Middle English Dictionary Entry
fīnāllī adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | fīnāllī adv. Also finliche. |
| Etymology | From adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) In the end, ultimately, at last, lastly; at the end of a series of events; at the close of life; (b) of a narrative, discourse, or treatise: in conclusion, to conclude.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(1389) Wycl.25 Art.(Dc 273)460 : Til hym þat fynaly endis in charite.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.215 : But finally, as in conclusioun, They kan nat seen in that noon auauntage.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.280 : Fynally thanne was he crucified and slayn.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.75 : For finaly, whan that I muse..I am with anger so bestad.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)35 : He..shal be dampnid uttirli, if he amende him not finali.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)278b/b : Nouþer his fleissh is y ete..but left fynalliche to flyes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6044 : Til þei her purpos fynally fulfille.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)23/16 : Fynally þei accordeden to Melechnasser.
- a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.Ps.(Bod 554)49 (Ps.35.12) : 'Make me not suget to him bi dedli synne' ..; 'moue me not fro þe staat of grace' -- and euere ei:þer was grauntid to him fynaly.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)45/23 : Euer alle þe answeres must fynaly come fro Augustin.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1940 : But fynally atte end, they cordit al in fere.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.1147 : And dame Custaunce, fynally to seye, Toward the toun of Rome gooth hir weye.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.595 : Bot finali to taken hiede, Men mai wel make a liklihiede [etc.].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5195 : And finally, ȝif I schal nat lye, Ful many schip was in þis navie.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)231 : Now fynali..y seie thus.
2.
(a) In a manner not to be undone or changed; with finality, once for all, conclusively; definitely, with certainty, firmly; (b) utterly, completely, totally; (c) infinitely, forever.
Associated quotations
a
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)57 : Thou hast liȝt conscience, thus finaly to deme.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1778 : Þe briȝt sonne stood at Gabaon..Fynally for to ȝeue hym lyȝt.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)779 : And tyme set ageyn a certeyn day Among hem-silf and finaly devysed.
- ?c1425(c1390) Chaucer Fort.(Benson-Robinson)16 : For fynally, Fortune, I thee defye!
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.176 : Thou must beholde..Where þat þis good is founden fynally.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Test.(Hrl 218)529 : For in the, Iesu, myn hope stant fynally.
- a1500(c1435) ?Lydg.DM(2) (Lnsd 699)455 : Whan alle domys shal fynaly be diht.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.276 : Synful mannes soule..atte laste it is slayn fynally.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7267 : Nadde his manhod be..Þe Grekis had þat day finally Venquissched be.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3011 : Þei her wit fynally applye To swe her lust.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)2009 : Joves..wol the solace Fynally with these thinges.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10802 : Lest his folke in the feld were fynally distroyet.
- c1450 3 KCol.(2) (Add 31042)463 : The temples..Ware thurgh his lare devoydede fynally.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)79a/b : Wiþouten reste no þing duriþ fynaliche.
3.
With ref. to cause, purpose, or the nature of things: ultimately, essentially; in the last analysis, in reality, in fact; really, actually.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1956 : Ful many a time I wene it soth, Bot finali no spied it doth.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)268 : For, fynaly, ne wer the porayle her berer vp and Supportacioun, Farwel lordshyp.
- a1425 Chaucer TC (Corp-C 61)1.682 : What is thenchesoun And, finaly [Hrl 3943: final], cause of wo that the endure.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)250 : But fynaly it harmed hym rith noute.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)235 : Ech vertuose deede..ouȝte be doon for goddis sake and for god him silf moost fynaly or moost principali.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)381 : Ech such is meenali doon as a meene into sum deede of þe wil finali and eendaly.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)24 : The fynal cause declaryth pleynly..what was the entent Of the auctour fynally & what he ment.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)77/25 : Oure eend..to which we ben fynali or eendli aboue kynde ordeynyd.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)461 : Thus, fynally..Werre is cheff ground & cause of pouerte.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1400 Treat.Penit.Job (Pep 2125)198/476 : Crist..louede hem fynliche, vnto þe ende, þat is anon to his deþ..þat is to seye, he louede hem..þat loue ladde hym to þe ende, þat is to his deþ.
- c1400 Treat.Penit.Job (Pep 2125)198/481 : So we..loue..togidere swetliche, trewliche, parfitliche, and fynlyche.
Note: These seem to belong loosely to sense 2., but in such as way as to combine subsenses (a), (b) and (c): "to the end."
Note: New spelling 'finliche' added to form section; this spelling threatens confusion with fineli adv., which overlaps in meaning and is in fact the word to which the editor attaches it.