different between certainly vs truly

English

Etymology

certain +? -ly

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?s??n?li/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?s??tn?li/

Adverb

certainly (comparative more certainly, superlative most certainly)

1. In a way which is certain; with certainty.
   • , I.iii.2.2:

     he verily thought he had young live frogs in his belly, qui vivebant ex alimento suo, that lived by his nourishment, and was so certainly persuaded of it, that for many years following he could not be rectified in his conceit.

2. Without doubt, surely.

   • So this was my future home, I thought! Certainly it made a brave picture. I had seen similar ones fired-in on many a Heidelberg stein. Backed by towering hills, […] a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.
3. An emphatic affirmative answer; of course.

Synonyms

• (with certainty): absolutely, beyond doubt, indubitably, sure thing, undoubtedly, wis (obsolete), without a doubt
• (without doubt): definitely, doubtlessly, in fact, indeed, indisputably, indubitably, no doubt, really, sure, surely, truly, undoubtedly, unquestionably, wis (obsolete), without a doubt
• (emphatic affirmative): damn right, damn straight, fo shizzle, for sure, oh yeah, wye aye (dialect)

Coordinate terms

• maybe, possibly, arguably, questionably, probably, perhaps

Derived terms

• soitenly

Translations

References

• certainly in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• certainly in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

English

Alternative forms

• trooly (obsolete)
• truely (archaic)
• trully (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English truely, treuly, treuli, trewely, treoweliche, treowliche, from Old English tr?owl??e (“faithfully; truly”), equivalent to true +? -ly. Cognate with Dutch trouwelijk, Middle Low German truwlike, German treulich, Swedish trolig, Icelandic trygglega.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?t?u?li/
• Rhymes: -u?li

Adverb

truly (comparative trulier or more truly, superlative truliest or most truly)

1. (manner) In accordance with the facts; truthfully, accurately.
   • 1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.27:

     He adds, very truly, that what was fatal to such philosophies as his was not Christianity but the Copernican theory.

2. (modal) Honestly, genuinely, in fact, really.

   That is truly all I know.

   Truly, that is all I know.

3. (degree) Very.

   You are truly silly.

Synonyms

• (truthfully, accurately): frankly, sincerely; see also Thesaurus:honestly
• (in fact, really): in point of fact, literally; see also Thesaurus:actually
• (very): extremely, exceedingly; see also Thesaurus:very

Derived terms

• untruly
• well and truly

Translations

Anagrams

• Lurty