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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

chiefly en · ADV · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • /ˈtʃiːf.li/ (UK)
  • (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English chefly; equivalent to chief + -ly (adverbial suffix).

Meanings

  1. (focus) Especially or primarily; above all.
    • This is a term chiefly used by online gamers.
    • But questions presisted^([sic]), chiefly because of the acknowledged and continuing Federal investigation of Mr. Mandel's wealthy friends, W. Dale Hess and Harry W. Rogers 3d, who have profited from business with the state. 1975 July 7, Ben A. Franklin, “MANDEL INQUIRY STIRS MARYLAND”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 24 Sep 2024:
    • Their relationship is chiefly professional.
  2. (focus) Mainly or principally; almost entirely.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
most chiefly Degree=Sup lexicographic
more chiefly Degree=Cmp lexicographic

Synonyms

by and large (almost entirely) · for the most part · largely · particularly · first and foremost (above all)

Translations (66)

bg главно (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · ru literary (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · hu főképpen (especially or primarily; above all) · uk головни́м чи́ном (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · pt especialmente (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · grc μάλιστα (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · ja 主に (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · sv huvudsakligen (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · hy հատկապես (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · nb for det meste (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · ca principalment (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · hy գլխավորապես (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · sv företrädesvis (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · ru пе́рвоочерёдно rare (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · sv i synnerhet (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · bg предимно (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · el κυρίως (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · fi pitkälti (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · ru glávnym óbrazom (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · pt principalmente (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · hu nagyrészt (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · it principalmente (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · da især (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · grc ὡς ἐπὶ τὸ πολύ (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · fi pääosin (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · uk в основно́му (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · hu főként (especially or primarily; above all) · eo ĉefe (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · hu főképp (especially or primarily; above all) · fr surtout (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · da navnlig (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · es mayormente (especially or primarily; above all) · cmn 主要地 (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · ro în principal (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · da primært (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · yi דער עיקר (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · ro mai cu seamă (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · ro mai ales (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · nb hovedsakelig (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · pl głównie (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · ko 주로 (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · uk в пе́ршу чергу́ (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · hu főleg (especially or primarily; above all) · pdt hauptsechlich (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · fi pääasiallisesti (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · de hauptsächlich (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · ru в пе́рвую о́чередь (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · fi pääasiassa (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · ru в основно́м (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · ja おもに (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · es máxime (especially or primarily; above all) · nb primært (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · fi etupäässä (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · cs hlavně (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · da hovedsagelig (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · fi eritoten (especially or primarily; above all) · sq kryesisht (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · hu jórészt (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · nl voornamelijk (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · oc principalament (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · ro îndeosebi (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · ar غَالِبًا (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · ru осо́бенно (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · pl przede wszystkim (especially or primarily; above all) · fi suurimmaksi osaksi (mainly or principally, almost entirely) · uk особли́во (mainly or principally, almost entirely)

chiefly en · ADJ · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • /ˈtʃiːf.li/ (UK)
  • (US) audio

Etymology

From chief + -ly (adjectival suffix). Piecewise doublet of chefly and headly.

Meanings

  1. Of or relating to a chief.
    • The maintenance of a perpetual fire came to be associated with chiefly or royal dignity. 1890, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 2, page 261:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
chiefliest Degree=Sup lexicographic
chieflier Degree=Cmp lexicographic

Deriveds

unchiefly