freely
adjectiveadverbcommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈfɹiːli//
- United States//ˈfɹili//
Free; frank.
adjective
- 1
Free; frank.
- 2
Generous; noble; excellent; beautiful; lovely.
Etymology
From Middle English frely, freelich, from Old English frēolīc (“free, freeborn, glorious, stately, magnificent, noble, beautiful, charming”), equivalent to free + -ly. Compare Middle Low German vrilik, vrigelik (“free”), Middle High German vrīlich (“free”).
adverb
- 1
In a free manner.
Wine was flowing freely.
- 2
Without interference or restriction.
talk freely
I found that the Chapelon steamed almost too freely, because on a strange locomotive and road one usually tends to overfire a little through a natural lack of confidence.
- 3
Of one's own free will.
I will freely help you.
Etymology
From Middle English frely, freliche, from Old English frēolīċe (“freely, readily, as a festival”), equivalent to free + -ly. Compare Dutch vrijelijk (“freely”), German freilich (“certainly, of course”).
Forms
- comparative
- freelier, more freely
- superlative
- freeliest, most freely