核心畫面

Start from fair: everyone gets their proper share, nothing tipped one way. Doing something fairly is acting by that even measure. And an even measure is also a one — neither too little nor too much — which is how the same word came to mean 'a decent amount, but not a lot'.

可以想成:從 fair 出發——每個人拿到自己該有的份,天平不偏。fairly 做事就是照這把「公道的尺」來。有趣的更多收起可以想成:從 fair 出發——每個人拿到自己該有的份,天平不偏。fairly 做事就是照這把「公道的尺」來。有趣的是,公道的量往往也就是中間的量:不多不少、剛剛好,所以同一個字後來也用來表示程度「還算多,但沒有很多」。這兩個用法在句子裡的位置不一樣,通常不會搞混:修飾形容詞的是程度,修飾動作的是公平。

From the picture

程度落在中間

公道的份量往往就是中間的份量:不偏多也不偏少。這把尺被拿去量程度時,就成了「還算…,但沒到很…」。

moderately · r · B1

used before an adjective or adverb to mean 'more than a little, but not very'.

相當;還算

Also in this word

in a fair way · r · B1

in a way that is fair, honest, and treats everyone equally.

公平地

原始詞典資料7 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法,原文照列,我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的;有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

fairlyadv/ˈfɛə.li/

  • 1

    mannerIn a fair manner; fair; not biased or skewed or favouring a certain party

    • A jury is expected to ensure that the accused is fairly judged.
  • 2

    Favorably; auspiciously; commodiously.

    • a town fairly situated for foreign trade
  • 3

    Honestly; properly.

    • Consumer laws aim to have consumers fairly treated.
    • 10. You will be civil and attentive to passengers, giving proper assistance to ladies and children getting in or out, and never start the car before passengers are fairly received or landed.
  • 4

    Softly; quietly; gently.

  • 5

    Partly, not fully; somewhat.

    • The weather this weekend will be fairly dry.
    • My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out. Clams was fairly scarce over that side of the bay and ought to fetch a fair price.
  • 6

    datedAlmost; practically.

    • We quadrilled, waltzed, and conversed, in all of which my clever partner excelled; and her charms, combined with the excellent champagne I imbibed, fairly dazzled my imagination.
    • Betty grew so nervous and frightened, that she fairly bawled to her colleague, Moggy, and told her she would not stay in the room unless she sat up all night with her.
  • 7

    archaicOf handwriting: neatly and legibly.

    • That Pen, which now writes blottingly, might be well made at first, and will write fairly again […]
    • I was at the Mathematical School, where the Maſter taught his Pupils after a Method ſcarce imaginable to us in Europe. The Propoſition and Demonſtration were fairly written on a thin Wafer, with Ink compoſed of a Cephalick Tincture. This the Student was to ſwallow upon a faſting Stomach, and for three days following eat nothing but Bread and Water. As the Wafer digeſted, the Tincture mounted to his Brain, bearing the Propoſition along with it.

資料來源:英文維基詞典 English WiktionaryCC BY-SA 4.0)。 原文照列,未經改寫。