Closely

adv. [f. CLOSE a. + -LY².] In a close manner; usually opposed to openly.

  1.  So as to leave no passage out or in; ‘without inlet or outlet’ (J.). Hence, in a place strictly shut up, in close confinement.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., I. i. 38. This day should Clarence closely be mew’d up.

a. 1691.  Boyle, Wks. (1738), III. 374 (J.). Putting the mixture into a crucible, closely luted at the top.

Mod.  Henry was closely confined in the Tower. This room has been closely shut up.

  2.  spec. With closed lips, inarticulately.

1565.  Jewel, Repl. Harding (1611), 127. Bishops and Priests should celebrate … the Masse, not closely, but with vtterance, and sound of voice, that they might be heard of the people.

1579.  Fulke, Refut. Rastel, 771. The wordes of consecration by no authoritie … ought to be pronounced closelye.

  † 3.  Secretly, covertly, privately, privily. Obs.

1552.  Huloet, Beare closely, priuely, or secretly.

1583.  Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. 81. It shall be done so cloosely, as no dogges shall barke at it.

1602.  Shaks., Haml., III. i. 29. We haue closely sent for Hamlet hither.

1643.  Prynne, Sov. Power Parl., I. (ed. 2), 96. If the King did closely or apertly, study or goe about to breake or alter this agreement.

  4.  In close proximity:

  a.  Near to some person or thing specified or understood. Hence with hold, keep, etc., sometimes implying restraint (see quots. 1656, 1879): narrowly.

1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 189. This famous Isle … by which we closely trauelled.

1656.  Cowley, Pindar. Odes, Resurrection, iv. 22. Hold thy Pindarique Pegasus closely in.

1795.  Southey, Joan of Arc, V. 455. The famish’d babe Clings closely to his dying mother’s breast.

1879.  ‘E. Garrett’ (Mrs. Mayo), House by Works, II. 68. Young men are often kept very closely by their fathers.

1885.  J. Payn, Talk of Town, I. 14. He wore, indeed, his own hair, but closely cut.

  b.  With the components near together, densely, compactly, with compression.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 426. The Englishe men shot so closely … together.

1583.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 60. Lyke dooues in tempest clinging fast closlye to geather.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 191. A treaty … by which the princes of the Empire bound themselves closely together.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., II. § 3. 244. In both liquids and solids we have the molecules closely packed.

  5.  fig. Of association, resemblance, etc.: Nearly, intimately.

1841.  Borrow, Zincali, II. 108. Closely connected with the Sanscrit.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 112. The episcopal polity was also closely associated in the public mind with all the evils.

1859.  Tennyson, Merlin & Vivien, 444. My name, once mine, now thine, is closelier mine.

  b.  Of nearness to a pattern, model, standard, ideal course.

1682.  Norris, Hierocles, 70. When it does not closely adhere to its common Notices.

1700.  Dryden, Fables, Pref. A. I hope I have translated closely enough.

1837–9.  Hallam, Hist. Lit., III. ii. § 72. Hall keeps more closely to his subject.

1885.  Law Rep. 29 Chanc. Div. 327. The analogy of common law is to be followed as closely as may be.

  6.  By bringing the eyes or mind into close proximity with an object or matter; with close attention or investigation.

1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., XI. xxxi. (1845), 45. The poetes conclude full closely Their fruitfull problemes for reformacion.

1600.  Holland, Livy, 506 (R.). Taurea … enquired at length closely, after silence made, where about he was.

1658.  Sir T. Browne, Hydriot., § 3 (1736), 36. Were the Happiness of the next World as closely apprehended as the Felicities of this.

1701.  Col. Rec. Penn., II. 55. He very closely Expostulated with them.

1732.  Berkeley, Alciphr., VII. § 29. With us to think closely is the least part of a learned man.

1768.  Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1775), II. 133. Disputing the point of religion more closely.

1875.  Jevons, Money (1878), 17. To investigate closely the history of prices.

1885.  Sir N. Lindley, in Law Rep. 30 Chanc. Div. 14. The case … is not really in point when we come to look at it closely.

  7.  When qualifying participles it is usually hyphened, as closely-drawn, -fitting, -packed, -woven.

1835.  Willis, Pencillings, II. xviii. 42. The closely-latticed window.

1836.  H. Rogers, J. Howe, ii. (1863), 35. Closely-cropped hair.

1864.  Pusey, Lect. Daniel, viii. 556. Belief in the ever closely-present Omnipresence of God.