confusedly meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

confusedly

adv

UK /kənˈfjuːzɪdli/ · US /kənˈfjuzɪdli/

Etymology From confused + -ly.

In a confused manner.

He wanted Pikes to ſet before his Archers: / Inſtead whereof, ſharpe Stakes pluckt out of Hedges / They pitched in the ground confuſedly, / To keepe the Horſemen off, from breaking in.1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 97, column 1:
Iohnson [i.e., Ben Jonson] they say 's turned Epigrammatist, / Soe think not I, believe it they that list. / Peruse his booke, thou shalt not find a dram / Of witt befitting a true Epigram. / Perhaps some scraps of play-bookes thou maist see, / Collected heer & there confusedlie, / Which piece his broken stuffe; if thou but note, / Iust like soe many patches on a cote.1614–1616, R. C., “Scribimus indocti doctique epigrammata passim”, in J[oseph] M[eadows] Cowper, editor, The Times’ Whistle: Or A Newe Daunce of Seven Satires, and Other Poems: … Now First Edited from MS. Y. 8. 3. in the Library of Canterbury Cathedral; […], London: Published for the Early English Text Society, by N[icholas] Trübner & Co., […], published 1871, →OCLC, part II (Certaine Poems, Comprising Things Naturall, Morrall, & Theologicall), page 132, lines 1–7:

4 more examples

Now ye have the Kingis letter and this ſupplicatioun both coppeit; read and conſidder both the ane and the uther, with the Counſallis anſuer ſent to the ſaid ſupplicatioun, quhilk is ſo ſtrangelie and confuſedlie ſet down that I can not wnderſtand the ſamen perfectlie weill.1642, John Spalding, edited by James Skene, The History of the Troubles and Memorable Transactions in Scotland and England, from M.DC.XXIV. to M.DC.XLV. … In Two Volumes (Publications; no. 25), volume II, printed at Edinburgh: Bannatyne Club; printed by Ballantyne and Co., published 1829, page 51:
After the prayer, Mr. Byfield the ſcribe, reads the propoſition and the Scriptures, whereupon the Aſſemblie debates in a moſt grave and orderlie way. No man is called up to ſpeak; bot who ſtands up of his own accord, he ſpeaks ſo long as he will without interruption. If two or three ſtand up at once, then the divines confuſedlie calls on his name whom they deſyre to hear firſt: On whom the loudeſt and manieſt voices calls, he ſpeaks.1643 December 16, R. Baylie [i.e., Robert Baillie], “[Letter to Mr. William Spang, 7 December 1643 [Julian calendar]]”, in The Letters and Journals of Robert Baillie, A.M. Principal of the University of Glasgow. M.DC.XXXVII.–M.DC.LXII. In Three Volumes (Publications; no. 73), volume II, Edinburgh: Bannatyne Club; [printed by Alexander Lawrie & Co. […]], published 1841, →OCLC, pages 108–109:
A Svveet diſorder in the dreſſe / Kindles in cloathes a vvantonneſſe: / […] / A Cuffe neglectfull, and thereby / Ribbands to flovv confuſedly: / […] / Do more bevvitch me, than vvhen Art / Is too preciſe in every part.1648, Robert Herrick, “Delight in Disorder”, in Hesperides: Or, The Works both Humane & Divine […], London: […] John Williams, and Francis Eglesfield, and are to be sold by Tho[mas] Hunt, […], →OCLC, page 29:
The womb of Nature, and perhaps her Grave, / Of neither Sea, nor Shore, nor Air, nor Fire, / But all theſe in their pregnant cauſes mixt / Confus’dly, and which thus muſt ever fight, [...]1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 911–914:

Related terms: confusingly, confusion