adv. ? Obs. Forms: 3–4 apertelyche, 4 -lyke, apeartlye, 4–5 apertelich(e, -teli, -tli, appert(e)ly, 4–6 apertely(e, 5–6 -art(e)ly, 6 apartlie, 4–8 apertly. [f. APERT a. + -LY2.]
1. Openly to the senses, publicly, plainly; without secrecy or concealment. (Opposed to privily.)
1297. R. Glouc., 375. Me myȝte bere … Tresour aboute & oþer god oueral apertelyche.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour, 46. As he shewed unto this good lady apertely.
c. 1450. Merlin, iv. 76. He hadde aperteliche the semblaunce of the Duke.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., I. 73/1. Going about manie things both priuilie and apertlie.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 123. Giving aid both apertly and covertly unto the weaker.
a. 1734. North, Examen, I. iii. ¶ 131. So long as no positive Charge is apertly made to the Prejudice of any one.
2. Manifestly (to the understanding), clearly, evidently, plainly.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 96. That other heste apertelyche Schewed mannes defaute.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. III. 256. It is a permutacioun apertly, a peny-worth for an othre.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., I. v. 27. Otherwise may not be knowen appertly the certayn ne the incertayn.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 410. Paule spake simplie and apertlie.
1680. H. More, Apocal. Apoc., 285. There is apertly mention made of the sixth and seventh Trumpet.
3. Straightforwardly, boldly; with distinction.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, X. 315. This gud Erll nocht-for-thi The Sege tuk full apertly. Ibid., XIV. 77. The Scottis men in that fechting Swa apertly and weille thame bar.
