commonly, adv.
(ˈkɒmənlɪ)
For forms see common a. (Also 5 -aly, -ally.)
[ME. comune-, comonlich, -ly, etc., f. common a.: see -ly2.]
† 1. After a fashion or in a way common to all; in common; generally, universally. Obs.
| a 1300 Fall & Passion 46 in E.E.P. (1862) 14 Þat communelich hi ne wer for-lor. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 120 Þan þe riche & pouere & alle comonly Fro Berwik to Douere held hir for lady. 1340 Ayenb. 145 God þet ous made alle comunliche to his anlicnesse. c 1400 Rom. Rose 6732 Thanne oughten good folk comunly Han of his myscheef somme pitee. 1489 Edinb. MS. Barbour's Bruce xi. 248 Commounaly. Ibid. xii. 304 Commonaly. 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) i. i. 9 Adam and Eue us bynde all by lawe comonly to synne and dampnacyon. 1574 Hellowes Gueuara's Fam. Ep. (1584) 216 Speaking commonly of all [gentlewomen], I say, that they have more abilitie to breede children, than to keepe secretes. 1581 Confer. i. C iij, This of Saint James, for that it was written commonly to all the tribes of the Jewes dispersed, was called Catholike or generall. a 1656 Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. (1660) 371 Some take it to be Man indefinitely, and commonly considered. |
† 2. In a common body, in one community or company; with common action or accord; unitedly, together. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 12065 (Gött.) Þe grete lauerdinges..ras again iesu alle bidene, And plaint on him made comminli. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 6457 Our men bathe gret and lite, To gedir gadred hem comonliche. 1382 Wyclif Gen. xiii. 6 The substaunce of hem [Abram and Lot] was myche, and thei myȝten not dwel comounli. c 1450 Merlin 96 Yef ye and alle the peple comynyally pray to our lorde for his grete pite. 1563 Homilies ii. Com. Prayer (1859) 357 To pray commonly is for a multitude to ask one and the self thing with one voice. |
† b. In the way of common possession. Obs.
| 1591 Troub. Raigne K. John (1611) 52 What is ours..You shall command as commonly, As if it were your owne. |
† 3. In intimate union, closely, familiarly. Obs.
| c 1325 Coer de L. 1808 The Erle of Leycester, the Erle of Hertford, Ful comanly followed they their lord. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. x. 56 He might see The blessed angels to and fro descend From highest heaven in gladsome companee..As commonly as frend does with his frend. |
† 4. Openly, in public, publicly. Obs.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce xvii. 799 That nycht thai spak al comonly [MS. E commonaly] Of thame within. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 381/4 He suffryd them not to begge comynly. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 611 Thys rumour openly spoken and commenly published. 1611 Bible Matt. xxviii. 15 And this saying is commonly reported among the Iewes vntill this day. |
5. As a usual circumstance; as a general thing; in ordinary cases; usually, ordinarily, generally.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 238 (Cott.) Frankis rimes here I redd Comunlik in ilk[a] sted. 1340 Ayenb. 56 Zuyche zennes arizeþ communliche ine tauerne. 1375 Barbour Bruce xv. 160 Schir Eduard, that wes comonly Callit the kyng of Irland. 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 26 a, He that is liberall to him self, is commonely liberal to another. 1549 Bk. Com. Prayer, The firste daie of Lente commonly called Ashe-Wednisdaye. 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. ii. i. 109, I am not prone to weeping (as our Sex Commonly are). 1678 Bunyan Pilgr. i. 218 In this Land the shining Ones commonly walked. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 121 ¶6 Tho' the Mole be not totally blind (as it is commonly thought). 1747 Wesley Prim. Physic (1762) 114 It commonly cures before Morning. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. p. ix, All the writings commonly attributed to Plato. |
6. In an ordinary manner; to a degree that is common or ordinary. (Qualifying adjs.)
| 1706 Estcourt Fair Examp. iv. i. 46 Because you are a Man of Worth, and her Husband's Friend, she can hardly be commonly civil to you. 1776 Gibbon Decl. & F. I. 348 Carinus..was more than commonly deficient in those qualities. 1853 Lytton My Novel x. xiii, Had such qualities..been applied to objects commonly honest. |
7. Meanly, cheaply; without anything special.
| Mod. A room very commonly furnished. |