffix². Etymology: < free adj. + -ly suffix². Compare Old High German frīlīhhēn (Middle High German vrīlīche, vrīlīchen, German freilich, now only in sense ‘of course, admittedly’), Middle Dutch vrīlīke, Middle Low German vrīlīke, vrīlīken. 1. a. Of one's own accord, spontaneously; without constraint or reluctance; unreservedly, without stipulation; readily, willingly. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > free will > [adverb] freelyeOE wilfullyc1000 by one's willOE of oneselfOE self-willesOE of one's own willOE willyOE with one's willc1175 voluntarilyc1374 wilfulc1380 of one's own heada1393 willea1400 willilya1400 of (free) voluntyc1402 of or at one's (own) voluntyc1402 of one's own motion1419 of (also by, with) one's (own) goodwill?a1425 on one's own heada1425 of (also by, on, upon) one's own accorda1450 activelyc1454 willinglyc1475 voluntary1480 liberallya1500 of one's own swinge1548 voluntariously1550 voluntarlyc1568 for favour1574 at voluntary1585 of, out of, upon, or at (a person's) own voluntary1585 selfly1595 motu proprio1603 ultroneously1627 unimposedly1647 spontaneously1660 needlessly1710 unmechanically1764 eOE (Mercian) Vespasian Psalter (1965) xciii. 1 Deus ultionum dominus deus ultionum libere egit : god wreca dryhten god wręca freolice dyde. OE Metrical Creed 15 Ides unmæne [sc. the Virgin Mary], heo þæt ærende onfeng freolice, and ðe fæder sylfne under breostcofan bearn acende. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 5547 Þe folc..of Flaundres freoliche him fulsten. c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) 209 Gij him answerd freliche: ‘Sir, ichil wel bleþeliche’. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 888 And right as frely as he sente hir me As frely sente I hire to hym agayn. a1475 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (Laud) (1885) 139 (MED) The reaume off Ffraunce givith neuer ffrely off thair owne gode will any subsidie to thair prince. 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Diii These..gyftes & graces, he hath gyuen to vs frely. 1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. 48 Let vs freely forsake all such things [sc. worldly goods]. a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) i. i. 112 Lord Timon, heare me speake. Tim. Freely good Father. View more context for this quotation 1699 J. Evelyn Kalendarium Hortense (ed. 9) 6 Let none..despise..these short Directions, so freely and ingenuously imparted. 1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II. at Loyal A Horse is said to be loyal, who freely bends all his Force in obeying and performing any manage he is put to. 1774 Story Aeneas & Dido Burlesqued 45 I'd freely give a golden guinea If I could have a pickaninny. 1833 I. Taylor Fanaticism viii. 333 Prejudice and antiquated jealousy did not freely yield themselves up. 1862 J. Ruskin Unto this Last 82 He may either give it us freely, or demand payment for it. 1889 Harper's Mag. Aug. 413/2 They told me freely the ingredients of their preparations, bringing me samples of each component part. 1916 ‘B. Cable’ Action Front 200 These average good men who had ‘joined up’ freely, who had longed for the end of home training and the transfer ‘out Front’. 1953 ‘P. Lanham’ & A. S. Mopeli-Paulus Blanket Boy's Moon i. ii. 23 I freely promise that I will go no more at night from beer-drink to beer-drink. 1989 L. Kennedy On my Way to Club xx. 349 Speer..freely admitted and was repentant for his share of the guilt. 2002 J. C. Wharton Nature Cures v. 123 These and like-minded bands of healers..freely acknowledged Quimby as their founder. b. With freedom of will or choice. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > free will > [adverb] > with freedom of will in one's free will?c1225 at a person's willc1300 abandonc1330 freely1340 wilfully1340 contingently1601 electively1636 facultatively1887 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 86 Uri-wyl, huer-by he may chyese, and do, uryliche oþer þet guod oþer þet kuead. 1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) ii. ii. 28 They [sc. angels] haue myght & power frely to chese to vnderstonde & to loue. 1595 W. Perkins Expos. Creed Apostles 106 Yet was hee [sc. Adam] not bound by any necessitie, but had his libertie freely to chuse or refuse either good or euill. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 538 Freely we serve, Because wee freely love, as in our will To love or not. View more context for this quotation 1699 Bp. G. Burnet Expos. 39 Articles (1700) x. 117 No man is accountable, rewardable or punishable, but for that in which he acts freely. 1732 D. Millar Omniscience of God 229 Foreseeing which, of two or more possible things, the Agent will freely choose. 1795 J. Mellen Great & Happy Doctr. Liberty 29 They acted freely, and their actions originated from themselves. 