▪ I. † ˈopenly, a. Obs.
[f. open a. + -ly1.]
Open to sight, manifest, public.
| c 1050 Ags. Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 343/28 A puplicis, openlecum. Ibid. 466/4 Puplica, openlecre. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 5 Ure louerd ihesu cristes openliche tocume. c 1200 Ormin 2909 Þær þurrh he ȝaff ȝuw, læwedd follc, Full opennlike bisne. a 1225 Ancr. R. 426 Þauh þe ancre on hire meidenes uor openliche gultes legge penitence. |
▪ II. openly, adv.
(ˈəʊp(ə)nlɪ)
[f. open a. + -ly2.]
In an open manner.
1. Without concealment; so that all may see, hear, or take cognizance; in public, publicly.
| 971 Blickl. Hom. 193 Hie openlice þæt ᵹesetton. c 1020 Rule St. Benet (Logeman) 55 He si ᵹeþread openlice toforan eallum. c 1200 Ormin 13630 Opennliȝ biforenn man. a 1300 Cursor M. 175 Iesu crist..openlik [v.rr. opinli, openly] bigan to preche. 1375 Barbour Bruce xi. 633 The Erll of murreff oppynly Takis playne feld with his menȝhe. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. ccxxi. 213 He opened the letter..and red it openly word by word. 1549 Compl. Scot. xv. 133 [We] dar neuyr pray appynly to send sic vengeance on ane euil prince. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, iv. ii. 76 My loue to ye, Shall shew it selfe more openly hereafter. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) IV. 69 The dog..openly declares his alacrity to pursue them. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. ii. 158 The words had been repeated to Wolsey, who mentioned them openly at his table. 1885 Spectator 30 May 714/2 The lady..flirts openly and unblushingly. |
† b. By people generally, commonly, publicly.
| 1154 O.E. Chron. an. 1137 §5 Hi sæden openlice ðæt christ slep & his halechen. 1473 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 83/1 In the paryssh of Seynt Michell, openly called Pater noster chirch, otherwise called Weritynton college. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VI 149 It was openly knowen, that the French kyng, was ready..to make open warre. |
2. Without concealment of thought or feeling; without reserve; frankly, unreservedly.
| 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 531 Þar-for Iob þus openly sayse; Homo, natus de muliere [etc.]. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints iii. (Andreas) 241 He bad þame opynly þat þai suld hold þar way in hy. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII 249 b, Who should seme secretly to wyll more, than in the commission he did openly professe. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth vii, I speak among neighbours and friends, and therefore I speak openly. |
† 3. In a way easy to see or understand; evidently, manifestly; clearly, plainly. Obs.
| c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. xix, Cato, se wæs eac Romana heretoᵹa, se wæs openlice uþwita. c 1200 Ormin Pref. 55 Þiss iss to seggenn opennliȝ Þe Laferrd Cristess Karrte. a 1225 Ancr. R. 8 Hwar he ifinde in holi write religiun openluker descriued & isuteled þen in sein Iames canoniel epistle? 1340 Ayenb. 73 Ine hevene þou sselt yzy openliche hou uirtues and guode dedes byeþ heȝliche yolde. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxx. 135 Þare er fewles also spekand of þaire awen kynde; and þai will hails men..spekand als openly as þai ware men. 1484 Caxton Fables of æsop v. xiii, He that can or shalle proue more openly that he hath the most parte. 1682 Norris Hierocles Pref. 34 Many things might have been deliver'd more openly and clearly. |
† 4. In an open, not closed, state or condition; so as to admit of entrance or passage. Obs.
| ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 502 If that the passage opunly Hadde be unto me free. 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love Prol. (Skeat) l. 1 Men..that, with eeres openly sprad..swalowen the deliciousnesse of iestes and of ryme. |
† 5. With wide spaces or interstices. Obs. rare.
| c 1790 J. Imison Sch. Art II. 48 For your first practice, copy such prints as are openly shaded. |