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(
fa
nl) Forms: 4 fin(e)-, fynliche, 5-6 fyn(e)ly(e, 4, 6- finely. [f. FINE a. + -LY2.]
In a fine manner (see senses of the adj.).
1. In a consummate degree; perfectly, completely. Obs.
c1320 Cast. Love 1132 Hou fynliche in herte God
loue
e.
1340-70 Alisaunder 1201 Fende mee finliche well to fonde my strength.
1655 CULPEPPER Riverius VII. i. 152 The Tumor vanished, and she was finely cured.
2. With consummate skill, with beautiful workmanship or admirable finish. In mod. use merged in 6.
c1340 Cursor M. 6563 (Fairf.) Hit ys of gold finely
di
t.
14.. Tundale's Vis. 1656 Of red gold fynly ennamelyd.
1587 TURBERV. Trag. T. (1837) 169 And finely finisht up the ship.
3. In a state of fine division; to a fine point or edge; so as to be subtle or delicate in structure; delicately, minutely.
c1550 LLOYD Treas. Health (1585) Tviij, Make them into pouder fynelye.
1578 LYTE Dodoens I. i. 4 The leaves are much more jagged..finelier cut.
1606 PEACHAM Drawing iv. 10 Get you black lead, sharpened finelie.
1718 LADY M. W. MONTAGU Let. Ctess. Mar. 4 Jan., Napkins..as finely wrought as the finest handkerchiefs.
1816 L. HUNT Rimini III. 16 The other finelier spun.
1847 JOHNSTON in
Proc. Berw. Nat. Club II. No. v. 222 The skin is very finely striolate.
1863 LYELL Antiq. Man. 46 Finely laminated sand.
fig. 1693 DRYDEN Orig. of Sat. Prose Wks. 1800 III. 212 Here is the Majesty of the heroick finely mixed with the venom of the other.
1885 Bookseller 5 Mar. 240/2 The distinction in these mixed races seems very finely drawn.
4. With respect to action, speech, etc.: With delicacy and nicety; delicately, subtly, nicely.
1548 HALL Chron. 18 He would that poinct should be..more fynely and closely handled.
1608 Yorksh. Trag. I. ii, Chide me? Do't finely then.
1710 HEARNE Collect. II. 369 In y
e City of Rome they spoke more finely..than in Provinces.
1712 ADDISON Spect. No. 345
21 The new Passion that was awakened in him [Adam] at the sight of her [Eve] is touch'd very finely.
1851 MRS. BROWNING Casa Guidi Windows 2 Who..touched the heart of us So finely that the pity scarcely pained.
1867 F. FRANCIS Angling iii. (1880) 79 The angler is compelled to fish as finely as possible.
1883 Kendal Mercury & Times 23 Nov. 5/1 An elevating or finely humanising tendency.
5. Cleverly, cunningly, shrewdly. Obs.
1542 UDALL Erasm. Apoph. II. (1877) 326 The argument of his frendes he did moste finely wrest to the contrarie of their menyng.
1579-80 NORTH Plutarch (1676) 154 Whereas he himself by Hannibal was first finely handled and deceived.
a1639 WOTTON Essex & Dk. Buckhm., Wee rate this one secret as it was finely carried at 4000
l. in present money.
6. a. In a manner fitted to call forth admiration; admirably, beautifully, excellently, splendidly.
1690 W. WALKER Idiomat. Anglo-Lat. 330 Thou hast plaid thy part finely.
1759 tr.
Duhamel's Husb. II. i. (1762) 128 The crop came up finely.
1807 G. CHALMERS Caledonia I.
I. iv 135 Lockhart-hall..is finely situated on the right bank of the Clyde.
1850 LYNCH Theo. Trin. 81 Greenish tints, finely contrasting with its [the moon's] own soft white.
b. ironically.
1579 FULKE Heskins' Parl. 222 He scoffeth finely at our spirituall sifting of the sacrament so fine.
1598 SHAKES. Merry W. V. iii. 22 Wee'll betray him finely.
1691 SOUTH Serm. Nat. & Meas. of Conscience ii, I doubt not but you will find that kingdom..finely governed in a short time.
1778 F. BURNEY Diary Sept., When we are away, I suppose she pays us off finely.
1883 STEVENSON Treas. Isl. I. iv, My heart was beating finely when we two set forth.
c. dial. Used predicatively as quasi-adj.: Very well in health.
1818 TODD Johnson s.v.
Finely 7 In Cumberland a man in good health being asked how he is, answers ‘he is finely’.
1840 SPURDENS E. Anglian Wds., ‘How is your wife, John, after her groaning?’ ‘Finely, sir, thank 'ee.’
1878 in
Cumberld Gloss. 7. With respect to dress: Showily, handsomely.
1665 BOYLE Occas. Refl. (1845) 354 Many of them as finely and as richly dress'd, as if [etc.].
8. Comb. With pples. forming adjs., as finely-arched, -bred, -chequered, -cut, -pinnated, -situated, -tempered, -timed, -varied, -veined, -wrought; finely-axed, fine-axed (FINE a. D. 3).
1876 GEO. ELIOT Dan. Der. III. xxxv. 35 Each *finely-arched chapel.
1902 Daily Chron. 13 Oct. 7/1 The pedestal is of *finely-axed Kemnay granite.
18.. TRISTRAM in
Queen's Printers' Bible-Aids 54 A swift or *finely-bred camel.
1728-46 THOMSON Spring 776 The *finely-checkered duck.
1835 Court Mag. VI. 7/1 Her *finely-cut features.
1952 A. G. L. HELLYER Sanders' Encycl. Gardening (ed. 22) 5 [
Acer Hersii]
laciniatum, finely-cut leaves.
1870 KINGSLEY in
Gd. Words 239 *Finely-pinnated mimosa leaves.
1875 W. MCILWRAITH Guide Wigtownshire 94 The..*finely-situated..Endcliffe House.
1869 BOUTELL Arms & Arm. vii. 120 Their *finely-tempered blades.
1658-9 Burton's Diary (1828) III. 558 His was a *finely-timed speech.
1876 GEO. ELIOT Dan. Der. IV. li. 23 Her voice..in its *finely-varied tones.
1763 COLLINSON in
Phil. Trans. LIV. 65 Four *finely-veined transparent wings.
1873 HAMERTON Intell. Life III. iii. (1876) 91 The *finely-wrought texture of the verse.
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