Dictionary

inly en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈɪnli/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English inly, from Old English inlīc (“inner, inward”), equivalent to in + -ly.

Meanings

1. (obsolete) Inward; interior; secret.
   • Didst thou but know the inly touch of love Thou wouldst as soon go kindle fire with snow As seek to quench the fire of love with words. c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vii]:

Forms

inly en · ADV · etymology 2

Etymology

From Middle English inly, inliche, from Old English inlīċe (“inwardly”), equivalent to in + -ly.

Meanings

1. (archaic) Inwardly, within; internally; secretly.
   • What mortal, when he saw, / Life's voyage done, his heavenly Friend, / Could ever yet dare tell him fearlessly: / 'I have kept uninfring'd my nature's law; / The inly-written chart thou gavest me / To guide me, I have steer'd by to the end'? 1852, Matthew Arnold, “Human Life”, in The Poems of Matthew Arnold, 1840-1867, Oxford University Press, published 1909, lines 1–6:
   • Thus tempted, the lust to avenge me / Germed inly and grew. 1909, Thomas Hardy, “The Flirt's Tragedy”, in Time's Laughingstocks and Other Verses, London: Macmillan & Co., published 1928:
   • A mighty forest inly smokes and smoulders before it bursts into a conflagration: 1914, Rabindranath Tagore, The King of the Dark Chamber, New York: Macmillan, page 132:
   • His offering soon propitious fire from heaven / Consumed with nimble glance, and grateful steam; / The other's not, for his was not sincere; / Whereat he inly raged, 1667, John Milton, “Book XI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 441–444:
   • I have inly wept, Or should have spoke ere this. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
   • His heart inly relented,—there was a conflict,—but sin got the victory, and he set all the force of his rough nature against the conviction of his conscience. 1851 June – 1852 April, Harriet Beecher Stowe, “35”, in Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, Life among the Lowly, volume II, Boston, Mass.: John P[unchard] Jewett & Company; Cleveland, Oh.: Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, published 20 March 1852, →OCLC:
   • Thou hidden love of God, whose height, / Whose depth unfathom'd no man knows; I see from far they beauteous light, / Inly I sigh for thy repose: 1738, Paul Gerhardt, “Thou Hidden Love of God”, in John Wesley, transl., The Wesleyan Methodist Hymn Book, London, published 1869, page 325:
2. (obsolete) Heartily, completely, fully, thoroughly; extremely.
   • Ne was their salue, ne was their medicine, / That mote recure their wounds: so inly they did tine. 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:

Forms