Middle English Dictionary Entry
nām(e)lī adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | nām(e)lī adv. Also nāmlẹ̄, nammelī & anamelī. |
| Etymology | From nāme n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Especially, in particular; also, chiefly; also used, with reduced meaning, for alliteration; (b) anameli (= and nameli): especially, chiefly, particularly; and anameli; (c) indeed, truly.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)139 : Sunnedei ah efri cristenne Mon nomeliche to chirche cume.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)51 : Hie..folgeden here lichames wille, nameliche on two þigges: þat was muðes meðe, þat oðer hordom.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)14/196 : Swa muche þe hokerluker him þuncheð to beon ouercumen..& nomeliche of wummon.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)4/9 : Meidnes, nomeliche, lusten swiðe ȝeorliche hu ha luuien þe liuiende lauerd & libben i meiðhad.
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)146 : Þu hit wost ful ȝeorne þet þe deouel hateð me, And nomeliche þereuore þet ich wurðie þe.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.2 : Hi furde the bet for him also, And nameliche thurf a maide that this Gilbert lovede faste.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)6337 : He wold..awreke of his fon, And namlich on Saphiran.
- (a1333) Herebert Cryst (Add 46919)21 : Woe nomliche þat boeth bouht wyth þyn holy blod Vor þys day singeth a neowe song.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)21/24 : Þis zenne him sseaweþ..nameliche ine zix maneres; þet is to wytene ine onlepihede, [etc.].
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)237/2 : Mochel is uoul þe spot of zenne and nameliche of lecherie ine þe ministres of holy cherche.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.66 : Prechours..warnen..of þe grete tribulaciouns þat we shullen haue at þe comyng of Antecrist & namelich to hem þat han ȝouen ouer mychel her loue to erþelich þinges.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2508 : Namli, when we han nede neuer he ne fayleþ þat he ne bringeþ wher we ben þat to vs bi-houes.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.10.18 : Namleche siþþe of þe blood of hit is not brouȝt in wiþynne þe halwis.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.31.2 : Y may no more goon out & come in, nomelyche [WB(2): moost; L præsertim] whenne & þe lord haþ seide to me þou shalt not passe þis Iordan.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2709 : Al were they sore yhurt and namely oon That with a spere was thirled his brest boon.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.257 : He..hadde greet likynge in Austyn his bookes, and nameliche [L potissime] in his bookes de Civitate Dei.
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)267 : Ȝif þou woldest vtterli leue gostli occupacion, nomeli aftur þe grace þat god haþ ȝeuen to þe..þou leosest þe ordre of charite.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1233 : Free was daun Iohn and namely [vr. manly] of dispence..and ful of diligence To doon plesaunce and also greet costage.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.407 : Namely abedde hadden they meschaunce.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)111 : Þe sonne, þe mone, & mercurius..helpiþ her owne & ben now goode & now Iuel to oþer & namliche as þey ben comuned in diuers houures [?read: houses] of signes wiþ planetis goode oþir yuel.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)125b/a : Þerfore þat tyme beestis waxiþ fatte and nameliche [L maxime] swyne.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8967 : Prophecies þer-of sco tald, And namlikes [Göt: namlyest] o domes-dai.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22386 : Þat ilk warlau bridd His caitiute has tua yeir kidd..Ouer al þis werld on lengh and brede, Nammeli again þe cristen lede.
- c1400(?c1280) SLeg.OTHist.(LdMisc 622)93 : After noþing longe, Namelich þat þou ne miȝth nouȝth haue.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.239 : If coueitise wolde cacche þe pore..by þe nekke namely her none may hente other.
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)10/6 : Jesus..badd hym done it..to ȝiuen oþer ensample of al manere þing, & namelich of lowenesse.
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.64r : An eruk, .. is a litel werm þat gnaweþ & fretyþ þe braunchis & leuys of erbes, & namely of wortys.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1115 : Excused was nat on, Namly of hem þat wern of hiȝe degre.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)596 : Ful myghty and ful riche am I, And that of oon thyng namely, For I entende to nothyng But to my joye and my pleying.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)55b/a : Som beþ made to mundifie wondez, & þai ar made of carpie of a softe cloþe, namely [L precipue] of an olde.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)29/4 : Þare er swelghes in þe erthe allway brynnand, and namely in seuen places, oute of þe whilk þer commes flawme of fire.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)92a/a : A man moste eschewe þat he..trauaile moche & þat namely with þe menber þat is hurte.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.2/6 : In festis he was sobir and namely the folowere of hospitalite.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)163/14 : As it were a watry passioun, namely [*Ch.(1): proprely; L proprie] in þe wombe.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Satan & P.(Corp-C 296)271 : Þes worldly prelatis..seyn þat it is aȝenst charite to crie opynly here cursed disceitis to lordis & comyn peple, & namely in here absence.
