newlyadv.
/ˈnjuːli/, U.S. /ˈn(j)uli/ 1.
a. (Very) recently or lately; a very little time before; only just. Also: for the first time.Formerly sometimes with present tense.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > newness or novelty > recency > [adverb]
neweneOE
newlyeOE
unyoreeOE
noweOE
newOE
lateOE
yesterdaya1300
freshlya1387
of newa1393
anewa1425
newlingsa1425
latewardc1434
the other dayc1450
lately?c1475
erst1480
latewards1484
sith late1484
alatea1500
recently1509
even now1511
late-whiles1561
late ygo1579
formerly1590
just now1591
lastly1592
just1605
low1610
this moment1696
latewardly1721
shortsyne1768
sometime1779
latterly1821
eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) vi. iv. 137 Hio þa wæs niwlice cristen.
eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) iv. x. 107 Romane hæfdon þa niwlice gesett þæt [etc.].
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xxxiii. 285 Her cumað to eow niwlice twegen ebreisce men.
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 112 Hwen a wis mon neowliche [a1250 Nero neoweliche; a1250 Titus newliche] haueð wif ilead ham, he nimeð ȝeme..of hire maneres.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 293 Newelike he was of erðe wrogt, And to ðat mirie blisse brogt.
c1390 G. Chaucer Melibeus 2415 Vp on thynges that newely bitideth bihoueth newe conseil.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 67 Harald was comand, neuly was mad kyng.
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 189 (MED) Þat myghte not ben..þat so manye scholde haue entred so newely.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xi. 41 This man..neweli hither comyn to soiourne in our countreys.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cclv. 378 The towne of Breure, the which was newely before turned frenche.
1607 T. Middleton Phoenix sig. A4 I heard newly Of suddaine Trauaile which his grace intends.
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1641 (1955) II. 72 The Infanta Cardinal..being dead but newly.
1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 95 Did he not newly say [etc.].
1738 J. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) lxxx. ix A generous and right noble Vine When newly out of Egypt brought.
1759 S. Fielding Hist. Countess of Dellwyn II. iv. viii. 225 To annihilate Rank, is almost as shocking to those who have but newly acquired it, as to annihilate their Existence.
1813 W. Allston Sylphs of Seasons 145 Blushes for thy cheek distill'd From roses newly blowing.
1866 W. D. Howells Venetian Life 29 [I] being newly from a land where everything..was in good repair.
1909 H. T. M. Bell Poems 91 A boy..Looks on a portrait, newly there, Of a tall youth with raven hair, Clad in a garb of martial hue.
1971 F. Adcock High Tide in Garden in Poems 1960–2000 (2000) 42 I added 'Prefer Grandma, even dead' as she newly was.
b. With past participles used predicatively.
ΚΠ
c1350 Apocalypse St. John: A Version (Harl. 874) (1961) 68 (MED) By þe hay & þe grene & þe trowes ben bytokned þre manere degrees in holy chirche, þoo þat ben newlich [v.rr. new, now] comen to þe bileue, [etc.].
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) iv. 79 He hadde a ȝong sone newliche [?a1475 anon. tr. but late; L. recenter] i-bore.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 3653 (MED) Þou sal sai þou ert esau, Fra þe forest newli comen.
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 189 Þat myghte not ben..ne so manye newely slayn.
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Lamb.) 193 (MED) This ordir ys not nyowely maket.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) xlvi. 155 Than he..toke leue of his cosyn that was newly maryed.
1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xxxiii. 119 Such as be newly recouered from sicknes.
1657 A. Sparrow Rationale Bk. Common Prayer (1661) 22 Our Saviour's rule given to him that was newly cured..by him.
1676 G. Etherege Man of Mode i. i. 12 A Ladies head newly dress'd for a Ball.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 45. ¶6 A Woman of Quality..newly returned from France.
1785 W. Cowper Task iii. 750 A transient guest, newly arrived, And soon to be supplanted.
1819 P. B. Shelley Rosalind & Helen 43 Like some bright spirit newly born.
1886 Act 49 & 50 Vict. c. 54 §1 Any hop ground..newly cultivated as such after the passing of this Act.
1933 S. Barker Dark Hills Under 34 Her words a desperate rush of shining spears Too newly forged to wear the sheaths of rust.
