Middle English Dictionary Entry
certainlī adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | certainlī adv. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) With certainty, certainly, unquestionably, surely, for sure; in fact, truly; unfailingly, inevitably; (b) as an emphatic: indeed, of course.
Associated quotations
a
- 1372 Als i lay vp-on (Adv 18.7.21)145 : Serteynly, þis sithte i say, Þis song i herde singge, Als i lay þis ȝolis-day Alone in my longingge.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Bar.6.9 : Certeynli [WB(2): certis; L certe] the goddis of hem han golden crownes vpon her hedis.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)1382 : A muleward..preyed him deuouteliche To ben his help certeynliche.
- c1390 Treat.Mass (Vrn)127 : Serteynliche, wiþ-outen fayle, Þou schalt not leose of þi trauayle Not half a foote of way.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.942 : As certeinliche as I schal deie, I hadde it lerned longe ago.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)149a/b : It boodiþ moost certeynliche ful strong tempest in þe see ȝif cootes flee crienge to þe clyues.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)2889 : Seynt Austyne seyþ certeynly Þat he synned ryȝt dedly.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)9270 : 'Iesse,' he saide, 'of his roting certanly [vrr. Certaynly, Certeynly; Vsp: Soth-fast-le] a wande sulde spring.'
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.139 : Þat he & his heires & alle þer progenie Of Scotland suld hold of Henry certeynlie & of alle his heires.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.286 : Þe day of Saynt Hillari þe kyng set..At London certeynli his parlement to haf bien.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.100 : Certeynlich I am aboute nought, If that I speke of love.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)12.484 : Sey me..thou belamy, How knowest thou this so Certeinly?
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)35.152 : Ȝif ȝe don oþer wise thanne I ȝow seye, ȝe scholen ben Alle dede ful certeynlye.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)685 : He schal dee syrtnlyche.
- (c1465) Let.Christ Ch.in Camd.n.s.1919 : And certaignely, lykewise as ye wer enformed so hit was.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)140 : But yet sertanly, when thay lakke gode thai woll aryse, sayng that thai lakke justice.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)2 : If þou do not, certenly þy ymage shall be smytene.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)236/178 : Maisters, we know certaynly: our sonne he is, we can not denye.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)1399 : He..bi gan to chide wunderliche With is grom, certeinliche.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)17495 : 'And der yee suer..Þat yee herd and sagh al þis?' 'Ya, certanli, þat soth it es We tak drightin til vr wittnes.'
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)176/127 : Thou sais full wele, John, certaynly.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)36 : Ther is game noon That fro my bokes maketh me to goon..Save, certeynly, whan that the month of May Is comen.
2.
With assurance, confidently.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4956 : As sche that wende certeinly Have had a frend, and hadde a fo.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10371 : And quen þou findes it be sua, Certainlik þan sal þou tru Al þat i haf hire tald þe nu.
3.
With exactness, exactly, precisely.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.277 : Þe ȝeres of kynges and of emperours bygynneþ and endeþ certenliche [L certe] but riȝt seelde.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)16232 : Godmen, quat es þan your dome? Sais me certanli [vrr. certainly, sertainli, certeynly].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Deeds 23.20 : As if thei schulden enquere sum thing more certeynli of hym.
- c1440 Treat.PN(2) (Thrn)261 : Vs awe for to witte and certanly to vndirstande whate þis Orysone es to say.
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)10 : Þe maistir answereþ þat þe noumbre be certeynly fulfilled in heuene.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1400 Wycl.CGosp.John (Bod 243:Hudson)37/31 : Crist constreyneþ him to knouleche þe pouert þat he lerne certenliere þe greetnesse of myracle.
Note: Comparative form. 'More assuredly, more clearly, definitively, or emphatically.'