squarely
|square/ly|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈskwɛrli/
🇬🇧
/ˈskweəli/
(square)
four equal sides
Etymology
Etymology Information
'squarely' originates from the word 'square', which comes from Old French 'esquarre', meaning 'a tool for measuring right angles'.
Historical Evolution
'esquarre' transformed into the Middle English word 'square', and eventually became the modern English word 'squarely'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'in a square manner', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'directly' or 'honestly'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a straightforward or honest manner.
He looked her squarely in the eye and told the truth.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adverb 2
directly or exactly in a particular position.
The ball hit him squarely on the head.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45