| 释义 |
ˈcasually, adv.
Also 4–5 casuelly, 5 caswelly.
[f. casual + -ly2.]
1. By chance; accidentally.
c1384Chaucer H. Fame 679 And moo loves casuelly That betyde no man wote why. 1447O. Bokenham Seyntys (1835) 174 He homward ayen..Hys journe took, and caswelly To the hyl he neyhyd. 1539Act 31 Hen. VIII, xii, By chance negligently or casually. 1658Sir T. Browne Hydriot. ii. 9 The Monument of Childerick..casually discovered three years past. 1667Boyle Orig. Formes & Qual. 4 That Matter barely put into Motion, and then left to itself should Casually constitute this beautiful and orderly world. 1691Ray Creation i. (1704) 102 If the Clouds moved casually.
†b. Accidentally (= by a mischance). Obs.
c1386Chaucer Nun's Pr. T. 281 Casuelly the schippes bothom rent. 1576Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 151 In a fire that casuallie consumed the Popes owne chamber. 1678Wanley Wond. Lit. World v. ii. §38 Basilius..was..casually killed by a Stag.
2. Without design or previous intention; as it happens or happened; by mere chance.
1547Boorde Introd. Knowl. 205 Casually going over the bredge..I dyd mete with ix Englyshe..parsons. 1627Lisander & Cal. ii. 24 With whom Lisander casually being. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. (1702) I. iv. 294 All men, who..had been casually present in the Hall. 1823Lamb Elia Ser. ii. (1865) 246 He casually looketh in about dinner-time.
3. Incidentally, by the way, in a chance way.
1697Snake in Grass (ed. 2) 366 The Joint Answers of the Quakes..is not only Casually mention'd, but particularly insisted upon. 1794Paley Evid. i. iii. (1817) 53 Grounds of argument..casually and undesignedly disclosed. 1855Bain Senses & Int. iii. ii. §14 A word casually spoken..will often revive a stream of recollections. 1862Stanley Jew. Ch. (1877) I. xvii. 328 Shiloh is casually mentioned.
¶ ? Causally.
1661Bramhall Just Vind. i. 5 The Papacy..is become..in a great part actually, and altogether casually, guilty..of..all the greater schismes in Christendome. |
