all hollow

He was beat all hollow, i.e. he had no chance of conquering.
It was all hollow, or a hollow thing, it was a decided thing from the beginning.


evilly

en-adv

evilly (comparative more evilly, superlative most evilly)

more evilly (comparative)
most evilly (superlative)

From evil + -ly, replacing earlier evil (“evilly”).

He grinned evilly around and then pushed his way to the back of the crowd.

1966, James Workman, The Mad Emperor, Melbourne, Sydney: Scripts, page 63:


drop dead

Compare Dutch doodvallen and the expletive "val dood!".

Let's suppose your personality was only a manifestation of the id and you saw a drop dead gorgeous man that really tripped your trigger. Spurred on by your id, you would run up to him and immediately engage him in a sexual encounter.

1992, Gigi Moers, How and Why Lovers Cheat: And What You Can Do about It, page 96:


hand over fist

Related to earlier hand over hand, this phrase originally referred to a speedy method of climbing up or hauling on a rope.

to make money hand over fist

Are you coming over again to see me some day soon? I keep returning, and now hand over fist, from the realms of Hades: I saw that gentleman between the eyes, and fear him less after each visit.

1880, Robert Louis Stevenson, “chapter 4”, in The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson, volume I:

Now, since cattle had risen and meat and all to such a price, he was making money hand over fist.

1888, Rolf Boldrewood, “chapter 39”, in Robbery Under Arms:

He was a live man and a brisk talker, and had two journeymen and three apprentices, and was doing a raging business. In fact, he was getting rich, hand over fist, and was vastly respected.

1889, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, New York, N.Y.: Charles L. Webster & Company, →OCLC:

Why, those Dalmatians are showing Pajaro apples on the South African market right now, and coining money out of it hand over fist.

1913 October, Jack London, The Valley of the Moon, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company, →OCLC:

Now we are in the War and our business is booming, we are making money hand over fist.

1917, Upton Sinclair, The Profits of Religion […] :

Still it’s the same fish perhaps old Micky Hanlon of Moore street ripped the guts out of making money hand over fist finger in fishes’ gills can’t write his name on a cheque think he was painting the landscape with his mouth twisted.

1922 February, James Joyce, “[8]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:

And while pulling in dollars hand over fist might have some educational value, I doubt it's what Congress had in mind.

2009 June 3, Conor Clarke, “It's Time to Tax College Sports”, in The Atlantic:

(idiomatic) Quickly or in great quantity, especially in reference to earning money.


sam

From Middle English sām (“together”), from Old English samen (“together”), from Proto-West Germanic *saman, from Proto-Germanic *samanai (“together”), from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“together, one”).

inh

Now are they saints all in that city sam.

1590, Edmund Spenser, “(please specify the book)”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:

All Sam the souldiers then replied.


bass-ackwards

en-adv

bass-ackwards (comparative more bass-ackwards, superlative most bass-ackwards)

more bass-ackwards (comparative)
most bass-ackwards (superlative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-bass-ackwards.wav

What do you expect? They did the job bass-ackwards.

It’s certainly not helped by the bass-ackwards direction of team director Walter Godefroot. The man never met talent he couldn’t squander.

2005, Joe Lindsey, “What's with T-Mobile”, in Tour de France News:

(idiomatic, informal, euphemistic) Spoonerism of ass-backwards


funnily

funnily (comparative more funnily, superlative most funnily)

more funnily (comparative)
most funnily (superlative)

Who, Bob? I just ran into him last week, funnily enough.

In a strange or unexpected manner, especially of a coincidence.


aground

From Middle English agrounde, on grounde (“on ground”), equivalent to a- + ground.

(nautical, of a normally floating craft) Resting on the bottom.


counterclockwise

(US, Canada) In the direction of rotation opposite from clockwise.


chockablock

chockablock (comparative more chockablock, superlative most chockablock)

more chockablock (comparative)
most chockablock (superlative)

/ˈt͡ʃɒkəˌblɒk/

His study had books stacked chockablock on every shelf.

The meeting hall was chockablock full of angry citizens.

AMERICA is full of vast, empty spaces. Europe, by contrast, seems chock-a-block with humanity, its history shaped by a lack of continental elbowroom.

2012 October 13, “Free exchange: Concrete gains”, in The Economist:

In a crowded manner; as completely or closely as possible.


ass-backwards

Recorded in the US in the 1930s. From ass + backwards

(colloquial) Moving backwards, that is, rear end first.

perse edellä

moving backwards, that is, rear end first

They did the whole design ass-backwards. No wonder it doesn't work.

