surely

From Middle English surely; equivalent to sure +‎ -ly.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈʃʊəli/, /ˈʃɔːli/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈʃʊɹli/, /ˈʃɔɹli/, /ˈʃɝli/

• Audio (US)

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• Homophone: Shirley (in some dialects)
• Rhymes: -ʊə(ɹ)li, -ɔː(ɹ)li

surely (comparative surelier or more surely, superlative sureliest or most surely)

1. Without fail.

   slowly but surely

2. Certainly, undoubtedly.

   Surely, you must be joking.

   • 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:

     But then I had the flintlock by me for protection. ¶ There were giants in the days when that gun was made; for surely no modern mortal could have held that mass of metal steady to his shoulder. The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window […].

3. With confidence.

   His feet were planted surely on the ground.

• 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 1:1:

  Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us […].

• certainly, wis (obsolete)

• Ruleys, Ruyles, Ulerys, Ulreys, syluer

• surly, suerly, surliche, surelich, seurly, suyrly, swrly, seurerly, seuirly, sureli, sewrly, sourely, sewerly, swerly, sewrlye, surelye

From sure +‎ -ly.

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɛu̯rliː/, /ˈsiu̯rliː/, /ˈsuːrliː/

surely (comparative surelier)

1. safely (with safety and security)
2. totally, bindingly, without doubt
3. For sure, with certainty.
4. truly, actually, really
5. totally, entirely, wholly
6. With conviction and belief; assuredly

• English: surely
• Scots: shuirly

• “seurlī, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-21.