1987 I. McEwan Child in Time ii. 35 The American President, newly installed..was anxious to demonstrate that he was not the weakling in foreign policy.
2. Anew, afresh; again.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > frequency > [adverb] > anew or again
moeOE
of newOE
yetOE
againOE
newlyOE
once morelOE
anewc1305
newa1325
i-gainc1325
againwardc1380
upon new1399
freshlya1413
newlings1440
of the newc1449
afreshc1450
of (also on) fresh1490
for the newc1535
backwardly1552
over againa1568
over1598
de novo1627
all over1811
OE Paris Psalter (1932) cxliii. 10 Ic niwlice niwne cantic þam godan Gode gleawne singe.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) v. 2141 (MED) Kyng Alphenoun..hadde affeccioun To sen Vlixes..And desirous ouer al thing To han of hym newly aqueyntaunce.
c1430 N. Love Mirror Blessed Life (Brasenose e.9) (1908) 251 Þan bygan they alle newely to wepe.
c1480 (a1400) St. Mark 169 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 244 Þane one þe morne..Þai drew hyme newly thru þe towne.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 839/2 Newly, de nouueau.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 663 The lawes of the realme, in part he reformed, and in part he newely augmented.
a1648 Ld. Herbert Life Henry VIII (1649) 343 Our King having gotten Yorke-house..did newly enlarge and beautify it.
1749 A. Hill Gideon (rev. ed.) i. xxvi. 25 Some, who newly search'd the Cavern, round, Noiseful return'd, and with 'em dragg'd along, Ten weeping Slaves.
1763 G. Colman Philaster iii. i. 31 I am your Slave, tied to your Goodness, Your Creature made again from what I was, And newly spirited.
1814 F. Burney Wanderer V. ix. lxxvii. 2 To the fond mother and her little ones, she was every moment newly endeared.
1876 C. H. Davis Narr. North Polar Exped. Ship Polaris i. 29 She was newly planked inside and out.
1880 A. C. Swinburne Study of Shakespeare 182 We have but the eternal..figures of jealousy and innocence newly vamped and veneered.
1909 L. Binyon England 20 He was as young as his desire, as young As on sweet lips an old song newly sung.
1993 C. Rumens Thinking of Skins 80 We drift to where the space-invaders flash, and street-wise reflexes are newly honed by the imminent loss of ready cash.
3. † a. Within a short time from now; soon. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > different time > [adverb] > imminently or in the near future
ratheeOE
rathelyeOE
soonc900
shortlya1050
newenc1175
newlya1225
nunonc1225
newenlyc1275
fast byc1300
tomorrowa1382
brieflyc1460
anonc1475
soonlyc1475
of newa1500
suddenlya1500
by and by1526
soon1545
imminently1548
short1556
erelong1577
eminently1646
bimeby1722
directly1851
a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 17 (MED) Ic scall neuliche cumen te-foren him.
c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 4648 Ȝe schullen haue neweliche Hors & armes & alle þing.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 237 Now sire eorle, þu holdest Engelond, þu schalt riȝt newliche [L. in proximo] be kyng.
?c1400 St. Mary Magdalen (Lamb.) 491 in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1882) 68 71 (MED) I moune to paradys newly [c1300 Laud newene] from hem fare.
c1450 (?a1370) Wynnere & Wastoure (1990) l. 18 Whoso sadly will see and the sothe telle Say it newely will neghe or es neghe here.
b. Immediately or soon (after a particular time); quickly. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > immediacy > [adverb]
soonc825
ratheeOE
rathelyeOE
rekeneOE
rekenlyOE
thereright971
anonOE
forth ona1000
coflyc1000
ferlyc1000
radlyOE
swiftlyc1000
unyoreOE
yareOE
at the forme (also first) wordOE
nowOE
shortlya1050
rightOE
here-rightlOE
right anonlOE
anonc1175
forthrightc1175
forthwithalc1175
skeetc1175
swithc1175
with and withc1175
anon-rightc1225
anon-rights?c1225
belivec1225
lightly?c1225
quickly?c1225
tidelyc1225
fastlyc1275
hastilyc1275
i-radlichec1275
as soon asc1290
aright1297
bedenea1300
in little wevea1300
withoute(n dwella1300
alrightc1300
as fast (as)c1300
at firstc1300
in placec1300
in the placec1300
mididonec1300
outrightc1300
prestc1300
streck13..
