Merely vs Virtually - What's the difference?
merely | virtually |
(obsolete) Wholly, entirely.
* 1644 , (John Milton), Aeropagitica :
(focus) Without any other reason etc.; only, just, and nothing more.
Almost but not quite.
*
*{{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-06, volume=408, issue=8843, page=68, magazine=(The Economist)
, title= Without exaggeration.
In essence, but not in fact.
(algebra) Of a substructure of finite index.
(topology) Of a covering space of finite index.
As adverbs the difference between merely and virtually
is that merely is (obsolete) wholly, entirely while virtually is almost but not quite.merely
English
Adverb
(-)- It is not forgot, since the acute and distinct Arminius'' was perverted meerly by the perusing of a namelesse discourse writt'n at ''Delf , which at first he took in hand to confute.
Statistics
*virtually
English
Adverb
(en adverb)The rise of smart beta, passage=Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return.}}