freely
advEtymology From Middle English frely, freliche, from Old English frēolīċe (“freely, readily, as a festival”), equivalent to free + -ly. Compare Dutch vrijelijk (“freely”), German freilich (“certainly, of course”).
1
In a free manner.
- Wine was flowing freely.
2
Without interference or restriction.
- talk freely
- I found that the Chapelon steamed almost too freely, because on a strange locomotive and road one usually tends to overfire a little through a natural lack of confidence.1961 February, ""Balmore"", “Driving and firing modern French steam locomotives - Part One”, in Trains Illustrated, page 110:
3
Of one's own free will.
- I will freely help you.
- Derived terms
- breathe freely
- Related terms
- at will, frankly, openly, costlessly