usually, adv.
(ˈjuːʒuːəlɪ, -ʊəlɪ)
[f. prec. + -ly2.]
1. In a usual or wonted manner; according to customary, established, or frequent usage; commonly, customarily, ordinarily; as a rule.
In frequent use from c 1600.
| 1477 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 191/2 All the Membres usuelly called to the forseid Parlementes. 1485 Yorks. Archaeol. Soc., Record Ser. XLI. 1 [He] awaytid vpon hym thyder according as he vsually dyde. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 17 The moost vyle meet that is vsually ordeyned for beestes. 1587 Southampton Crt. Leet Rec. (1906) ii. 262 Emery lake doth vsually delyver his key of the lynnen hawle to straungers at all dayes. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 331 b, Through their excellencie in horsemanship they vsually made the victorie..to be certaine. 1634 W. Tirwhyt tr. Balzac's Lett. (vol. I) 203 If thy letters be so short, as usually they are. 1682 Norris Hierocles 10 The Keeper of this observation was usually call'd..by the mystical Name Oath. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 17 ¶2 The Ornaments which are usually given to the Actions of the Great. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xii, One of those observations I usually made to impress my wife. 1825 Scott Betrothed xv, The blessings which are usually bestowed on a departing kinswoman. 1840 Penny Cycl. XVII. 174/1 Palms are woody plants, usually trees, with simple stems. 1878 Jevons Prim. Pol. Econ. 66 Even a successful strike usually occasions loss. |
b. In the phr. than usually (now only as in quot. 1875), † as usually. Cf. usual a. 4 d.
| a 1700 Evelyn Diary 18 Jan. 1645, A very large payr of stayres, round, without any stepps as usualy. 1713 Derham Phys. Theol. i. iii. 22 The Summer of 1708, part of which..was much colder than usually. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones xv. iii, The Company behaved as usually on these Occasions. 1805 Med. Jrnl. XIII. 107 It absorbs this substance more eagerly from the surface of the body than usually. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 38 The mind of man has been more than usually active in thinking about man. |
† 2. In a regular manner; regularly. Obs. rare.
| 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 17 To walke thy pastures vsuallie To spie ill neighbours subtiltie. 1605 Camden Rem. 233 He would not have so weighty a matter tumultuously and rashly done, but vsually and orderly. |