reelyadv.
/ˈriːli/, U.S. /ˈrili/ Chiefly in representations of speech: = really adv.2 and adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > reality or real existence or actuality > [adverb]
in truthc1330
in faitha1375
in good faitha1393
in casea1398
in effectc1405
indeed1412
effectually1420
actually?a1425
really?a1425
of a truth1494
bottom1531
for a truth?1532
in fact1592
authentically1593
in esse1597
de facto1602
essentially1604
in nature1605
in point of fact1628
positively1649
in point of event1650
effectively1652
honestly1675
entally1691
reely1792
objectively1796
fairlyc1804
in actual fact1824
factually1852
naturally1858
transactionally1866
'smatter of fact1922
1792 F. Burney Jrnl. May (1972) I. 152 Mrs. Schwellenberg exclaimed ‘But, Miss Berner, I hear it bin reelly true you will Marry!’
1812 M. Edgeworth Absentee I. ii. 238 She has refused very good offers...Mr. Martingale, of Martingale, proposed for her, but she objected to him..; and Mr. St. Albans' 7000l. a year—because—I reelly forget what—I believe only because she did not like him.
1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin I. x. 148 ‘He han't sold him, now?’.. ‘Yes, he has.’.. ‘Now, ye don't! well, reely..who'd a thought it!’
1898 E. N. Westcott David Harum xxviii. 254 I say ‘them’ because..a lot of 'em, is all more or less related to each other, but Alf's reely the one at the bottom on't.
1933 E. A. Robertson Ordinary Families x. 222 'E's a good boy to us, reelly, Ted is.
1967 N. Marsh Death at Dolphin i. 9 ‘Well—I don't know, reely, if we've anybody free at the moment,’ said the clerk.
2005 South Wales Echo (Nexis) 26 Aug. 16 Terrorists don't get Asbos or slaps on the wrist or defence lawyers saying it was totally out of character or parents whining that ‘eeza good boy reely’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1792