(idiomatic, colloquial) In a hopelessly misguided manner; in a manner contrary to what is normal, expected, or logical.


mo

From Middle English mo, from Old English mā, from Proto-Germanic *maiz, from a comparative form of Proto-Indo-European *meh₂-. Cognate with Swedish mer, Danish mer; and with Irish mó, Albanian më. See also more, most.

When he had ſaied no: what (ſaid Ariſtippus) is it ſhame to ſaile in a Shippe, that hath afoꝛetymes caried a great nomber mo: […]

1564 February, Erasmus, “The Saiynges of Aristippus”, in Nicolas Udall [i.e., Nicholas Udall], transl., Apophthegmes, that is to Saie, Prompte, Quicke, Wittie and Sentẽcious Saiynges, […], London: […] Ihon Kingston, →OCLC, book I, folio 43, verso, paragraph 42:


lickety-split

First attested during the 19th century, in the US, equivalent to lickedy + split, perhaps as a reference to the flick of a snake's tongue. The forms lickety-cut and licketie are similarly attested; and forms with t are likely due to Scottish influence.

At the sound of the starting gun, they were off and running lickety-split.

I need tea right now, lickety-split.

For quotations using this term, see Citations:lickety.

Quickly; as fast as possible; in short order.


the other day

I was in San Francisco just the other day.

Uh-oh. I emerged from the Underground station at London King's Cross the other day to find a dense throng of people filling the main line station's concourse.

2024 August 21, Philip Haigh, “Stranded trains: problems for passengers and operators”, in RAIL, number 1016, page 52:

(idiomatic) recently; lately; a few days ago.


just in time

At the last possible moment; just before or within the assigned time.


HS

(medicine, pharmacology) Initialism of half strength.

(medicine, pharmacology) Initialism of hora somni (“literally, hour of sleep; at bedtime”).. From Latin hora somni


uprighteously

uprighteously (comparative more uprighteously, superlative most uprighteously)

more uprighteously (comparative)
most uprighteously (superlative)


moodily

moodily (comparative more moodily, superlative most moodily)

more moodily (comparative)
most moodily (superlative)


windward

We beat our way windward.

In a direction from which the wind blows, against or towards the wind.


for the time being

I think I will ignore the problem for the time being.

And so, unfortunately, this great and spreading network of railways, that recently showed such promise as a major instrument in the modern development of China, must be left for the time being in the melting-pot of Armageddon.

1941 October, F. S. Bond, “The Railways of China”, in Railway Magazine, page 440:

Neither Aracil nor his five friends have the money to pay for the costs of the demolition, which, they say, are punitively over-inflated. For the time being, their hopes rest on legal appeals, and should those fail, on a crowdfunding campaign.

2022 September 24, Sam Jones, “Ill-fated Spanish village poised to be destroyed a third time”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

(idiomatic) Temporarily; for now; until later; until the situation changes; in an indefinite period of time.


all in all

All in all, it's not a bad little restaurant.

There are, of course, certain differences of detail; for example, the placing of the safety valves on the boiler barrel behind the dome, which follows the practice in the Riddles 2-8-0 and 2-10-0 locomotives for the Ministry of Supply; but taken all in all, Britannia's boiler has a closer affinity with the Doncaster designs than with any other.

1951 April, Stirling Everard, “A Matter of Pedigree”, in Railway Magazine, number 600, page 273:

all things considered
all things considered

(modal, set phrase) Generally, all things considered

There were twenty absentees all in all.

Altogether, in all, with everything included

And I perceived no touch of change,
No hint of death in all his frame,
But found him all in all the same, […]

1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, Canto XIV, page 23:

(archaic) Altogether, wholly, in every way


in a nutshell

Calque of New Latin in nuce, derived from an anecdote in Pliny the Elder, who ascribes to Cicero the claim that the whole Iliad was once written on parchment and enclosed within a nutshell (Naturalis Historia 7.21.85).

He had a lot to say, but his answer, in a nutshell, was no.

Sadio Mané wasted a glorious chance in the first half and, late on, Mohamed Salah turned his shot against a post after a goal-line clearance had spun his way. That, in a nutshell, perhaps sums up the difference between Messi and the players on the next rung below – the ones who can be described as great footballers without necessarily being football greats.

