Entirely

adj. and adv. Forms: see ENTIRE and -LY¹ and ². [f. ENTIRE a. + -LY.]

  † A.  adj. (ME. only). a. Full, complete. b. Sincere, having integrity. Obs.

14[?].  Pol. Rel. & L. Poems, 41. Besechinge you euer with myn enterly hert.

1488.  Caxton, Chast. Goddes Chyld., 10. Yeuing up thankynges with enterly deuocyon.

1497.  Bp. Alcock, Mons Perfect., B iij. Y^e very enteerly folowers of Cryste Ihesu.

  B.  adv.

  † 1.  In an entire state; without diminution or division, as a whole. Obs.

  (As in the case of the synonyms whole etc., the adj. would now be used instead of the adv.)

1491.  Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 12. Pream., To preserve the possessions of the Crown hoolly and entierly without any severaunce or decreasing therof.

1512.  Act 4 Hen. VIII., c. 19 § 10. The hole summes … delyverd fully & enterely.

1659.  Annesley, in Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 464. The which was read first intirely, and afterwards, in parts.

  2.  Wholly, completely, perfectly; without exception or reservation.

c. 1400.  Maundev., xii. (1839), 139. Thei kepen entierly the Comaundement.

c. 1430.  Freemasonry, 241. Ȝef that the mayster a prentes have, Enterlyche thenne that he hym teche.

1481.  Caxton, Myrr., III. x. 155. Adam knewe all the seuen scyences lyberall entyerly without fayllyng of a worde.

1667.  Milton, P. L., VII. 549. And behold all was entirely good.

1706.  Hearne, Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), I. 171. He was intirely an Enemy to the Gross Errors of Popery.

1761.  Hume, Hist. Eng., II. xxxi. 201. His resolution of breaking intirely with the court of Rome.

1769.  Goldsmith, Rom. Hist. (1786), I. 121. He was the son of a man entirely respected by both parties.

1797.  Bewick, Brit. Birds (1847), I. 66. Another circle of dark rusty brown entirely surrounds the face.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 20. I entirely agree, said Critias, and accept the definition.

  ¶ In humorous representations of the speech of Irishmen, often placed at the end of a sentence.

Mod.  ‘He’s a fine gentleman entirely.’

  3.  Wholly and exclusively, solely.

1647.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. (1843), I. 4–5. He [Villiers] … entirely disposed of all the graces of the king.

1672.  Cave, Prim. Chr., III. iv. (1673), 331. I shall set down the story intirely out of the Author himself.

1732.  Arbuthnot, Rules of Diet, 400. If a Gouty Person can bring himself intirely to a Milk Diet.

1836.  H. Coleridge, North. Worthies (1852), I. 16. Middleton composed his life of Cicero, Jortin his life of Erasmus, almost entirely from the epistles of their respective subjects.

1850.  Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life, III. xii. 223. He [Charles Kingsley] did win his own sweet wife entirely by this charm of character.

  † 4.  a. Heartily, sincerely. b. Earnestly. Obs.

  In the later instances these uses seem to approach or coincide with the still current sense 2.

  a.  a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter vi. 4. Fulhard it is to be turnyd enterly til þe bryghthed and þe pees of godis lyght.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XVIII. 142. Loue þyn enemy entyerly · godes heste to ful-fille.

1467.  Mann. & Househ. Exp. (1841), 172. Ryte worschepeful and my enterly welbeloved frend.

1586.  A. Day, Eng. Secretary, I. (1625), 27. The griefe that by my selfe among many others, for his losse, is entirely conceiued.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., III. ii. 228. They are intirely welcome.

1647.  Ward, Simp. Cobler (ed. 4), 22. I intirely wish much welfare and more wisdom to that Plantation.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 170, ¶ 2. The Apprehension that he is not equally beloved by the Person whom he entirely loves.

1722.  Journ. through Eng. (ed. 2), I. 131. I that love the Country entirely … have fixt my Residence here [Epsom].

  b.  a. 1400.  Isumbras, 434. To Ihesu Criste than prayes he, And enterely hym, bysoghte.

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 1183. Þat þey wolden preyȝe for Alfynes soule enterly. Ibid., 311. He loked þo more entierlocure towarde þat tombe.

1455.  Paston Lett., No. 230, I. 319. Praying you interlych to bie with me at dyner on Seynt Benett day.

1548–9.  (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, 128. Entierly desiryng thy fatherly goodnes.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. xi. 32. Gan to highest God entirely pray.

1606.  G. W[oodcocke], trans. Hist. Ivstine, 91 a. They intirely besought them … they would now be bould in the ouerthrow.