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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

freely en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • frē'lē (UK)
  • /ˈfɹiːli/ (UK)
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈfɹili/ (US)

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”).

Meanings

  1. Free; frank.
  2. Generous; noble; excellent; beautiful; lovely.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
more freely Degree=Cmp lexicographic
freeliest Degree=Sup lexicographic
most freely Degree=Sup lexicographic
frely alternative lexicographic
freelier Degree=Cmp lexicographic

Deriveds

unfreely

freely en · ADV · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • frē'lē (UK)
  • /ˈfɹiːli/ (UK)
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈfɹili/ (US)

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”).

Meanings

  1. In a free manner.
    • Wine was flowing freely.
  2. Without interference or restriction.
    • 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. 1961 February, ""Balmore"", “Driving and firing modern French steam locomotives - Part One”, in Trains Illustrated, page 110:
    • talk freely
  3. Of one's own free will.
    • I will freely help you.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
freelier Degree=Cmp lexicographic
freeliest Degree=Sup lexicographic
more freely Degree=Cmp lexicographic
most freely Degree=Sup lexicographic

Deriveds

breathe freely

Relateds

at will · openly · costlessly · frankly

Translations (32)

es a sus anchos (2. without interference or restriction) · fr librement (1. in a free manner) · fi vapaasti (2. without interference or restriction) · bg свободно (1. in a free manner) · es libremente (1. in a free manner) · uk ві́льно (1. in a free manner) · et vabalt (1. in a free manner) · pl do woli (1. in a free manner) · fi vapaasti (1. in a free manner) · ca lliurement (2. without interference or restriction) · gl libremente (1. in a free manner) · pt livremente (1. in a free manner) · el ελεύθερα (2. without interference or restriction) · uk ві́льно (2. without interference or restriction) · la līberē (1. in a free manner) · ang frēoliċe (1. in a free manner) · grc ἀνέδην (2. without interference or restriction) · eo laŭvole (1. in a free manner) · la spontē (1. in a free manner) · et vabalt (2. without interference or restriction) · de frei (1. in a free manner) · la līberē (2. without interference or restriction) · it liberamente (1. in a free manner) · ca lliurement (1. in a free manner) · pl swobodnie (1. in a free manner) · lt laisvai (1. in a free manner) · te ఉచితముగా (1. in a free manner) · ru свобо́дно (1. in a free manner) · es a sus anchas (2. without interference or restriction) · ru во́льно (1. in a free manner) · eo libere (2. without interference or restriction) · el ελεύθερα (1. in a free manner)