excellently, adv.
(ˈɛksələntlɪ)
[f. prec. + -ly2.]
In an excellent manner or degree.
† 1. So as to surpass (others). Const. of. Obs.
| c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 2423 Þes wer forne þe freest þat folȝed alle þe sele, Ex-ellently of alle þyse oþer. |
2. In an unusual degree; exceedingly, superlatively, surpassingly:
† a. with verbs (
obs.);
b. with
adjs.: now only in good sense (with mixed notion of sense 3);
c. with
adv. well (
arch.).
| a. c 1460 tr. T. à Kempis 145 Dispute not..why þis is so gretly peyned, & he is so excellently lifte up. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado iii. iv. 13, I like the new tire within excellently. |
| b. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 2 For it may be ryght well, that some be excellently lerned, and yet, etc. 1548 R. Hutten Sum of Diuinitie B v a, By the lawe is sin excellently giltye. 1621 Fletcher Pilgrim i. ii, A sorrow shews in his true glory, When the whole heart is excellently sorry. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. i. iv. 15 Excellently wise, or excellently foolish. 1677 Dryden State Innocence Pref., Comedy is both excellently instructive, and extreamly pleasant. 1826 Southey Lett. (1856) IV. 37 Believing that he is an excellently good man. |
| c. 1529 More Dyaloge i. Wks. 121/1 Many an holy bishop..excellently wel lerned in scripture. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. xviii. §1 A science excellent, and excellently well laboured. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 270 ¶1 His Part, and that of the Maid..are excellently well performed. |
3. Extremely well.
| 1527 Bible Isa. xii. 5 in Lewis Eng. Transl. Bible (1731) 16 Synge unto the Lorde, for he hath done excellentlye. 1553 Eden Treat. New Ind. Ded., Howe excellently the Poet Homere had set forth his heroical factes. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (1638) 247 A company of braue soldiers excellently furnished. 1653 Walton Angler 51 And so excellently cook'd this fish. 1782 V. Knox Ess. cxxxii. Wks. (1824) II. 68 He [Erasmus] has written so excellently that, etc. 1826 Miss Mitford Village Ser. ii. (1863) 272 Our excellently-intentioned governess. 1871 Morley Voltaire (1886) 65 Excellently constituted as Fontenelle was in a great many ways. |