Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adverb In an inward manner; inwardly.
  • adverb With thorough knowledge or understanding.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Internally; inwardly; within; secretly.
  • Heartily; fully; hence, extremely.
  • Internal; inward.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb Internally; within; in the heart.
  • adjective Internal; interior; secret.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective obsolete Inward.
  • adverb Inwardly, within; internally; secretly.
  • adverb obsolete Heartily, completely, fully, thoroughly; extremely.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Old English inlic (adj), inlice (adv).

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word inly.

Examples

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • inwardly, fully, closely Old English

    January 3, 2008

  • These shall the fury Passions tear,

    The vultures of the mind,

    Disdainful Anger, pallid Fear,

    And Shame that skulks behind;

    Or pining Love shall waste their youth,

    Or Jealousy with rankling tooth

    That inly gnaws the secret heart,

    And Envy wan, and faded Care,

    Grim-visaged comfortless Despair,

    And Sorrow's piercing dart.

    - T. Gray, 'Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College'.

    September 17, 2008