Langimage
English

purely

|pure-ly|

B2

🇺🇸

/ˈpjʊrli/

🇬🇧

/ˈpjʊəli/

(pure)

clean and unadulterated

Base FormComparativeSuperlativeNoun
purepurerpurestpurity
Etymology
Etymology Information

'purely' originates from the word 'pure,' which comes from Latin 'purus,' meaning 'clean, clear, unadulterated.'

Historical Evolution

'pure' transformed from the Old French word 'pur,' and eventually became the modern English word 'pure' through Middle English.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'clean or clear,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'without mixture or solely.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adverb 1

in a pure manner; without any mixture or adulteration.

The water was purely distilled.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Adverb 2

solely or exclusively.

The decision was made purely for financial reasons.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/31 15:21