ˈcasually, adv.
Also 4–5 casuelly, 5 caswelly.
[f. casual + -ly2.]
1. By chance; accidentally.
| c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame 679 And moo loves casuelly That betyde no man wote why. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (1835) 174 He homward ayen..Hys journe took, and caswelly To the hyl he neyhyd. 1539 Act 31 Hen. VIII, xii, By chance negligently or casually. 1658 Sir T. Browne Hydriot. ii. 9 The Monument of Childerick..casually discovered three years past. 1667 Boyle Orig. Formes & Qual. 4 That Matter barely put into Motion, and then left to itself should Casually constitute this beautiful and orderly world. 1691 Ray Creation i. (1704) 102 If the Clouds moved casually. |
† b. Accidentally (= by a mischance). Obs.
| c 1386 Chaucer Nun's Pr. T. 281 Casuelly the schippes bothom rent. 1576 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 151 In a fire that casuallie consumed the Popes owne chamber. 1678 Wanley Wond. Lit. World v. ii. §38 Basilius..was..casually killed by a Stag. |
2. Without design or previous intention; as it happens or happened; by mere chance.
| 1547 Boorde Introd. Knowl. 205 Casually going over the bredge..I dyd mete with ix Englyshe..parsons. 1627 Lisander & Cal. ii. 24 With whom Lisander casually being. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. (1702) I. iv. 294 All men, who..had been casually present in the Hall. 1823 Lamb Elia Ser. ii. (1865) 246 He casually looketh in about dinner-time. |
3. Incidentally, by the way, in a chance way.
| 1697 Snake in Grass (ed. 2) 366 The Joint Answers of the Quakes..is not only Casually mention'd, but particularly insisted upon. 1794 Paley Evid. i. iii. (1817) 53 Grounds of argument..casually and undesignedly disclosed. 1855 Bain Senses & Int. iii. ii. §14 A word casually spoken..will often revive a stream of recollections. 1862 Stanley Jew. Ch. (1877) I. xvii. 328 Shiloh is casually mentioned. |
¶ ? Causally.
| 1661 Bramhall Just Vind. i. 5 The Papacy..is become..in a great part actually, and altogether casually, guilty..of..all the greater schismes in Christendome. |