titec1300
without delayc1300
that stounds1303
rada1325
readya1325
apacec1325
albedenec1330
as (also also) titec1330
as blivec1330
as line rightc1330
as straight as linec1330
in anec1330
in presentc1330
newlyc1330
suddenlyc1330
titelyc1330
yernec1330
as soon1340
prestly1340
streckly1340
swithly?1370
evenlya1375
redelya1375
redlya1375
rifelya1375
yeplya1375
at one blastc1380
fresha1382
ripelyc1384
presentc1385
presently1385
without arrestc1385
readilyc1390
in the twinkling of a looka1393
derflya1400
forwhya1400
skeetlya1400
straighta1400
swifta1400
maintenantc1400
out of handc1400
wightc1400
at a startc1405
immediately1420
incontinent1425
there and then1428
onenec1429
forwithc1430
downright?a1439
agatec1440
at a tricec1440
right forth1440
withouten wonec1440
whipc1460
forthwith1461
undelayed1470
incessantly1472
at a momentc1475
right nowc1475
synec1475
incontinently1484
promptly1490
in the nonce?a1500
uncontinent1506
on (upon, in) the instant1509
in short1513
at a clap1519
by and by1526
straightway1526
at a twitch1528
at the first chop1528
maintenantly1528
on a tricea1529
with a tricec1530
at once1531
belively1532
straightwaysa1533
short days1533
undelayedly1534
fro hand1535
indelayedly1535
straight forth1536
betimesc1540
livelyc1540
upononc1540
suddenly1544
at one (or a) dash?1550
at (the) first dash?1550
instantly1552
forth of hand1564
upon the nines1568
on the nail1569
at (also in, with) a thoughtc1572
indilately1572
summarily1578
at one (a) chop1581
amain1587
straightwise1588
extempore1593
presto1598
upon the place1600
directly1604
instant1604
just now1606
with a siserary1607
promiscuously1609
at (in) one (an) instant1611
on (also upon) the momenta1616
at (formerly also on or upon) sight1617
hand to fist1634
fastisha1650
nextly1657
to rights1663
straightaway1663
slap1672
at first bolt1676
point-blank1679
in point1680
offhand1686
instanter1688
sonica1688
flush1701
like a thought1720
in a crack1725
momentary1725
bumbye1727
clacka1734
plumba1734
right away1734
momentarily1739
momentaneously1753
in a snap1768
right off1771
straight an end1778
abruptedly1784
in a whistle1784
slap-bang1785
bang?1795
right off the reel1798
in a whiff1800
in a flash1801
like a shot1809
momently1812
in a brace or couple of shakes1816
in a gird1825
(all) in a rush1829
in (also at, on) short (also quick) order1830
straightly1830
toot sweetc1830
in two twos1838
rectly1843
quick-stick1844
short metre1848
right1849
at the drop of a (occasionally the) hat1854
off the hooks1860
quicksticks1860
straight off1873
bang off1886
away1887
in quick sticks (also in a quick stick)1890
ek dum1895
tout de suite1895
bung1899
one time1899
prompt1910
yesterday1911
in two ups1934
presto changeo1946
now-now1966
presto change1987
c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 1984 (MED) A chapman..seyd, of Merlin openliche He wald him telle neweliche.
?a1425 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. iv. met. iii. 13 That oother of hem is newliche chaunged into a wolf.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 4740 Newly aftir þe none or nere þare-aboute.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) v. 122 Sic hansell to the folk gaf he,..Newly at his ariwyng.
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. Arthur of Brytayn (?1560) xxiiii. sig. Cviv Yf I should mary me so newlie I shold be greatly blamed.
1989 C. Harman S. Townsend Warner: Biogr. i. 13 Nora caught every fashion so newly off the pages of the papers that she always appeared eccentrically dressed.
