Tolerably

adv. [f. TOLERABLE + -LY².] In a tolerable manner or way.

  1.  In a way that may be borne, endured, or permitted; bearably, supportably; allowably, permissibly.

1580.  Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Passablement, tollerably, that may be borne withall.

1586.  W. Webbe, Eng. Poetrie (Arb.), 65. What wordes may tollerably be placed in Ryme, and what not.

1597.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lviii. § 4. It may be tollerably giuen without them rather then any man without it should … depart this life.

1643.  Milton, Divorce, II. viii. Wks. 1851, IV. 81. He might dismisse her whom he could not tolerably and so not conscionably retain.

  2.  In a moderate or passable degree; passably, moderately, fairly, pretty well.

1485.  Caxton, Paris & V., Prol. (1868), 12. The matter is reasonable and tolerably credible.

1602.  Marston, Ant. & Mel., Induct. Ha! ha! ha! tolerably good; good faith, sweet wag.

1695.  Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, III. i. (1723), 148. Bodyes that are still tolerably firm.

1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 275, ¶ 10. [He] had acquitted himself tolerably at a Ball or an Assembly.

1799.  Ht. Lee, Canterb, T., Frenchm. T. (ed. 2), I. 198. She had made rapid strides too in her education; she wrote tolerably.

1815.  J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 708. It will be easy to form a tolerably correct idea of the perspective appearance of any object.

1843.  Ruskin, Mod. Paint. (1848), I. II. I. vii. § 18. 93. He painted everything tolerably, and nothing excellently.

1894.  Ld. Watson, in Law Times Rep., LXXI. 103/1. Two things appear to their Lordships to be tolerably certain.

  b.  pred. Moderately well in health; pretty well. colloq. and dial.

1778.  in Mme. D’Arblay’s Early Diary (1889), II. 241. He is tolerably to-day.