perfectly, adv.
(ˈpɜːfɪktlɪ)
Forms: see perfect a.
[f. perfect a. + -ly2.]
In a perfect manner or degree.
1. So that nothing is left undone and no part is wanting; completely, thoroughly.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 12093 He þat shryueþ hym parfytely, Asswyþe..He haþ forȝyvenes of Goddys ȝyfte. a 1340 Hampole Psalter xv. 7 Perfitly may we noght be wiþouten synn. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) vii. 25 On þe secund day þat worme es turned till a fowle perfitely fourmed. 1530 Palsgr. Introd. 32 The thre generall distinctions of tyme, present, parfytly past, and to come. a 1656 Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. (1660) 42 They were all perfitly reclaimed. a 1692 H. Pollexfen Disc. Trade (1697) A iv, Goods perfectly manufactured which hinder the consumption of our own..ought to be discouraged. 1776 Gibbon Decl. & F. xii. I. 334 The troubles..had never been perfectly appeased. 1833 Lyell Princ. Geol. III. 311 The large accumulations of perfectly-rolled shingle. |
b. In full measure; to the fullest extent; without any shortcoming or failure.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter cv. 24 He is maste at loue þat..perfytliest lufis heuen. 1482 J. Warkworth Chron. (Camden) 16 There was suche a grete myste, that nether of them myght see othere perfitely. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 232 In lyke maner shall we also..know more perfitly our parentes, wyues, children, and what so euer is besydes. 1653 Walton Angler i. 4, I hate them [otters] perfectly, because they love fish so well. 1676 tr. Guillatiere's Voy. Athens 80 Osman..(who understood perfectly the humour of the Turks in those parts)..advised him to threaten. 1695 Ld. Preston Boeth. v. 235 Affirming that that Universal is nothing which Reason thinks it so perfectly sees. 1866 Geo. Eliot F. Holt i, I understand the difficulty perfectly, mother. |
2. In a manner or way that is perfect or faultless in form, style, or nature; with perfect or complete exactness, correctness, fitness, or excellence; to perfection.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints vi. (Thomas) 14 Gyfe he his varke dois parfytly. c 1400 Beryn 3300 Ffor .iij preciouse stonys been within the hafft Perfitlych I-couchid. c 1450 Holland Howlat 183 Parfytlye thir Pikmawis..With thar party habitis present tham thar. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon xl. 132 Teche hyr to speake perfeyghtly the language of frenche. c 1540 Heywood Four PP. in Hazl. Dodsley I. 383 By the mass, learn to make courtesy..Nay, when ye have it perfitly, Ye shall have the devil and all of courtesy. 1596 Danett tr. Comines (1614) 290 Whereof he discoursed perfectlier than my selfe that came from thence. 1722 De Foe Plague (1754) 25 They cannot be so perfectly call'd the Fore-runners, or Fore-tellers, much less the Procurers of such Events. 1789 Jefferson Writ. (1859) III. 9 Mr. Littlepage has returned..to Warsaw, where he has been perfectly received by the King. 1903 Blackw. Mag. Dec. 772/2, I had trained it into being a perfectly mannered house pet. Mod. She acted the part perfectly. The dress fits perfectly. |
† b. In a manner morally or religiously perfect; righteously. Obs.
| 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 3428 Swa parfitely may nane lyf here, With-outen veniel syns sere. c 1386 Chaucer Wife's Prol. 111 He spak to hem that wolde lyue parfitly. c 1491 Chast. Goddes Chyld. 13 Though I wyll but fayntly, my wylle is to wylle perfyghtly. |
3. To the fullest possible degree or extent; entirely, quite: with an adj., adv., or phr.
| [1460–70 Bk. Quintessence 1 Restorid..and be mad hool parfiȝtly.] 1555 Eden Decades 32 The earth is not perfectlye rownde. 1563 T. Gale Antidot. ii. 25 When it is boyled enoughe, it wyll bee perfitely Redde. 1677 Lady Chaworth in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 43 The D[uchess] is perfectly well again. 1719 De Foe Crusoe ii. ii, Whom I knew..perfectly well. 1722 ― Col. Jack (1840) 327, I was perfectly easy. 1753 Earl of Bath in World No. 17 Every body is dressed so perfectly alike. 1790 E. Inchbald Wedding Day i. ii, Lady Contest. Would not that do as well? Lord Rakeland. Perfectly as well. The very thing. 1807 T. Thomson Chem. (ed. 3) II. 378 Take a quantity of fixed alkali perfectly dry. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey v. v, But all looked perfectly comme il faut. 1846 Ryland Foster's Life & Corr. II. 472 Unostentatious and perfectly simple address. 1896 Law Times Rep. LXXIII. 615/1 The railway line..was perfectly straight for a distance of over 700 yards. |
b. Physics. See perfect a. 14.
| 1784 G. Atwood Rectil. Motion & Rotation 376 In the impact of perfectly elastic bodies. 1824 Whewell Mechanics (ed. 2) 248 Bodies are called perfectly elastic when the force of restitution is equal to the force of compression. |