Chefly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a way befitting or characteristic of a chief or person in command
2. In the style or manner of someone holding a chief position or rank
3. In a way that shows the authority, bearing, or responsibility typical of someone in command

Etymology: "Chefly" is a rare word, and its history is simple: it is built from "chef," the French word for "chief" or "head," with the English suffix "-ly" added to it. The result is an adjective meaning in the manner of a chief or principal. Its unusual partner is "chiefly," which comes from the same root but has taken on the sense "mainly" or "for the most part." The two words are what linguists call a piecewise doublet, meaning they share a common origin but have diverged in parts of their form and meaning. "Chiefly" and "headly" are the other members of this family, all three drawing on the same idea of leadership or prominence. Because "chief" already supplied a ready-made adverb in "chiefly," "chefly" never became a common everyday word and remains a curiosity for readers who notice the family resemblance.