Dictionary

sheerly en · ADV

Etymology

From Middle English schyrly, equivalent to sheer + -ly.

Meanings

1. Absolutely; purely; quite.
   • On a sheerly technical plane, the projections used for the backgrounds were very effective, particularly in the third act, where a sunset faded most convincingly. 1988 October 21, George Grass, “WagnerVision”, in Chicago Reader:
   • It had amused the blind man to accept the invitation to give the annual Stalworthy lecture, as it frequently did amuse him to do unexpected things—sheerly to experience—but more than once before he was through the unentertaining business he cursed the moment of good-natured assent. 1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries:
2. At a very steep angle; precipitously.
   • The pit dropped sheerly from my feet, but a little way along, the rubbish afforded a practicable slope to the summit of the ruins. 1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 238:
3. (obsolete) At once.

Forms