1838 H. W. Herbert Cromwell I. i. vi. 107 You are too greatly agitated yet, calmly to hear, and freely to decide on that, which..you must consider warily and well! 1892 Old & New Test. Student 15 211 Adam was created in the full possession of his powers so that he could freely choose between good and evil. 1946 T. H. White Mistress Masham's Repose i. 11 It seems impossible that he could have chosen her freely, considering what she was. 1947 Times 16 July 6/5 It was most undesirable that we should attempt in any way to..force a solution. Whatever was done must be freely done. 1983 H. J. Berman Law & Revol. iv. 177 This blessedness requires that man freely submit his will to God. 2001 C. Coker Humane Warfare i. 19 Humane wars are likewise predicated on the belief that martyrdom is illegitimate unless freely chosen. 2. Without constraint or reserve in regard to speech; unreservedly, frankly, openly, plainly. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > sincerity, freedom from deceit > [adverb] > frankly freelyeOE unreservedly1708 candidly1762 outspokenly1855 straight1874 man to man1902 (straight) from the shoulder1904 squat1909 eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xv. 89 Oft eac ða unwaran lareowas for ege..ne durron forðon ryht freolice læran & unforwandodlice sprecan. c1175 ( Ælfric Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 73 Freolice he spæc her, and ful andrædlice, hwa mihte openiȝan þa unsceapenæ eaȝen and him sihðe ȝifen, buton ðe ðe ȝeisceop ær Adam of eorðan and Euam of his ribbe? a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 477 (MED) Whan kyng Henry was dede men demede of hym and spak freliche what þey wolde. 1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) ii. 58 b We must speak freelie without supping vp our wordes, and bringing them but half forth. 1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. ii. 252 I freely told you. View more context for this quotation 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica i. viii. 32 To speake freely what cannot bee concealed. View more context for this quotation 1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. i. iv. 16 He may speak his mind freely to me without fear of offending. 1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. ii. 46 We were shewn a room where we could converse more freely. 1817 W. Scott Rob Roy III. xii. 322 His unrequired presence prevented me from speaking freely to Syddall. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 69 She well knew that she was not handsome, and jested freely on her own homeliness. 1884 Leeds Mercury 24 Oct. 8/2 He..freely criticised the policy of the Government in South Africa. 1906 J. Galsworthy Man of Property 42 Old Jolyon was too much of a Forsyte to praise anything freely; especially anything for which he had a genuine admiration. 1951 M. Lavin Single Lady & other Stories 14 In her own university days there was nothing, absolutely nothing, that was not discussed freely. 1982 J. Simms Unsolicited Gift iii. 71 People talk so freely about their experience of birth that you should know what to expect. 2000 Wasafiri Autumn 43/2 The advantages of liminality have allowed me to write freely about ‘hush-up’ and hushed-up experience. 3. Without restraint or restriction upon action or activity; without hindrance, inhibition, or interference. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > easiness > [adverb] > without hindrance or encumberment freelyeOE wellOE freec1250 glidderly13.. without (also but) lettingc1330 oliver current1466 smootha1500 pronewise1585 currently1586 glib1594 glibly1607 clearly1612 swimminglya1640 smoothly1668 uninterrupted1677 unobstructedly1788 smack-smooth1802 sweetly1825 sweet1846 unimpededly1846 hitchlessly1910 society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > [adverb] freelyeOE eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) xviii. 45 Sio sawl færð swiðe friolice to hefonum, siððan hio..for þæm carcern[e þ]æs lichoman onlesed bið. OE Wærferð tr. Gregory Dialogues (Hatton) (1900) ii. Pref. 95 He wæs þa gita on þissere eorðan, þæt he mihte freolice brucan hwilwendlicra þinga [OE Corpus Cambr. hwilwendlice lifigean swa ma manna doð]. c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) xciii. 1 (MED) God ys Lord of vengeaunces; God of vengeaunce did frelich [L. libere]. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 2238 Þat ai quen we se ani chesun, Freli may climb vp and dun. c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 1106 Hit ferde freloker in fete in his fayre honde. a1425 (?c1384) J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 362 (MED) Þanne Goddis lawe myȝte freeli renne bi þe lymytis þat Crist haþ ordeyned. c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 174 Frely to haue passage throu all realmes. 1503–4 Act 19 Hen. VII c. 34 §8 Every suche Woman..