▪ I. namely, a. Now only Sc.
(ˈneɪmlɪ)
[f. name n. + -ly1; in Sc. use probably after Gael. ainmeil from ainm name.]
Distinguished, famous, notable (for a thing).
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 351/1 Namely, or singulere, precipuus. 1483 Cath. Angl. 248/2 Namely.., precipuus, excipuus. |
| 1815 [Mrs. Johnstone] Clan Albin xiv, ‘Nay, for that matter’, said Moome, ‘Skye was always namely for witches’. 1896 N. Munro Lost Pibroch (1902) 9, I will take you to one of your own trade, who is namely for music. |
▪ II. namely, adv.
(ˈneɪmlɪ)
Forms: α. 2–4 nomeliche, 4–5 nom(e)ly. β. 3–4 nameliche, 4–5 -lich, 5 -lych; 4 namlich(e; 4 namelike, namlik(e, -lic. γ. 4–6 namly, (4 -li, -le, nammeli); 4 namele, 4–5 -li, 6 -lye, 6–7 -lie; 4– namely.
[ME. name-, nomeliche = OFris. nam-, nomlik, MDu. name-, naemlike, -lijc, -lic (Du. namelijk), MLG. nemelike(n, -lik (hence Sw. nemligen, Da. nemlig), MHG. nam(e)-, nem(e)lîche, etc. (G. nämlich), ON. nafnliga, Icel. nefnilega: see name n. and -ly2.]
† 1. Particularly, especially, above all. (Usually with preceding and.) Obs.
| α c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 139 Sunnedei ah efri cristenne Mon nomeliche to chirche cume. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 21 Him weox weorre on euch halue, & nomeliche in an lond Ylirie hatte. c 1325 Chron. Eng. 75 in Ritson Metr. Rom. II. 273 Al thyn honour were leid adoun, And nomeliche to thy lemmon. c 1375 Lay-Folks Mass-Bk. (MS. B.) 615, I thonk God of his godnesse, And nomely now of þis messe. c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 4496 Williham was a fulle sputusmon..And nomely bokke hunters in his tyme nad no rest. |
| β c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 51 Hie..folgeden here lichames wille, nameliche on two þigges, þat on was muðes mede, þat oðer hordom. a 1300 Cursor M. 14478 Oft þai on him soght to scam, And namlikest for þat resun, Þat he vp-raised lazarum. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 295 A greet pestilence of reþeren destroyed wel nygh al Europa, and namliche Britayne. c 1449 Pecock Repr. i. xviii. 110 A perilose thing is it forto appeire vntreuly a mannys name and namelich a prelatis name. |
| γ a 1300 Cursor M. 4442 Þus can godd help man in nede, Namli þat wil him luue and dred. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. ii. 115 Fauel..bad Gyle go to and ȝyue gold aboute, And namely to this notaries. c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. ii. 131 Rude erthe and namly wodlond best is hold For pastynyng. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon iii. 72 Whan reynawde vnderstode the good wyll of his folke, & namly of his brethern [etc.]. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 26 To bee pronounced by a philosophier and namely but such a philosophier as Socrates. 1608 Topsell Serpents (1658) 681, I finde some difference about the nature of this living creature, and namely whether it be a Serpent or a Fish. 1700 New Hampsh. Prov. Papers (1868) III. 327 Returning thanks..for many blessings and favors..And, namely, for the enjoyment of the Gospel. |
† b. Carefully, precisely. Obs. rare.
| a 1400–50 Alexander 293 For any cas þat is to com to knaw if þe likis, I sall as namely ȝow neuyn as it ware nowe done. Ibid. 582 Latt him..norisch him as namely as he myne awyn warre. |
† c. By name, individually. Obs. rare.
| 1551 Robinson More's Utop. ii. (1895) 143 Wher to be present they onlye be constreined that be namelye chosen and appoynted to learnynge. 1588 J. Udall Demonstr. Disc. (Arb.) 13 Neyther are the offices and officers, namely, and particularly expressed in the Scriptures. |
† 2. At least, at any rate. Obs. rare.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) V. 407 Assenteþ to me, nameliche, in þre þinges, ȝif ȝe willeþ nouȝt assente to me and [v.r. in] þe oþere. c 1449 Pecock Repr. v. v. 511 A mannys fader and modir ben to him grettist benefetouris, or namelich lien in grettist wil forto be benefetouris to him. |
3. To wit; that is to say; videlicet.
| c 1450 Merlin 8 In that the feende repaireth moste, bothe in man and woman, namly, when they be in grete ire. 1535 Coverdale 1 Kings iii. 13 That thou hast not prayed for, haue I geuen the also, namely, ryches, and honoure. 1574 tr. Marlorat's Apocalips 28 That is to wit, whiche are already past: namely my passion and resurrection. 1617 Moryson Itin. i. 242 My Host told me a strange thing, namely that in Alexandria of ægypt..there was a Dovecote. 1682 Norris Hierocles 5 Namely, to consider what is meant by the Law and the Order of it. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 123 ¶4 They both agreed upon an Exchange of Children, namely that the Boy should be bred up with Leontine as his Son [etc.]. 1798 Washington Lett. Writ. 1893 XIV. 99 It would then have been understood as it is at present, namely, that the gentlemen would rank in the order they are named. 1875 Helps Soc. Press. iii. 48 The worst and most disheartening point..is this namely,—that the course of modern thought and modern life is set against these improvements. |
† b. With as. For example. Obs.
| 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. (1882) 49 Almost all things, as namelie butter, cheese, fagots. 1600 J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa viii. 307 There is most excellent outlandish linnen cloth to be sold, as namely fine cloth of cotton brought from Balabach. 1653 Walton Angler vi. 141 There is more than one sort of them [sc. Salmon], as namely a Tecon. |