Clerliche

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a clear, bright or plainly visible way ; in the manner of a learned scholar or a educated clerk
2. Plainly and distinctly, so that it can be easily seen or understood ; with the skill and learning expected of a scholar
3. Visibly and brightly, without any obscurity ; in a manner befitting a learned man of letters

Etymology: "Clerliche" is the Middle English adverb from "cler", meaning "clear" or "bright", with the adverbial ending "-liche" (a form of "-like", meaning "in the manner of"). So it literally means "in a clear manner." Its sense of "with scholarly learning" comes from the medieval association of clerks, the educated men who were mostly clergy and the only people who could read and write, so "clerly" could mean "as a learned clerk would do it." The word is attested in Middle English from the 14th century, when Chaucer and other writers used it. Its neighbour "clerk" comes from the same Old English and Latin root that gave us "clergy" and "clerical," and the sense of learning carried over from that world of church schools and scribes. Over time the adverb faded out of common use, and "clearly" took over its plain meaning, while "clerkly" survived for a while in the learned sense.