ironicallyadv.

1535 W. Marshall tr. Marsilius of Padua Def. of Peace ii. xxix. f. 131^v The apostle repreueth and rebuketh this in them, speakynge Ironycallye [L. ironice], that is to saye, meanynge the contrarye to that, that his wordes dothe sounde.

1576 A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. 211 (margin) It may be spoken eironically, for familiar friends use jeasting nowe and then, in their letters.

1649 F. Roberts Clavis Bibliorum (ed. 2) 109 Ironically bidding them cry to their idols for help.

1739 J. Swift Verses on Death Dr. Swift: Nov. 1731 14 Altho' ironically grave, He sham'd the Fool, and lash'd the Knave.

1775 Adventures Cork-screw iii. 38 He..answered their demands of his lordship's health and other matters relative to the election ironically.

1811 J. Adams Let. 9 Feb. in Wks. (1854) IX. 630 When I applied the epithet ‘glorious’ to the uncertainty of politics, I meant it ironically.

1866 ‘G. Eliot’ Felix Holt I. Introd. 15 Saying that there had been fine stories—meaning, ironically, stories not altogether creditable to the parties concerned.

1934 C. P. Snow Search ii. iv. 187 It annoyed me to see Hunt smile ironically.

1976 M. Bishop And Strange at Ecbatan v. 30 Her tone was liltingly sharp, ironically humorous.

2001 H. Gilbert Postcolonial Plays 27/2 The tendency of one level of the narrative to comment ironically on another.

1612 R. Parsons Discuss. Answere William Barlow ii. iv. 262 Let vs heare how Ironically he dealeth with vs, in framing a fond argument on our behalfe.

a1682 Sir T. Browne Christian Morals (1716) iii. 108 Though the World be Histrionical, and most Men live Ironically, yet be thou what thou singly art, and personate only thy self.

1701 tr. A. Dacier Wks. Plato Abridg'd I. 323 However (says he Ironically to Eutyphron after his usual manner) if you..believe these Traditions as well as they, 'tis absolutely necessary that I should believe 'em too, I who am but ignorant in these things.

1760 E. Macfait Remarks Life & Writings Plato 76 Socrates, in his disputes with them, often doubted ironically, and pretended not to know.

1887 Westm. Rev. Jan. 120 ‘Respecting what sort of law do you inquire?’ ‘What!’ returns Socrates, ironically, ‘Is there, then, any difference between one law and another?’

1903 J. E. Sandys Hist. Classical Scholarship xvii. 294 He ironically assumes a Socratic ignorance as a means towards stimulating reflexion in others.

1988 Classical Q. New Ser. 38 158 This may be read as an alternative both to the sceptical Academics' Socrates and to the ironically ignorant Socrates of Antiochus.

1896 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Apr. 629/1 The split which Naumann began has been completed, ironically enough, by Stöcker's fall, the sins of the children being visited on the father, despite his disavowal of their views.

1907 E. Wharton Fruit of Tree ii. xii. 187 He had done very little with the opportunity... What he had done with it..had landed him, ironically enough, in the ugly impasse of a situation from which no issue seemed possible.

1947 Life 17 Nov. 11/2 One of the chief reasons for this marked-down bonanza is, ironically, the fact that Peru is economically less self-sufficient than many countries.

1968 ETC. June 186 Ironically, it will be the lower-class male who is most likely to be the first to achieve the freudian concept of sexual maturity.

2010 Dunoon Observer & Argyllshire Standard 30 July 17/1 Argyll and Bute's latest windfarm project has been officially opened—somewhat ironically on a flat-calm day with the sun shining and nary a blade turning.