[shall] frely enjoye..all hir owne inheretaunce. 1576 G. Baker tr. C. Gesner Newe Jewell of Health i. f. 17^v To thende the fire maye..burne the freelyer. 1609 J. Skene tr. Regiam Majestatem 38 The woman may frelie marie, against the will of the over-lord. 1679 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. viii. 149 That the Light may the freelier play upon the Glass. 1695 Ld. Preston tr. Boethius Of Consol. Philos. i. 10 I began to breathe more freely. 1790 W. Marshall Rural Econ. Midland Counties I. 143 On this bar or string of iron, a ring, with a chain passing to the wheels, plays freely from end to end. 1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 103 The water in the mill-tail will not run off freely, but stands pent up in the wheel-race. 1874 J. Morley On Compromise 1 The right of thinking freely and acting independently. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educator viii. 91/1 These wheels turn freely upon the shaft. 1908 Animal Managem. (War Office) 17 The skin..when handled, should feel ‘loose’ and freely movable over the structures beneath. 1956 S. Bedford Legacy (1984) ii. i. 33 The old gentlemen, his father's guests, wept freely. 1982 I. Asimov Foundation's Edge (1983) i. 17 Once I am home, I presume I may then go about my business freely—that I may leave, for instance, if I choose. 2002 Good Weekend (Austral.) 6 July 11/2 People were forced together in the air-raid shelters, unable to move freely. 4. Without stint; generously, liberally; plentifully, abundantly, profusely. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > giving > liberal giving > [adverb] roomlyOE freelyOE unsparelya1225 largelyc1225 largec1350 liberallyc1410 unsparinglya1500 beneficially1530 bounteously1531 plenteously1535 frankly1551 well1565 well-favouredly1570 bountifully1580 prodigally1590 amply1594 munificently1594 royally1601 prodigal1603 generously1623 ungrudginglya1631 lavishly1769 unstintingly1857 spaciously1864 open-handedly1924 the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > abundance > [adverb] > liberally or without stint roomlyOE freelyOE unwaindandlyc1425 roundc1450 liberally1509 superabundantly1530 spareless1567 meeterly1589 generously1623 handsomely1686 unstintedly1849 OE Genesis A (1931) 1342 Fed freolice feora wocre oð ic þære lafe lagosiða eft reorde under roderum ryman wille. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 12332 (MED) Iesus tok þis corn..And freli it abute him delt. c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 20 For þay schal frely be refete ful of alle gode. a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) iii. 1719 He spendeth, jousteth, maketh festeynges; He yeveth frely ofte. 1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 iv. i. 301 You would drinke freely . View more context for this quotation 1611 Bible (King James) Gen. ii. 16 Of euery tree of the garden thou mayest freely eate. View more context for this quotation 1659 D. Pell Πελαγος 100 (note) Throw your monies away freely in the Alehouse. 1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World ii. 89 We eat very freely. 1782 W. Cowper Hope in Poems 147 Bestow'd on man..Royally, freely, for his bounty sake. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 431 The blood flowed freely. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educator (new ed.) IV. 23/2 He lived in princely style and spent his money freely. 1883 Rep. Geol. Explor. N. Zealand 39 Gold has been found freely. 1892 Dixon's Seed Catal. 37 Brachycome Iberidifolia..blooms freely, and is useful for bedding. 1904 R. E. Lee Recoll. & Lett. Gen. R. E. Lee xx. 364 To keep him free from fever-and-ague, my brother dosed him freely with cholagogue. 1946 P. G. Wodehouse Let. 6 Apr. in Yours, Plum (1990) iii. 106 I always knew we were for it, as we went in freely for hot water and heaters during those cold months. 1988 B. Chatwin Utz 21 The sale of his Sudetenland farms..allowed him to spend money freely. 2004 S. Dudley Calypso Music in Trinidad vi. 102 Chutney songs also include Trinidadian idioms that Indians use as freely as creoles. †5. Nobly; excellently, beautifully. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social class > nobility > [adverb] freelyOE nobly1591 the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adverb] > and nobly or splendidly micklelyeOE highlyeOE freelyOE dearworthlyc1230 gloriously1393 dearworthilya1400 farrandlyc1400 stately?a1439 finely?1552 gallantly1552 goldenly1580 rarely1581 sightly1592 superbly1769 splendidly1774 splendiferously1841 swell1856 in there1944 OE Death of Edward (Tiber. B.i) 22 Syððan forð becom freolice [OE Tiber. B.iv freolic] in geatwum, kyningc kystum god, clæne and milde, Eadward se æðela, eðel bewerode, land and leode. c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) 197 Under hire nebscheft al se freoliche ischapet. