Summarily

adv. [f. SUMMARY a. + -LY².]

  1.  In a summary or compendious manner; chiefly of statement, in few words, compendiously, briefly.

1528.  More, Dyaloge, II. Wks. 178/1. This is of you verye well remembred and well and sommarily rehersed.

1561.  T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., III. 301. That which is summarily comprehended in this prayer.

1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, III. ix. (1634), 89. Of the warre betweene these brethren, and summarily of Artaxerxes, we shall haue occasion to speake.

1690.  C. Nesse, Hist. & Myst. O. & N. Test., I. 10. The idæa … of the great world … was … briefly and summarily expressed … in Man.

1726.  Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., I. 10/2. When we come to treat of that Subject … particularly, and not summarily.

1825.  Jefferson, Autobiog., Wks. 1859, I. 105. The Marquis introduced the objects of the conference, by summarily reminding them of the state of things in the Assembly.

1873.  Farrar, Fam. Speech, i. 7. It is rather my purpose in these Lectures summarily to sketch the broadest and most general results of linguistic inquiry.

  † b.  ellipt. To put it shortly, in sum. Obs.

1577.  trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 319. Now summarilie this precept doth commaunde vs, to vse our tongues well.

1585.  Let. Earle Leycester, 20. The reasons whereof, were summarily these that follow.

1638.  Rouse, Heav. Acad., ii. 17. The naturall understanding doth perceive them no better than the eare doth the reason of sounds, or the nose the reason of smels; and summarily, than the senses do the things of the second intention.

  2.  By summary legal procedure.

1530.  Palsgr., 842/1. Sommaryly and playnly, as judgementes somtyme be gyven, sommairement et de playn.

1540.  Act 32 Hen. VIII., c. 7 § 1. The … Judge … shall … procede … ordinarily or summarily according to … the said ecclesiasticall lawes.

1572–3.  Reg. Privy Council Scot., Ser. I. II. 195. That letters be direct be the Lordis of Counsale and Sessioun summarilie without ony calling.

1617.  Moryson, Itin., III. 241. In Iudgements they … vse to iudge summarily vpon oath.

a. 1722.  Fountainhall, Decis. (1759), I. 10. The Lords ordained an agent to be summarily examined upon a bill.

1726.  Ayliffe, Parergon, 152. When the Parties may proceed summarily, and they chuse the ordinary Way of Proceeding, the Cause is made Plenary.

1764.  Burn, Poor Laws, 289. He may be committed summarily to prison until he shall find sureties.

1826.  Bell, Comm. Laws Scot. (ed. 5), II. 481. It has been held … that restitution of goods in the hands of the trustee may be claimed summarily.

1896.  Daily Graphic, 10 Feb., 7/3. Every dog that is not … provided with a muzzle will be summarily dealt with by the law.

  3.  Without (unnecessary) formality or delay; without hesitation.

1621.  First & Sec. Bk. Discipl. Ch. Scot., Pref. Others … summarily deny, that ever this Kirk had any approved discipline.

1794.  R. J. Sullivan, View Nat., I. 48. Le Cat differed from his contemporary Voltaire, who very summarily gave these heaps of fossil shells to a less powerful cause.

1838.  Dickens, Nich. Nick., xv. Miss Morleena … was summarily caught up and kissed by Mr. Lillyvick.

1879.  Beerbohm, Patagonia, 3. While the captain was yet doubtful what course to take, the matter was summarily decided by the weather itself.

1886.  Manch. Exam., 2 Jan., 5/2. He summarily refused all redress.