Inherited fromMiddle Englishrichely, fromOld Englishrīċlīċe, fromProto-West Germanic*rīkīlīkō, fromProto-Germanic*rīkijalīkô; bysurface analysis,rich +-ly(adverbial suffix).
richly (comparativerichlierormorerichly,superlativerichliestormostrichly)
- In aluxurious manner; full ofmajesty orexpression:
- In anattractive or manner; full ofcolour ordetail.
1918,W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter II, inThe Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.:The Bobbs-Merrill Company,→OCLC:She was a fat, round little woman,richly apparelled in velvet and lace,[…]; and the way she laughed, cackling like a hen, the way she talked to the waiters and the maid, […]—all these unexpected phenomena impelled one to hysterical mirth, and made one class her with such immortally ludicrous types as Ally Sloper, the Widow Twankey, or Miss Moucher.
- In a manner thatoccupies the non-visualsenses;flavourfully,deeply.
- (of a marriage) Doneadvantageously, done as to bewealthy.
- Thoroughly,totally; in anample manner.
arichly deserved comeuppance
Some adjectives commonly collocating with richly
- richly deserved
- richly rewarding
of a marriage: advantageous
