namely
adverbadjectiveattested in dialogue
- //ˈneɪmli//
Specifically; that is to say.
adverb
- 1
Specifically; that is to say.
Some of the students — namely Paul, Alice and Jake — seem to have trouble with geometry.
There are three ways to do it, namely the right way, the wrong way and the Army way.
“The story of this adoption is, of course, the pivot round which all the circumstances of the mysterious tragedy revolved. Mrs. Yule had an only son, namely, William, to whom she was passionately attached ; but, like many a fond mother, she had the desire of mapping out that son's future entirely according to her own ideas.[…].
- 2
archaicEspecially, above all.
THus was sir Tramtryst longe there wel cherysshed / with the kynge and the quene / and namely with la beale Isoud / So vpon a daye / the quene and la beale Isoud made a bayne for syre Tramtryst / And whan he was in his bayne / the quene and Isoud her doughter romed vp & doune in the chamber
Etymology
From Middle English namely, nameliche, namelike, equivalent to name + -ly. Cognate with Saterland Frisian nämmelk, West Frisian nammentlik, Dutch namelijk, German Low German nämlich, German nämlich, Danish nemlig, Swedish nämligen, Icelandic nefnilega.
adjective
- 1
Notable, distinguished; famous, renowned; well-known.
[…] and certainly there was no namelier king in Scotland for building churches and developing the communities of the land into free towns or burghs.
Etymology
From Middle English namely, namly, equivalent to name + -ly.
Forms
- comparative
- more namely, namelier
- superlative
- most namely, nameliest