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 14442 Þa weoren..an hundred and sixti þusend freoliche iwapned. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 70 (MED) Yef þou wylt libbe vriliche, lyerne to sterue gledliche. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2634 On þe fairest on face and frelokest ischapen. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 10 (MED) Fulle frely he lyued here. ?c1450 Pistel of Swete Susan (Pierpont Morgan) 98 (MED) Þer was fowles and frute freliche fayre. 1568 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1930) IV. 184 Of statur large, and frely [a1525 Asl. farly] fair of face. †6. In freedom, with the rights of free birth; with absolute possession (of property, liberties, etc.); without servitude. freely begotten: of gentle birth. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > [adverb] > in freedom or without servitude freelylOE society > law > legal right > right of specific class, person, or place > [adverb] > with rights of free man freelylOE society > law > legal right > right of possession or ownership > tenure of property > [adverb] > in absolute possession freelylOE allodially1734 udally1909 lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough interpolation) anno 656 Ða cwæð seo kyning, hit is litel þeos gife, ac ic wille þet hi hit hælden swa kynelice & swa freolice, þet þær ne be numen of na geld na gaule, buton to þa munecan ane. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 2713 Ȝe scullen..habben freoliche eoure lond. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 4791 Belin king..freoliche [c1300 Otho freliche] hine lette faren, and alle his iueren. a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 45 (MED) Ah, feyre þinges, freoly bore, when me ou woweþ, beþ war. 1415 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 24 Hers of his body frelych be-gotun. c1450 (c1386) G. Chaucer Envoy to Bukton (Fairf. 16) (1879) l. 31 God graunte yow your lyfe frely to lede In fredam. c1450 tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Lyfe Manhode (Cambr.) (1869) 27 And that the gouernaunce of heuene longeth freeliche to me. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 228 He levys at ese that frely levys. c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. iij^v/1 That citezens of london..of al their libarteis and fre vsage as holly and fully be restored. As them the tyme of ony our progenitours kingis frelyest and fullyest they had. a1530 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Royal) viii. i. 65 Bot it suld joys all fredomys, Frawnchis, profyt, and customys, Alsa frely as before. 1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. ii. 247 I must freely haue the halfe of any thing that this same paper brings you. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) i. iv. 39 Thou shalt liue as freely as thy Lord, To call his fortunes thine. View more context for this quotation 1671 F. Philipps Regale Necessarium 612 A Canon or Prebend doth as freely hold his prebendary of the Church as the Bishop doth his Barony. 7. a. Without payment or cost, gratis; = free adv. 2. Now rare.Formerly also: †without recompense (obsolete). ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > charges > freedom from charge > [adverb] freelyc1330 (all) for nought1535 at (formerly also for, of, on, upon) free cost1542 for nothing1569 without price1611 freea1631 free cost1648 gratuitously1717 buckshee1918 c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 5889 (MED) Þer men miȝtten haue frely Four c steden for gramerci. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. lii. 3 Freeli [L. gratis] ȝee ben sold. a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 5965 Quod gratis accepistis, gratis date. He says ‘þat þat yhe haf of grace fre And frely resayved, frely gyf yhe’. a1500 (?a1450) Gesta Romanorum (Harl. 7333) (1879) 307 (MED) Hir fadir myȝte haue had for þi ranson grete goodis, and sithe she deliuered þe so frely, she dud grete preiudice and harme to hire fadir. a1553 in H. Cole Hen. VIII's Scheme Bishopricks (1838) 117 Borde and tabelyng frely in the late Monasterie to one scole~master. 1589 Act 31 Eliz. c. 6 §1 Freelye without anye rewarde. 1681 T. Delaune & B. Keach Τροπολογία ii. 140/1 Manna was a Gift, it was given to Israel freely, it cost them nothing. 1759 B. Martin Nat. Hist. Eng. I. 264 For 153 children to be taught freely. 1790 W. Hazlitt Disc. for Use of Families vii. 149 Let it be distributed freely. Or, at least, let them have it for the price which was formerly received for it. 1912 W. C. Braithwaite Beginnings of Quakerism 351 The Synod at Glasgow..had directed that no people in other parishes should..entertain them either freely or for money. 