airly
adv
1 in a fair manner; honestly 公平地; 公正地; 誠實地
You're not treating us fairly. 你對我們不公正.
2 (before adjs and advs 用於形容詞和副詞之前) to a certain extent; moderately 相當地; 適度地
This is a fairly easy book. 這是相當淺易的書.
We must leave fairly soon, ie before very long. 我們得快些離開.
3 completely; actually 完全地; 簡直
Her suggestion fairly took me by surprise. 她的建議真叫我大吃一驚.
I fairly jumped for joy. 我簡直高興得跳了起來.
The time fairly raced by. 時間過得真快.
4 (idm 習語) fairly and squarely = fair and square (fair2). fairly, NOTE ON USAGE 用法
The adverbs fairly, quite, rather and pretty can all mean `moderately', `to some extent' or `not very' and are used to alter the strength of adjectives and adverbs. *fairly、 quite、 rather、 pretty這幾個副詞均可表示`適度地'、 `在某種程度上'或`不很'的意思, 常用以改變所修飾的形容詞或副詞的分量. Fairly is the weakest and pretty the strongest and most informal, but their effect is very much influenced by intonation. *fairly詞義最弱而pretty詞義最強, 也最通俗, 但詞義的強弱受語調的影響很大. Generally, the more any of these adverbs is stressed, the more negative the sentence sounds. 一般說來, 這類副詞讀得越重, 句子聽起來否定含義就越強.
1 When rather or pretty is used with a positive quality, it can sound enthusiastic *rather或pretty與褒義詞連用時, 聽起來心情愉快
a rather/pretty good play 一出相 當好的戲. With a negative or variable quality they express disapproval 這兩個詞與貶義詞或可褒可貶的詞連用時, 表示不贊成或不滿意
rather/pretty poor work 相當差的工作
I'm rather/pretty warm. 我很熱.
It's rather/pretty small/big. 這可太小[大]了.
2 Fairly is mostly used with positive qualities *fairly多與褒義詞連用
fairly tidy, spacious, friendly, etc 挺整潔、 寬敞、熱情等 (compare 試比較
rather untidy, cramped, unfriendly, etc 很零亂、 狹窄、 冷淡等).
3 Only rather can be used with comparative expressions and too 只有rather可與比較級的詞語和too連用
The house is rather bigger than we thought. 這所房子比我們想的大得多.
These shoes are rather too small. 這雙鞋未免太小了.
4 Rather and quite can precede the indefinite article when followed by an adjective + noun *rather和quite與`不定冠詞+形容詞+名詞'連用時, 可置於不定冠詞之前
rather/quite a nice day 十分晴朗的一天
a rather/quite/fairly/pretty nice day 十分晴朗的一天. See also note on usage at quite 另見所附用法.