tolerably, adv.
(ˈtɒlərəblɪ)
[f. tolerable a. + -ly2.]
In a tolerable manner or way.
1. In a way that may be borne, endured, or permitted; bearably, supportably; allowably, permissibly.
| 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Passablement, tollerably, that may be borne withall. 1586 W. Webbe Eng. Poetrie (Arb.) 65 What wordes may tollerably be placed in Ryme, and what not. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lviii. §4 It may be tollerably giuen without them rather then any man without it should.. depart this life. 1643 Milton Divorce ii. viii. Wks. 1851 IV. 81 He might dismisse her whom he could not tolerably and so not conscionably retain. |
2. In a moderate or passable degree; passably, moderately, fairly, pretty well.
| 1485 Caxton Paris & V. Prol. (1868) 12 The matter is reasonable and tolerably credible. 1602 Marston Ant. & Mel. Induct., Ha! ha! ha! tolerably good; good faith, sweet wag. 1695 Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth iii. i. (1723) 148 Bodyes that are still tolerably firm. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 275 ¶10 [He] had acquitted himself tolerably at a Ball or an Assembly. 1799 Ht. Lee Canterb. T., Frenchm. T. (ed. 2) I. 198 She had made rapid strides too in her education; she wrote tolerably. 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sc. & Art II. 708 It will be easy to form a tolerably correct idea of the perspective appearance of any object. 1843 Ruskin Mod. Paint. (1848) I. ii. i. vii. §18. 93 He painted everything tolerably, and nothing excellently. 1894 Ld. Watson in Law Times Rep. LXXI. 103/1 Two things appear to their Lordships to be tolerably certain. |
b. pred. Moderately well in health; pretty well. colloq. and dial.
| 1778 in Mme. D'Arblay's Early Diary (1889) II. 241 He is tolerably to-day. |