adv. Also 4 fynaly, 5–6 -ally, 5 fynallich. [f. FINAL a. + -LY2.]
1. In the end, lastly, at last, ultimately.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 1006.
| For þer-with mene I fynally þe peyne, | |
| That halt youre herte and myn in heuynesse, | |
| Fully to slen and euery wrong redresse. |
c. 1400. Beryn, 1521. Fynallich[e], to the end of hir accordement.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys (Roxb.), 2.
| What was the entent | |
| Of the auctour fynally. |
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lix. 206. Fynally the forse of the paynyms was so gret that at length they coude not abyde it.
a. 1610. Healey, Cebes (1636), 134. Hee, first of all, purgeth away the causes, and nutriment of the malady, and then corroborates the vitalls, and finally confirmeth the body in perfect soundnesse.
1729. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 36. It is a manifest absurdity to suppose evil prevailing finally over good, under the conduct and administration of a perfect mind.
1825. J. Neal, Brother Jonathan, I. 8. Finally; after having beaten him at every thing else, without mercy, he beat him at his own, his favourite game, the old French war.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. ix. 64. We finally swerved to the right, and by a process the reverse of straightforward reached the Couvercle.
b. Indicating the last point or conclusion of a discourse, treatise, etc.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 2. Fynally, I beseche all … to pray for me wretche.
1611. Bible, 2 Cor. xiii. 11. Finally, brethren, farewell.
1743. J. Morris, Serm., vii. 206. Finally, let us all fear God, and keep his commandments.
quasi-sb.
1874. Aldrich, Prud. Palfrey, x. (1885), 164. Then such a sermon! It is certainly an improvement on the poor old parson’s interminable ninthlies and finallies.
2. So as to make a complete end; in a manner not to be reversed or altered; once for all, decisively, conclusively.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 10802. Lest his folke in the feld were fynally distroyet.
1512. Act 4 Hen. VIII., c. 18 § 14. All manner of Officers … [shall] be utterlye acquyted & fynallye discharged for ever.
1650. Fuller, A Pisgah-sight of Palestine, III. ix. 430. Devils he cast out of men so finally, that they entred no more into them; but wicked men, once thrown out of the Temple, recovered their stations therein again.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1737), II. 229. Many men are finally lost.
1801. Foster, in Life & Corr. (1846), I. 130. I must therefore assemble all my convictions around me, and finally settle the great account I have with God!
1884. Manch. Exam., 28 May, 5/4. The arrangement … would … deal finally and effectually with a national question.
