▪ I. † ˈmeanly, a.1 Obs.
In 2 mænelik, 3–4 menelich.
[aphetic f. OE. ᵹemǽnelic, f. ᵹemǽne (see i-mene) + -lic -ly1.]
Common, general.
| c 1200 Ormin 2503 All wass mænelike þing Whatt littless se þeᵹᵹ haffdenn. a 1300 in Rel. Ant. I. 282 Ich i-leve..in Ihesu Crist oure meneliche loverd. |
▪ II. † meanly, a.2 Obs. rare—1.
[f. mean a.2 + -ly1.]
Moderate.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. i. pr. vi. 19 (Camb. MS.) By lyghte and Meenelyche remedyes [L. mediocribus fomentis]. |
▪ III. meanly, a.3 rare—1.
(ˈmiːnlɪ)
[f. mean a.1 + -ly1.]
= mean a.1
| 1827 Capt. Hardman Waterloo 2 Away I ran into his meanly old hoard. |
▪ IV. meanly, adv.1
(ˈmiːnlɪ)
[f. mean a.1 + -ly2.]
1. Indifferently, ill, poorly, badly; with mean attire or equipment.
| 1587 Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 1959/2 Sir William Hamilton, and James Leirmonth..whose message was so meanlie liked, that they were faine to send an herald into Scotland for other ambassadors. 1600 J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa iii. 170 They are passing rich, yet go they very meanly attired. 1670 Dryden 2nd Pt. Conq. Granada (1672) 163 [Many of Shakspere's plays] were..so meanly written, that the Comedy neither caus'd your mirth, nor the serious part your concernment. 1748 Richardson Clarissa IV. 55, I think, my dear, I am not meanly off. 1757 Burke Abridgm. Eng. Hist. ii. vi, Their towns were meanly built and more meanly fortified. 1783 ― Sp. Fox's E. India Bill Wks. 1842 I. 300 Ministers..caused persons meanly qualified to be chosen directors. 1851 Borrow Lavengro lxviii, A rather pretty-looking woman, but..meanly dressed. |
2. With reference to rank, state in life, etc.: Basely, lowlily.
| 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, iv. iii. 37 His daughter meanly haue I matcht in marriage. 1674 Evelyn Diary 22 July, She was much censur'd for marrying so meanly, being herselfe allied to the Royal family. 1765 Bickerstaff Maid of Mill i. v. 10 To what purpose could a man of his distinction cast his eyes on a girl, poor, meanly born? 1869 Browning Ring & Bk. ix. 1135 I' the very breast of Jove, no meanlier throned! |
3. In a way that shows a mean or base disposition, or a small mind; shabbily; sordidly, niggardly, stingily, illiberally.
| 1602 Marston Antonio's Rev. iv. ii, He that's a vilaine, or but meanely sowl'd. 1687 Dryden Hind & P. i. 436 Nor will I meanly tax her constancy. 1784 Mann in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 428 That M. Lavoisier..should meanly appropriate to himself Mr. Cavendish's excellent discovery. 1876 Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. iv, We cannot speak a loyal word and be meanly silent..in the same moment. |
4. to think meanly of: to have a mean estimate of; to characterize in one's thought as of little worth.
| 1642 Rogers Naaman 387 Thinke the meanlier of us when we thinke the highliest of ourselves. 1768 Goldsm. Good-n. Man i. i, Can Olivia think so meanly of my honour? |
▪ V. † meanly, adv.2 Obs.
Forms: see mean a.2 Also 4 menly, 6 mennly.
[f. mean a.2 + -ly2.]
1. In the mean or middling degree or manner; half way between two extremes; moderately, tolerably; fairly, moderately well.
| c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 31 He..synneþ not menely but greuously. c 1450 Lydg. & Burgh Secrees 2694 Fleshe soffte of disposicioun, Or meenely sharp and of mene stature. 1533 More Confut. Wks. 808/2 A church of folke, not menely good, but of folk so good, so pure, & so cleane, that [etc.]. 1548–77 Vicary Anat. ii. (1888) 20 Strong, and tough, meanly betweene hardenes and softnes. 1599 Porter Angry Wom. Abingt. (1841) 42 Canst thou read? Nich. Forsooth, though none of the best, yet meanly. 1641 Milton Reform. ii. Wks. 1851 III. 41 He that is but meanly read in our Chronicles, needs not to be instructed. 1763 Murdoch in Phil. Trans. LIII. 182 When a meanly-refrangible ray passes from water into air. |
b. At a moderate speed, neither fast nor slow.
| 1625 Purchas Pilgrims II. 1141, I asked them how many leagues from Toro to Cairo,—they told me 7 days journey going meanly. |
2. With express or implied limitation: Only moderately; not above the average; hence (coalescing with meanly adv.1 1), slightly, indifferently, poorly.
| 1600 Surflet Country Farm i. xv. 101 They are set on a row..in an ouen verie meanly warme. 1695 Dryden tr. Du Fresnoy's Art Paint. Pref. 30 In the Reign of Domitian,..Poetry was but meanly cultivated, but Painting eminently flourish'd. 1707 Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) I. 327 He shews himself..to be very meanly skill'd in the Fathers. |
b. not meanly: in no slight degree. So also more than meanly.
| 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. i. i. 59 My wife, not meanely prowd of two such boyes. 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnass. ii. xiv. (1674) 159 It would have been more than meanly pleasing to the Literati. a 1662 Heylin Laud ii. (1671) 242 Laud..was not meanly offended, as he had good reason to be. |