- ?c1430 Wycl.PPPriests (Corp-C 296)279 : Clerkis, & namely religiouse, han superfluyte of riches.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)68/31 : Þei madyn hir ryth weyke in hir bodyly myghtys, & namely yf sche herd of owyr Lordys Passyon.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)106/11 : And namely in þe tyme of þe Romaynes gret felicite, þe victorious peopill of þem were crowned wiþ laurere.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)89 : These poyntis and manye mo, clerkis of dyuynyte treten, namelich in her writingis vpon þe sentencis of pers lumbard.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1083 : And naymly women nyght & day Aw to vse fune wordes alway.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)144/30 : Þe flowres þer-of are goode for manye medecynes and namely for cocus to colour here potagys.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3325 : Weikenes of wemen may not wele stryve..And nomely in an unkythe lond.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4791 : Namely a new note neghis on hand.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)633/25 : Hit is vn-semeli & ageiniste reson þat contrauersi, nameliche amonge religious folke, lawfully endid sholde be soreli I-meuid ageine.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)145/18 : Of hir clothing I most reherce, and namely [CQ(2): specialy] of the mantell that hir body cured.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)87/22 : Namly and principaly þay seme to a kynges dyademe to be ahournyd by in fayrhede.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)8 : In that the feende repaireth moste, bothe in man and woman, namly, when they be in grete ire and comberaunces.
b
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)6.58 : Swere nouȝt but it be for nede, A nameliche [vrr. nameleche, nomeliche] an ydel þe name of god almiȝt.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)146b/a : A man oweþ for to helpe hym selfe of al þingez..which may helpe & not noye, anamelych [Ch.(2): namely; L praesertim] for þe escare defendeþ þat þe cauterie be not feled, alonly þat it be done warly.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)7 : The Romaynes and many other, anamly [StJ-C: and namely] the grettest philosophurs thas euer was.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)12 : And alyche Hercules..in as myche as tocheth to his vertue, and anamly in dedes of knygthhode.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)17 : And anamely the philosophres yaf and compared the vertues of the vii metallis to the vii planetis.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)27 : Euery good knyght shulde loue and prayse euer vertuous persone, anamely a woman in strong vertue of wytte and..concyens.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)32a/1 : In surgury it is full notfull and nedfull to a man þat wole wirche to se a maister wele wirche..and namelyche in algebra.
c
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.10.1 : Þe wyl namely [WBible(1): sothli the will; L voluntas quidem] of myn herte and þe preyere vn to god is don for þem in to hele.
2.
(a) That is to say, that is; and ~; (b) by name; plainly; precisely, specifically, accurately; as adj.: precise, proper [quot.: c1230].
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.227 : Of þat piler in an arche beeþ vers i-write..and nameliche of þe ouermost stone.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1049 : Beryn cam nat þere, Namelich in-to the place there his modir lay.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)109/18 : Alle sunnen sunderliche bi hare nomeliche nomen ne mahte namon rikenin.
- (a1382) WBible(1) Prol.Kings (Bod 959)57 : Þe sixte is danyel, þe seuenþe dabrejamyn, þat is þe woordis of daies, þe whiche more namely [WB(2): kouthly] wee mown clepyn þe cronycle of al goddis storie.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25712 : Þar es namle bote o tuin, Mai bring man vte of bale and sin; þe first es baptim o þir tua, þe toþer liue in penance thra.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4025 : Of these nomly to neuyn & nobill men other..I buske me to say.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)293 : Any cas þat is to con [read: com] to knaw if þe likis, I sall as namely ȝow neuyn as it ware nowe done.
- c1450 Okure þrow (Eg 2810)p.232 : He hase note þe pay of þe dette, Nomly ate þe day pat [read: þat] is sete.
3.
(a) At least, at any rate, anyhow; first ~, at least at first; ~ seuen, at least seven; ~ withouten, at least on the outside; (b) even, as much as, as many as; ~ litel relikes, even little remnants; not..~ on, not even one (of them). [Some quots. under (a) may belong here.]
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Num.12.14 : Ȝif þe fadyr of here hadde spet in to here face, wheþer sholde sche not nameleche [L saltem] seuene dayȝes wiþ reednes be vnder held?
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.16.10 : Dalila seide to hym, 'Lo þou hast begilid me, & fals þou has spoken; namely now schew to me wiþ what þyng þou owist to ben bowndyn.'
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Job 19.6 : Namely now vnderstondeþ, for god not with euene dom tormentiþ me & with his scourgis girdeþ me.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.407 : Assenteþ to me, nameliche, in þre þinges, ȝif ȝe willeþ nouȝt assente to me and [read: in] þe oþere.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.447 : Þis duke Richard usede to bidde his bedes in everiche cherche þat he com nyh, and nameliche wiþoute, ȝif he myȝte nouȝt com into þe chirche.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)733 : Þat wili warlau..ganid noght cum him [Adam] to nei, Namli in his auen schap.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.33.15 : Y preie thee, that of the puple which is with me, nameli [WB(1): algatez] felowis of thi weie dwelle.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mark 6.56 : Thei setten sijk men in stretis and preiden hym that thei schulden touche namely [WB(1): either; L vel] the hemme of his cloth.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)57a/b : Saltem: nomelyche.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)237/38 : Þai semen, or namely [*Ch.(1): at lest] it is putte to ham, to procede indifferently in alle þe brekynges of the hede.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)244/33 : And laye þere-above softe lychynies dippede, first namely, wiþ the same mixture.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)280/25 : When þat medecynes conforten in vlceres, or namely [*Ch.(1): at lest] þat thay noye noght, it is bytokened þat þai ben accordynge.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)511 : A mannys fader and modir ben to him grettist benefetouris, or namelich ben in grettist wil forto be benefetouris to him.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)17/1 : It must be vndirstonde namelich in oon manere þus.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Kings 13.30 : Absolon haþ smyten alle þe sones of þe kyng & þer lafte not of hem nameli oon.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Josh.10.28 : Þe kyng of hit & alle his dwellers he slow, & he left not in hit namely litul relykys.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)25 : It is welnyȝ al that Holi Writt dooth or namelich entendith forto teche aboute eny moral vertu.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)462/18 : Renuncyng..all excepcion, cauellacion, and namely kyngis prohibicion.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.16.10a : Þou..art..so blind in gostli þinges, and namli of þin owen soule whilk þe bihouiþ first knowe.