释义 |
readilyadv.Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: ready adj., -ly suffix2. Etymology: < ready adj. + -ly suffix2. Compare readiness n.In early use not always easily distinguishable from redely adv. and redily adv. With the β. forms compare -s suffix1, and e.g. geylies adv., brawlies variant of brawly adv. the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [adverb] > promptly or readily the mind > will > wish or inclination > willingness > [adverb] > readily or promptly c1330 (?a1300) (1886) l. 611 He..redily ȝaf him sa..Ten schilinges and ma. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) v. 2239 (MED) The man which hath hise londes tiled Awaiteth noght more redily The Hervest than thei gredily Ne maken thanne warde and wacche Wher thei the profit mihten cacche. c1450 J. Capgrave (1910) 41 (MED) Augustyn..forsok not þis conflicte but obeied rydily her peticion. a1538 T. Starkey (1989) 32 That they promptely & redyly may dow that thyng wych ys requyryd. 1555 E. Bonner sig. Yyiii It is requisite for vs to praye,..and that moste readylye and gladely. 1581 R. Mulcaster xxxvii. 165 To whom the patrones, would rediliest yeild. 1626 W. Gouge §9 Such as..offer themselves readily and chearefully to this honourable service. 1658 Earl of Monmouth tr. P. Paruta ii. ii. 98 Who shal contribute most, and readiliest, to the service of this his Country. 1687 R. Kirby in R. Kirby & J. Bishop i. 36 I doubt not although this may seem strange at first to the Ingenious, yet after a little consideration, they will readyly agree with us. 1709 J. Strype ii. 61 This subsidy was extreamly free and readily granted. 1753 T. Smollett I. vii. 42 The scruples of Teresa being thus removed, she..readily undertook to exert her whole power in promoting his suit with her young mistress. 1778 F. Burney III. xi. 107 I accepted the offer very readily, and away we went. 1813 J. Austen I. xviii. 240 Bingley was all grateful pleasure, and he readily engaged for taking the earliest opportunity of waiting on her. View more context for this quotation 1841 E. Leslie Mr. & Mrs. Woodbridge iv, in 91 It almost makes my hair stand on end to see how readily she agrees to buying the most extravagant things, and things which she cannot possibly want. 1897 B. Stoker x.122 I..laid down a rule that she should not be present with Lucy..more than was absolutely required. She assented readily, so readily that I saw again the hand of Nature fighting for life. 1925 W. Cather i. xv. 161 He was respectful, and readily conceded that the Professor's first duty was to his work. 1955 11 Sept. (Comics section) Is gossip about a man more readily accepted than about a woman? 1996 17 Aug. 63/2 Mr Kao is a serial entrepreneur, brilliant at starting companies but, as he readily admits, easily distracted. 2. the world > time > relative time > immediacy > [adverb] the world > action or operation > easiness > [adverb] > without difficulty or delay the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [adverb] > quickly or promptly c1390 W. Hilton Mixed Life (Vernon) in C. Horstmann (1895) I. 278 (MED) Anoþur man, vnlettred, mai not so redili haue at his hand holy writ & doctors sawes. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) v. 297 (MED) This god..bad him go forth redily Unto a flod was faste by. 1447 O. Bokenham (Arun.) (1938) 8953 (MED) A long lyne wyth-owte morous dylacyoun Ful redyly yt [sc. light] passyth, for þe greth swyftnesse. 1526 W. Bonde iii. sig. OOvi The more promptlye or redily it discerneth and sheweth, what thynges we ought to beleue. 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus i. f. 27v Xenophon had therunto readyly & quickely shaped an aunswer. 1585 J. Stell in T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Ep. Ded. To speake their language redily. 1612 W. Shute tr. T. de Fougasses ii. 116 Returning afterwards to Venice they readyly executed all matters, committed to them. 1631 J. Done 174 Hee sent his Sonne in man's owne figure, to bee the readilier cogitated by man. 1683 Pref. 9 The readilier to stir up against him the Animosity of the people. 1719 D. Defoe 71 Their Sight was so directed downward, that they did not readily see Objects that were above them. 1766 O. Goldsmith I. iii. 30 Her gratitude may be more readily imagined than described. 1799 W. Godwin II. v. 128 The story that most readily suggested itself was that of the stranger having left behind him a certain sum of which he made a donation to me. 1812 H. Davy 457 Sulphur and arsenic readily unite by fusion, and form a red vitreous semitransparent mass. 1841 W. Allston iii. 52 The father's instructions came to her aid; and as Landi was a man of sincere piety, it may readily be inferred that the guide she found in them was religion. 1873 E. E. Hale vi. 47 He did not mean to be readily overtaken. 1900 31 Mar. 10/1 Knowing these things about her, the following soliloquy can be more readily understood: [etc.]. 1925 F. C. Mills xvi. 552 The obvious procedure of picking the most readily available cases would by no means meet the condition of random selection. 1990 Nov. 27/1 Both clay and sandy soils can be quite acidic but are readily corrected by the addition of lime or the longer-lasting calcified seaweed. the world > action or operation > easiness > [adverb] > without effort or strain 1638 A. Henderson (1867) 81 If he have ordained any good thing to be done to thee, readily..he will stir thee up to cry to him for it. 1643 R. Baillie 2 June (1841) II. 71 Readilie it may cost him more tyme. 1883 A. S. Swan i. ii Sandy Riddell wull hae been here the day readily? 1896 ‘G. Setoun’ xxv. 265 Here we are now at the kirk door, an' it'll readilys be a thin congregation. the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > [adverb] > in a state of readiness c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 1418 Ful redily with hem the fyr they hadde Thencens the clothes and the remenant al That to the sacrifice longen shal. ?a1425 (Egerton) (1889) 118 Þai schall fynd before þam redily puruayd all maner of thinges. a1500 Let. Alexander 175 in (1979) 41 125 (MED) Al the nyght with hast of liouns, Beres, Tigres, Panters, and linxes, redily and toguyder we withstoode [L. pariter resistebamus]. a1509 King Henry vii Will in R. Willis & J. W. Clark (1886) I. 498 That..the windowes..be glazed with stores, ymagies..and cognoisaunces, as is by vs redily diuised, and in picture deliuered to the Priour. 1581 J. Baker ii. sig. Cvi Wee that are the Lordes Prophets & ministers, may learne by this good example, howe carefully & readyly with al payne and diligence to behaue our selues in the preaching of the word of God his Gospell, not to cease at any time, but to doe as he hath done before vs. 1618 A. Munday sig. B2v Certaine gallant Knights in Armour, well mounted on their Coursers for seruice, and readily prepared with their Petronells; haue the charge or guiding of this Cannon, besides a braue troupe of Musketiers. 1654 T. Fuller 40 The Executioner proceeds to his work, a handkercher being tyed about Fidelio's Face, as one better prepared to feel then see death, he is readily provided for the fatall stroke. 1684 J. Sharp I. 55 First, that he be not Obstinate, and Pertinacious in his way, but that he keep his mind readily prepared and disposed to receive any Conviction, which God by any Means or Instruments shall offer to him. 1709 R. Gould I. 260 Their Swords unsheath'd, both readily prepare. 1744 41 We war something langsome, before we could get aw Things readily prepar'd for sick a good and necessary ane Undertakin. ?1780 ‘Dr. Typo’ i. 63 Not being readily prepared for an answer to this request, I was a little confused. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adv.c1330 |