fairly

Adverb

fairly (comparative more fairly or (archaic, rare) fairlier, superlative most fairly or (archaic, rare) fairliest)

1. In 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.

   Synonyms:

   justly, frankly, cleanly

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.1859, Alexander Easton, “Rules adopted by the Sixth Avenue Railway, N. Y.”, in A Practical Treatise on Street or Horse-Power Railways, page 108
4. Softly; quietly; gently.
5. (degree) 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...1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter III, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   somewhat, pretty, quite, relatively

6. (dated) Almost; 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.1834, Arthur Courtenay, Autobiography and Letters of Arthur Courtenay, page 36
   • 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.1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard
7. (archaic) Of handwriting: neatly and legibly.
   • That Pen, which now writes blottingly, might be well made at first, and will write fairly again […]1653, John Gauden, Hieraspistes, page 248
   • 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...1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author Permitted to See the Grand Academy of Lagado. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London...