chiefly

adv, adj — 3 senses

chiefly

adv

UK /ˈtʃiːf.li/

Etymology From Middle English chefly; equivalent to chief + -ly (adverbial suffix).

1

Focus Especially or primarily; above all.

Their relationship is chiefly professional.
This is a term chiefly used by online gamers.

1 more example

But questions presisted^([sic]), chiefly because of the acknowledged and continuing Federal investigation of Mr. Mandel's wealthy friends, W. Dale Hess and Harry W. Rogers 3d, who have profited from business with the state.1975 July 7, Ben A. Franklin, “MANDEL INQUIRY STIRS MARYLAND”, in The New York Times:

2

Focus Mainly or principally; almost entirely.

Synonyms: first and foremost, particularly, by and large, for the most part, largely

chiefly

adj

Etymology From chief + -ly (adjectival suffix). Piecewise doublet of chefly and headly.

1

Of or relating to a chief.

The maintenance of a perpetual fire came to be associated with chiefly or royal dignity.1890, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 2, page 261:

Derived terms: unchiefly

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.