adv. In 4 agreablely. [f. AGREEABLE + -LY2.] In an agreeable manner.
1. In a way that pleases, or suits the inclination; pleasantly.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boethius, 43. With hem þat euery fortune receyuen agreablely or egally.
1597–8. Bacon, Ess. (Arb.), 20/1. To speake agreeably to him with whome we deale.
1740–61. Mrs. Delany, Life & Corr. (1861), III. 300. I spent an hour and a half very agreeably.
1842. Macaulay, Lays (1864), Pref. 25. He … tells very agreeably the stories of Elfleda and Elfrida.
2. In a manner suiting, corresponding, or answering to; in conformity or accordance with.
1461. Paston Lett., 407, II. 34. A signement sufficient to hem aggreabili for the seid payment.
1611. Bible, 1 Esdr. viii. 12. Agreeably to that which is in the Law of the Lord.
a. 1745. Swift, Wks., II. 28. Men should act agreeably to the motive of that respect.
1769. Robertson, Chas. V., III. X. 252. Agreeably to the manifesto which he had published.
1837. J. H. Newman, Proph. Off. Church, 108. Agreeably with this anticipation, the Church of Rome … is led to profess to know not only infallibly but completely.
† b. without to: (a) In a way that corresponds to something else; correspondingly, conformably. (b) In ways that correspond to each other, in the same way, uniformly, similarly. Obs.
1561. J. Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apocal. (1573), 91/b. The Scripture euery where agreeably witnesseth, that the Saintes in heauen are free from grefes.
1563. Homilies, II. (1859), 421. And St. Peter most agreeably writing in this behalf saith.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. vii. 3. Two Knights … The which were armed both agreeably.
1659. Hammond, On Ps., 2. And agreeably the fiftieth Psalm inscribed to Asaph.
1718. J. Chamberlayne, Relig. Philos., II. xxii. § 28. Another experiment proved the same no less agreeably.
† c. In a way that answers to circumstances or the nature of things; suitably, fittingly. Obs.
1754. Richardson, Grandison, II. xxix. 269. I was shy of forcing an opportunity, as none agreeably offered.
