finely

English

Etymology

FromMiddle Englishfinely,fynely,fynly,fineliche,finliche,fynliche,equivalent tofine+‎-ly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):/ˈfaɪnli/

• Audio(US):

  (file)

• Homophone:finally(one pronunciation)

Adverb

finely(comparativefinelierormorefinely,superlativefineliestormostfinely)

1. So as to produce afinetexture.

   Fledglings can only be fedfinelychopped meat.

2. In a fine, handsome or attractive way; very well.
   • 1749,[John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”,inMemoirs of a Woman of Pleasure[Fanny Hill], London:[…][Thomas Parker]for G. Fenton [i.e.,Fenton andRalph Griffiths][…],→OCLC:

     This girl could not be above eighteen: her face regular and sweet-featur'd, her shape exquisite; nor could I help envying her two ripe enchanting breasts,finelyplump'd out in flesh

   • 2018,William Gershom Collingwood,The Book of Coniston,page 8:

     Looking back, Yewdale Crag standsfinelyover the waterhead; Brantwood is opposite.

Derived terms

• lean finely textured beef
• overfinely

Translations

in a manner to produce a fine result

• Bulgarian:си́тно(bg)(sítno)
• Catalan:finament(ca)
• Czech:najemno,jemně(cs),nadrobno
• Hungarian:finoman(hu)
• Russian:ме́лко(ru)(mélko)

Anagrams

• Finley,lenify