dictionary definitions for "fairly"


From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:

  fairly
      adv 1: to a moderately sufficient extent or degree; "the shoes are
             priced reasonably"; "he is fairly clever with
             computers"; "they lived comfortably within reason"
             [syn: reasonably, moderately, within reason,
             somewhat, middling, passably] [ant:
             unreasonably]
      2: in a fair evenhanded manner; "deal fairly with one another"
         [syn: fair, without favoring one party, {without
         favouring one party}, evenhandedly]
      3: in conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or
         cheating; "they played fairly" [syn: fair, clean]
         [ant: unfairly]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Fairly \Fair"ly\, adv.
     1. In a fair manner; clearly; openly; plainly; fully;
        distinctly; frankly.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Even the nature of Mr. Dimmesdale's disease had
              never fairly been revealed to him.    --Hawthorne.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Favorably; auspiciously; commodiously; as, a town fairly
        situated for foreign trade.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Honestly; properly.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Such means of comfort or even luxury, as lay fairly
              within their grasp.                   --Hawthorne.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Softly; quietly; gently. [Obs.] --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]


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