adv. [f. CIRCULAR a. + -LY.] In a circular manner, in a circle.
1. In the form of a circle.
1543. Traheron, Vigo’s Chirurg., I. iii. 4. Diuide the brayne panne with a sawe circularely.
1666. Pepys, Diary, 22 July. For fruit, the best way is to have walls built circularly.
1834. Mrs. Somerville, Connec. Phys. Sc., xvi. (1849), 145. Propagated circularly all round the centre of disturbance.
2. In a circular orbit or course.
1561. Eden, Arte Nauig., I. xx. 22. The Planet … is moued circularly.
1666. Dryden, Ann. Mirab., ii. Trade, which like blood should circularly flow.
1872. Proctor, Ess. Astron., viii. 108. A body moving circularly round the sun.
3. By circular reasoning, in a logical circle.
1651. Baxter, Inf. Bapt., 35. That is to prove the same by the same, or else to argue circularly.
1861. Dickens, Gt. Expect., I. vii. 103. Joe … completely stopped me by arguing circularly, and answering with a fixed look ‘Her.’
† 4. Completely, perfectly. Obs.
1616. Chapman, Homer’s Hymns Apollo, 35. And those gifts onely let thy deified mind Be circularlie pleas’d with. Ibid. (1618), Hesiod, Ded. 141. These most wise, learned and circularly-spoken Grecians.
† 5. In rotation, among a circle of people. Obs.
1648. T. Hill, Strength of Saints, A 3 a. That they (though but circularly, by 3 or 4 in a morning) may have leave to come to the Morning Sermon in the Abbey.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, II. 30. He bestowed also a vast summe of money on several Corporations to be imployed circularly for the benefit of the poor Freemen therein.
