in fine

See also: infine

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin in fine.

Adverb

in fine

1. (archaic) Ultimately, in the end; in conclusion.
   • 1749, John Cleland, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, Penguin, published 1985, page 66:

     Presently, when they had exchanged a few kisses, and questions in broken English on one side, he began to unbutton, and, in fine, stripped into his shirt.

   • 1780, Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Article I:

     All men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential, and unalienable rights; among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties; that of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property; in fine, that of seeking and obtaining their safety and happiness.

   • 1843, Thomas Carlyle, “III, The One Institution”, in Past and Present, book 4:

     Then again, why should there not be an ‘Emigration Service,’ and Secretary, with adjuncts, with funds, forces, idle Navy-ships, and ever-increasing apparatus; in fine an effective system of Emigration; […]

   • 1897, Edwin Arlington Robinson, Richard Cory:

     “In fine, we thought that he was everything / To make us wish that we were in his place.”

   • 1911, Max Beerbohm, Zuleika Dobson:

     “My temper is sweet, and my character without blemish. In fine, Miss Dobson, I am a most desirable parti.”

   • 1961, “Trouble In The Amen Corner”, performed by Jim Reeves:

     […] the church was told in fine that Brother Ayer must stop his singing […]

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:finally

Anagrams

• Finnie

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /in fi.ne/

• Audio

  (file)

Adverb

in fine

1. (formal, finance) ultimately, in the end

Further reading

• “in fine”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.