4. In a new or different manner.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > newness or novelty > [adverb]
fresha1382
freshlyc1425
newfangly1529
anew1535
newly1553
novelly1821
1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique ii. f. 74v That mirth is more worth, whiche is moued by a word newly spoken, then if a long tale should pleasauntly be told.
1562 J. Heywood Sixt Hundred Epigrammes xcvii, in Wks. sig. Ddivv Talke or walke oldly or newly.
1629 J. Beaumont Bosworth-Field 58 See for this worke how things are newly styl'd, Man is declar'd, Almighty, God, a Child.
1680 N. Lee Cæsar Borgia iii. i. 25 My Lord, this is an Act so newly horrid, So ghastly a contrivance of Revenge, That Fiends themselves would start at the Proposal.
1753 J. Warton tr. Virgil Eclogues & Georgics I. iv. 388 Observe how the poet has varied his expressions..for, liquefacta boum per viscera toto et ruptis effervere costis &c. is quite newly expressed from what it was before in the passage above.
1796 F. Burney Camilla III. vi. viii. 288 ‘It's all new.’.. Camilla was now in extreme embarrassment. She had concluded Mrs. Mittin had only newly arranged the ornaments.
1812 H. Davy Elements Chem. Philos. 184 Instances in which these elements are newly arranged, and in which their transfer and changes produce very important phænomena.
1885 Law Times Rep. 53 80/2 Not merely in a new word, but in a word newly or fancifully applied.
1902–14 G. Barlow Poet. Wks. IX. 51 When man be worthy of her, she'll give herself quite newly.
1961 A. Baraka Pref. Twenty Vol. Suicide Note 45 The spoils of winter ring in... Trees turn their branches newly for the warm shower of light.
Compounds
C1. General attributive, as newly acquired, newly discovered, etc., adjs.Extremely common from the 19th cent. onwards.
ΚΠ
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xxj He wrote an Epistle to the newlye created Emperoure.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. xi. sig. L3v His newly budded pineons to assay.
?1614 G. Chapman tr. Homer Odysses xii. 182 A newly kitn'd kitlings cries.
1659 J. Pearson Expos. Apostles Creed viii. 631 The ancient, but newly revived Heresie of the Arians.
1709 Ld. Shaftesbury Moralists ii. v. 150 With your newly-espous'd System.
1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xx. 111 To have confirm'd the poor Woman in her newly-assum'd Penitence.
1807 W. Wordsworth Ode in Poems II. 152 Shap'd by himself with newly-learned art. View more context for this quotation
1834 J. S. Mill in Monthly Repos. 8 163 The many are..likely to make a most dangerous use of their newly-acquired power.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 135 This newly-discovered fairyland.
1913 New Statesman 26 July 497/2 To attempt to get through his poems in Classical Prosody is like trying to ride a bicycle over miles of newly-stoned road not yet steam-rollered.
1979 Amer. Notes & Queries Apr. 126/1 William Faulkner sent the newly revised and retyped text to Liveright.
C2. With the, qualifying an adjective, used as a noun with plural agreement.
ΚΠ
1569 W. Samuel Abridgem. Olde Test.: Deut. xxiv. sig. F.iv The newly spousd they might not force in battaile for to fight.
1655 C. Colman To Henry Lawes in H. Lawes 2nd Bk. Ayres & Dialogues Prelim. matter So much new Art and Excellence is flung Round thy Amirers..As make's the newly-ravisht ravish'd more.
1795 J. Cottle Poems 101 The Vampires..delight to enter the graves of the newly-buried, and mangle their bodies.
1822 M. B. Smith Let. 12 Oct. in 40 Years Washington Society (1906) 159 The groans and sobs of the newly converted, or convicted as they call them.
1855 Asylum Jrnl. No. 11. 174/2 I do not allow the newly-admitted to sleep.
1906 Practitioner Nov. 591 The jaundice of the newly born..is dependent upon changes, probably toxic in character, with excessive hæmolysis.
1994 Daily Tel. 20 Oct. 1/2 Ms Harriet Harman, shadow Treasury Chief Secretary, was the only Blairite and committed moderniser among the newly elected.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adv.eOE