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Added 9 October 2026

plainly

/ˈpleɪnli/ adverb

adverb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about plainly at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

In a plain manner; simply; basically.
She decorated the room plainly but neatly.
Obviously; clearly.
You will see that ours is plainly the better method.

Origin

From Middle English playnly, pleinly, pleyneliche, equivalent to plain + -ly.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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