certainly, adv.
(ˈsɜːtənlɪ)
[f. certain a. + -ly2.]
1. In a manner that is certain; in a way that may be surely depended on; with certainty.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 16232 (Gött.), Gode men quat es þan ȝur dome, sais me sertainli [Cott. certanli]. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xxiv. viii, Nor yet the handes fele nothyng certaynly. 1649 Bounds Publ. Obed. 17 Those things are certainlyer knowne to us. 1793 Wollaston in Phil. Trans. LXXXIII. 150 This was made more certainly steady. 1863 Fr. Kemble Resid. Georgia 37, I can not ascertain very certainly. 1875 Jevons Money (1878) 44 The earliest tin coinage of which any thing is certainly known. |
b. With certainty as to quality, amount, etc.; definitely, precisely, exactly. ? Obs.
| c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714) 44 The Kyngs Werks [fortifications], of which the yerely Expensis may not certeynly be estemyd. 1588 Lambarde Eiren. ii. ii. 110 To take sufficient Suertie, in a summe certainly prescribed. a 1626 Bacon Use Com. Law 12 Except the punishment be certainly appointed by speciall Statutes. |
2. Without fail, unfailingly, infallibly.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 9270 (Gött.), ‘Jesse’, he said, ‘of his rotyng Certaynly a wand suld spring.’ c 1440 Gesta Rom. i. 2 (Harl. MS.), If thou do not, certenly thy ymage shalle be smytene, and thou bothe. 1607 Hieron Wks. I. 189 The Lord will..certenly recompence them their sinne into their bosome. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 155 ¶5 Merchants..who call in as certainly as they go to 'Change. 1813 Southey March Moscow 4 Morbleu! Parbleu! And he'll certainly march to Moscow! |
b. Fixedly, so as not to be altered.
| 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, v. i. 37 Therefore are we certainly resolu'd, To draw conditions of a friendly peace. 1704 Rowe Ulyss. v. i. 2041 'Tis certainly decreed, Fix'd as that Law by which Imperial Jove Ordains..to Good or Evil. |
3. With subjective certitude, with assurance, surely.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 5834 And certainli þou vnderstand Al that þou draus vte o þat flod It sal be turnd al in-to blod. c 1450 Lonelich Grail xii. 483 How knowest thou this so certeinly? 1622 Sparrow Bk. Com. Prayer (1661) 10 What he Commands he accepts most certainly. c 1680 Beveridge Serm. (1729) I. 364 There is nothing that we know more certainly in this world, than that we know nothing certainly of the other, but what we are taught by God himself. Mod. You ought not to speak so certainly about it. |
4. Parenthetically, or as an assurance or admission of the truth of an assertion as a whole: Without doubt; in truth and fact; of a certainty; assuredly, undoubtedly, unquestionably. Certainly there are drawbacks = we may say certainly that, (or, it is certain that) there are drawbacks. Sometimes it expresses an admission of an opponent's contention, to be followed by ‘but’, etc. Often it conveys a strong assent or affirmative reply, as in ‘You were present?’ ‘Certainly.’ ‘Can you recommend him?’ ‘Certainly.’
| a 1300 Cursor M. 17495 Ȝa, sertainli, þat soth it es. c 1350 Will. Palerne 2653 But sertenli on boþe sides was slayn muche puple. c 1450 Lonelich Grail xxxi. 152 Ȝit was that schipe..Anoured with diuers iowellis certeinle. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. iii. i. 126 Anthonio is certainely vndone. 1644 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 191 Snow..certainly rots, and bursts your early-set Anemonies. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 405 ¶3 If the Gods were to talk with Men, they would certainly speak in Plato's Stile. 1752 Hume Ess. & Treat. (1777) I. 91 Machiavel was certainly a great genius. 1781 Trial of Ld. G. Gordon 8 One of Lord George's Counsel applied to the Court..to permit the prisoner to sit down. Lord Mansfield answered, ‘Yes! Certainly’! 1801 Foster in Life & Corr. (1846) I. 129, I have certainly learnt much. 1875 Jevons Money (1878) 16 We might certainly employ one substance as a medium of exchange. |