1. In a manner that is certain; in a way that may be surely depended on; with certainty.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 16232 (Gött.). Gode men quat es þan ȝur dome, sais me sertainli [Cott. certanli].
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXIV. viii. Nor yet the handes fele nothyng certaynly.
1649. Bounds Publ. Obed., 17. Those things are certainlyer knowne to us as men, then what is of divine revelation and inference.
1793. Wollaston, in Phil. Trans., LXXXIII. 150. This was made more certainly steady.
1863. Fr. A. Kemble, Resid. in Georgia, 37. I can not ascertain very certainly.
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 44. The earliest tin coinage of which any thing is certainly known.
b. With certainty as to quality, amount, etc.; definitely, precisely, exactly. ? Obs.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 44. The Kyngs Werks [fortifications], of which the yerely Expensis may not certeynly be estemyd.
1588. Lambarde, Eiren., II. ii. 110. To take sufficient Suertie, in a summe certainly prescribed.
a. 1626. Bacon, Use Com. Law, 12. Except the punishment be certainly appointed by speciall Statutes.
2. Without fail, unfailingly, infallibly.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 9270 (Gött.). ‘Jesse,’ he said, ‘of his rotyng Certaynly a wand suld spring.’
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., i. 2 (Harl. MS.). If thou do not, certenly thy ymage shalle be smytene, and thou bothe.
1607. Hieron, Wks., I. 189. The Lord will … certenly recompence them their sinne into their bosome.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 155, ¶ 5. Merchants … who call in as certainly as they go to ’Change.
1813. Southey, March Moscow, 4. Morbleu! Parbleu! And he’ll certainly march to Moscow!
b. Fixedly, so as not to be altered.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., V. i. 37. Therefore are we certainly resolu’d, To draw conditions of a friendly peace.
1704. Rowe, Ulyss., V. i. 2041. ’Tis certainly decreed, Fix’d as that Law by which Imperial Jove Ordains … to Good or Evil.
3. With subjective certitude, with assurance, surely.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5834. And certainli þou vnderstand Al that þou draus vte o þat flod It sal be turnd al in-to blod.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xii. 483. How knowest thou this so certeinly?
1622. Sparrow, Bk. Com. Prayer (1661), 10. What he Commands he accepts most certainly.
c. 1680. Beveridge, Serm. (1729), I. 364. There is nothing that we know more certainly in this world, than that we know nothing certainly of the other, but what we are taught by God himself.
Mod. You ought not to speak so certainly about it.
4. Parenthetically, or as an assurance or admission of the truth of an assertion as a whole: Without doubt; in truth and fact; of a certainty; assuredly, undoubtedly, unquestionably. Certainly there are drawbacks = we may say certainly that, (or, it is certain that) there are drawbacks. Sometimes it expresses an admission of an opponent’s contention, to be followed by ‘but,’ etc. Often it conveys a strong assent or affirmative reply, as in ‘You were present?’ ‘Certainly.’ ‘Can you recommend him?’ ‘Certainly.’
a. 1300. Cursor M., 17495. Ȝa, sertainli, þat soth it es.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2653. But sertenli on boþe sides was slayn muche puple.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xxxi. 152. Ȝit was that schipe … Anoured with diuers iowellis certeinle.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. i. 126. Anthonio is certainely vndone.
1644. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 191. Snow … certainly rots, and bursts your early-set Anemonies.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 405, ¶ 3. If the Gods were to talk with Men, they would certainly speak in Plato’s Stile.
1752. Hume, Ess. & Treat. (1777), I. 91. Machiavel was certainly a great genius.
1781. Trial of Ld. G. Gordon, 8. One of Lord George’s Counsel applied to the Court … to permit the prisoner to sit down. Lord Mansfield answered, ‘Yes! Certainly!’
1801. Foster, in Life & Corr. (1846), I. 129. I have certainly learnt much.
1875. Jevons, Money (1878), 16. We might certainly employ one substance as a medium of exchange.
