Lineally

adv. (Forms as in LINEAL.) [f. LINEAL a. + -LY².]

  1.  In the direct line of descent; by lineal descent.

1426.  Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 1121. Folwyng doun of a kynrede Lynealy, fro gre to gre.

1466.  Edw. IV., in Paston Lett., II. 282. Gentlemen descended lineally of worshipfull blood.

1534.  More, On the Passion, Wks. 1293/2. Moyses gaue theym warning of Christ, that he should be a verye man, comming liniallye of one of theyr owne tribes.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., III. ix. 38. From whose race of old She heard that she was lineally extract.

1631.  Heywood, Lond. Jus Hon., Wks. 1874, IV. 277. Shee was lineally descended from the Roman Emperours.

1779.  F. Hervey, Nav. Hist., II. III. 138. From Sir Thomas Monson … are lineally descended the two noble families of Monson and Sondes.

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), III. 421. None but those who are lineally descended from him can derive a title to it by descent.

  transf.  a. 1619.  Fotherby, Atheom., II. ix. § 3 (1622), 296. All those so largely extended lines,… doe lineally descend from one onely prick.

  2.  In a line; in a direct line. Now rare.

1536.  in Laing Charters (1899), 108. Fra the Blakwell and craig lynallie north.

1597.  A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 6/2. Commonlye, shotten woundes doe not enter right, or liniallye into the bodye, but turninge.

1607.  in Stonehouse, Axholme (1839), 404. The Lord may at his pleasure drive, as is accustomed, from Dirkness Crook lineally to Callendike.

1610.  Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, 127. The shade of the earth falling from y^e suns place lineally upon the moone.

1827.  Chron., in Ann. Reg., 169/2. Ten feet lineally from east to west.

1854.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XV. I. 43. The sources of the Nene are two springs … about 70 miles lineally distant from its mouth.

  3.  In various occasional uses: † a. By means of lines; graphically. b. With regard to the lines or outline of anything. c. Line for line.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 264. Amazed at the admirable frame of giants which were lineally deciphered therein.

1647.  Ward, Simp. Cobler, 52. The Essentialls … must … be … lineally sanctioned by Supreme Councels.

1753.  Hogarth, Anal. Beauty, ix. 50. We may … lineally account for the ugliness of the toad, the hog, the bear and the spider, which are totally void of this waving-line. Ibid., xvii. 238. If stage-action … was to be studied lineally, it might [etc.].

1879.  Sala, in Daily Tel., 26 June, 5/5. The old structure [Blackfriars bridge] designed by Mylne … was not, lineally, unhandsome.

1887.  Bowen, Virg., Pref. (1889), 7. Virgil ought to be translated more or less lineally, as well as literally.