finely

English

Etymology

From Middle English finely, fynely, fynly, fineliche, finliche, fynliche, equivalent to fine +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfaɪnli/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Homophone: finally (one pronunciation)

Adverb

finely (comparative finelier or more finely, superlative fineliest or most finely)

1. So as to produce a fine texture.

   Fledglings can only be fed finely chopped meat.

2. In a fine, handsome or attractive way; very well.
   • 1749, [John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC:

     This girl could not be above eighteen: her face regular and sweet-featur'd, her shape exquisite; nor could I help envying her two ripe enchanting breasts, finely plump'd out in flesh

   • 2018, William Gershom Collingwood, The Book of Coniston, page 8:

     Looking back, Yewdale Crag stands finely over the waterhead; Brantwood is opposite.

Derived terms

• lean finely textured beef
• overfinely

Translations

in a manner to produce a fine result

• Bulgarian: си́тно (bg) (sítno)
• Catalan: finament (ca)
• Czech: najemno, jemně (cs), nadrobno
• Hungarian: finoman (hu)
• Russian: ме́лко (ru) (mélko)

Anagrams

• Finley, lenify