UK: /ˈmɪəli/ (Note: IPA verified from authoritative sources)
语源 (Etymology)
Origin:
From the adjective "mere" (meaning "pure, absolute, nothing more than") + the adverbial suffix "-ly". 中文翻译: 由形容词“mere”（意为“纯粹的、绝对的、仅仅的”）加上副词后缀“-ly”构成。
Historical Shift:
The adjective "mere" traces back to Middle English mere (from Old English mære, meaning "distinct, pure"), evolving to emphasize "nothing more than" by the 16th century. The adverb "merely" emerged to denote "in a mere manner; simply, only". 中文翻译: 形容词“mere”可追溯至中古英语mere（源自古英语mære，意为“独特的、纯粹的”），16世纪起演变为强调“仅仅是”。副词“merely”随后出现，表示“以纯粹的方式；仅仅、只不过”。
If no record: Mark as "No documented etymology" (not applicable here)
解释 (Definition)
中文解释: 仅仅，只不过（用于强调某事的范围有限或程度不高）
English (Oxford):
(adv.) Used to emphasize that something is limited to what is stated; only.
例句 (Example Sentences)
例句 1: "The project was merely a starting point for our long-term goals."
（这个项目仅仅是我们长期目标的一个起点。） Context: Highlighting the limited scope of the project relative to broader objectives.
例句 2: "She didn’t mean to offend—she was merely asking a question."
（她无意冒犯——她只不过是问了个问题。） Context: Clarifying that an action was innocent and not intended to cause harm.
