freely
English
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Middle English frely, freelich, from Old English frēolīc (“free, freeborn, glorious, stately, magnificent, noble, beautiful, charming”), equivalent to free + -ly. Compare Middle Low German vrilik, vrigelik (“free”), Middle High German vrīlich (“free”).
Alternative forms
- frely (Scotland)
Derived terms
Etymology 2
From Middle English frely, freliche, from Old English frēolīċe (“freely, readily, as a festival”), equivalent to free + -ly. Compare Dutch vrijelijk (“freely”), German freilich (“certainly, of course”).
Adverb
freely (comparative freelier or more freely, superlative freeliest or most freely)
- In a free manner.
- Wine was flowing freely.
- Without interference or restriction.
- talk freely
- 1961 February, ""Balmore"", “Driving and firing modern French steam locomotives - Part One”, in Trains Illustrated, page 110:
- I found that the Chapelon steamed almost too freely, because on a strange locomotive and road one usually tends to overfire a little through a natural lack of confidence.
- Of one's own free will.
- I will freely help you.
Derived terms
Translations
in a free manner
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without interference or restriction
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See also
References
- “freely”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
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