1968 Jrnl. Music Acad. Madras 39 39 The musicians, some of whom sang freely. †b. Without penalty or punishment. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1480 W. Caxton Chron. Eng. cxxxvi. 116 Somme of hem lete he go frelych and somme lete he putte to the deth. 1549 R. Crowley Voyce Laste Trumpet sig. Dii Let none breake such lawes frely. c1600 Wriothesley's Chron. Eng. (1875) I. 163 Which were discharged frelie without paying any fine to the cittie. 8. Entirely, completely, unreservedly. Also used as an intensifier: very. Scottish in later use. Sc. National Dict. (at cited word) records this sense as still in use in the Northern Isles, north-eastern Scotland, Angus, and Midlothian in 1953. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > [adverb] fullyeOE allesOE fullOE rightc1175 everydealc1300 wholec1300 whollya1325 finelyc1330 fairly1340 completec1374 gainlya1375 clearly1377 freelya1393 plaina1393 entire?a1400 entirelyc1400 oddlyc1400 sufficientlyc1440 expressc1475 totally1509 completely1526 finec1530 exactly?1531 sincerely1576 start1599 fillingly1611 circularly1618 solid1651 out-over1745 rotundly1775 roundedly?1802 whole hog1840 clear-away1883 whole cloth1917 righteous1948 the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > very tooc888 swith971 wellOE wellOE fullOE rightc1175 muchc1225 wellac1275 gainlya1375 endlyc1440 hard?1440 very1448 odda1500 great1535 jolly1549 fellc1600 veryvery1649 gooda1655 vastly1664 strange1667 bloody1676 ever so1686 heartily1727 real1771 precious1775 quarely1805 murry1818 très1819 freely1820 powerfula1822 gurt1824 almighty1830 heap1832 all-fired1833 gradely1850 real1856 bonny1857 heavens1858 veddy1859 canny1867 some1867 oh-so1881 storming1883 spanking1886 socking1896 hefty1898 velly1898 fair dinkum1904 plurry1907 Pygmalion1914 dinkum1915 beaucoup1918 dirty1920 molto1923 snorting1924 honking1929 hellishing1931 thumpingly1948 way1965 mega1966 mondo1968 seriously1970 totally1972 mucho1978 stonking1990 a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 2847 (MED) Al myn herte is upon on So frely, that in the persone Stant al my worldes joie. c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) l. 683 I ȝow swor to ben al frely ȝour. a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1906) ii. 484 (MED) As in the charter of feffement that Alise..made therof to the forsaid Religious women more better and frelyer shewith and witnessith. 1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. bii^v Our seymly souerane..will noght cese, Quhill he haue frely fangit your frendschip. a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 173 Quhone flude and fyre sall our it frak And frelie frustir feild and fure. 1728 State Trials (1813) XVII. 139 The kennel was deep and dirty, and the pannel was deep in it, but not freely covered. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 78 Shapes war nor thae, I freely ween Cou'd never meet the soldier's ein. 1820 A. Sutherland St. Kathleen III. 103 By the siller ye sent me, I dootna bit ye've been freely lucky. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xi. 82 ‘I wud like freely weel to see them, man,’ said the stranger. 1934 J. M. Caie Kindly North 49 I dinna like tae speer,—but div ye freely think it's fair? 9. Without observance of or conformity to strict rule or convention; loosely, broadly; not literally or exactly. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > disorder > irregularity > unconformity > [adverb] > without strict adherence to rule, etc. freely1744 the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > translation > [adverb] > freely sententiouslyc1450 freely1870 1744 Universal Hist. (Dublin rev. ed.) I. Introd. 9 Which Words Dr. Cudworth has translated, somewhat freely Essential Goodness. 1791 J. Aikin Poems 101 (heading) A Chorus from the Hercules Furens of Seneca, freely translated. 1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre I. viii. 135 Freely pencilled houses and trees. 1869 J. Phillips Vesuvius vii. 180 Only a freely sweeping line can justly express the form. 1870 F. M. Müller Sci. Relig. (1873) 122 Translate it somewhat freely. 1907 ‘N. Blanchan’ Birds Every Child should Know iv. 62 The excited bird, whose familiar..triplet has been too freely translated, he thinks, into Fol-low me, fol-low-me, fol-low-me. 1967 E. Short Embroidery & Fabric Collage i. 27 An abstract design can be based on freely drawn organic shapes. 1985 H. Clark Textile Printing 5 (caption) The so called ‘Tree of Life’, a symbolic image common on Indian painted and printed palampores (hangings), was freely adapted for European chintz. 2005 Independent 21 June 34/2 There were many who felt Taylor interpreted the Bible too freely to suit his theological positions. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.n.OEadv.eOE
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† freelyadj.n.

Derivatives

freelyadv.