2019 May 1, Daniel Taylor, The Guardian:

The yarns of seamen have a direct simplicity, the whole meaning of which lies within the shell of a cracked nut.

1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I:

(idiomatic) In summary; briefly or simply.

Cicero
Iliad
Naturalis Historia
Pliny the Elder


securely

securely (comparative more securely, superlative most securely)

more securely (comparative)
most securely (superlative)

Check all personal items are securely stowed in the overhead lockers.

(manner) In a secure manner; without fear or apprehension; without danger


PV

Abbreviation.
* Sense "promotional video" is a borrowing from Japanese PV (PV, “promotional video”), from English promotional + video.


upwind

upwind (comparative more upwind, superlative most upwind)

more upwind (comparative)
most upwind (superlative)

in the direction from which the wind is blowing


utterly

Well, now we are utterly lost.

I have failed you utterly.

An utterly emphatic 5-0 victory was ultimately capped by two wonder strikes in the last two minutes from Aston Villa midfielder Gary Gardner. Before that, England had utterly dominated to take another purposeful stride towards the 2013 European Championship in Israel. They have already established a five-point buffer at the top of Group Eight.

2011 November 10, Jeremy Wilson, “England Under 21 5 Iceland Under 21 0: match report”, in Telegraph:

Scott, somewhat stunned and now worried that everybody might have opened fire at the U.S. destroyers (he presumably missed Laffey and Farenholt merrily blazing away with their own guns into the darkness), ordered all firing to cease after a couple of minutes. Helena, along with Boise, was already several hundred shells lighter, and both Boise and San Francisco herself actually kept firing, as their captains were utterly sure about their targets; San Francisco's captain was very apologetic as he overruled Admiral Scott.

2020 December 9, Drachinifel, 20:18 from the start, in Guadalcanal Campaign - Cape Esperance (IJN 1 : 2 USN), archived from the original on 2022-12-04:

Completely; entirely; to the fullest extent.


point blank

Horizontally (as the angle at which a projectile is launched); directly or straight (at the target).

I asked him point blank whether he was cheating on his wife.

There’s a neighbor named Brace Dunlap that’s been wanting to marry their Benny for three months, and at last they told him point blank and once for all, he COULDN’T; so he has soured on them, and they’re worried about it.

1896, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter I, in Tom Sawyer, Detective:

(idiomatic) Directly; bluntly; without pretense or caution.

решително

directly; bluntly; without pretense or caution


uppermost

From Middle English upper-moste; equivalent to upper + -most.


systematic

systematic (comparative more systematic, superlative most systematic)

more systematic (comparative)
most systematic (superlative)

Borrowed from Late Latin systēmaticus, from Koine Greek συστηματικός (sustēmatikós), from σύστημᾰ (sústēma, “a composite; system”) + -ῐκός (-ikós, adjective suffix). Cognate with French systématique and Italian sistematico. By surface analysis, system + -atic.

der

συστηματικός

suffix

"So soon as they've settled all our guns and ships, and smashed our railways, and done all the things they are doing over there, they will begin catching us systematic, picking the best and storing us in cages and things."

1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann:

And say, when them Gogs started out to put a thing through they did it systematic and thorough.


indefinitely

an indefinitely determined fossil


uptown

en-adv

uptown (comparative more uptown, superlative most uptown)

more uptown (comparative)
most uptown (superlative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-uptown.wav

Let's go uptown and try out that new restaurant.

(chiefly Canada, US) To or in the upper part of a town.


ex post facto

From Latin ex (“from”) + post (“after”) + facto, ablative of factum (“deed”). In Latin, ex takes the ablative case, while post takes the accusative case. (See Wikipedia for a discussion of the grammatical form and usage of this phrase.)

What he did was not a crime when he did it, but he was convicted ex post facto.

(law) By retroactive application of a law formulated or enacted after the deed in question.


every which way

The kids got to the park and ran every which way.

Indeed, a jolly little Clown now came walking toward them, and Dorothy could see that in spite of his pretty clothes of red and yellow and green he was completely covered with cracks, running every which way and showing plainly that he had been mended in many places.

1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, “The Dainty China Country”, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill., New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M[elvin] Hill Co., →OCLC, page 232:

I looked at John crumpled and twisted in the corner, the roller skates pointing every which way.

1968 October 12, Paul Zindel, chapter 14, in The Pigman:

You can't keep doing it every which way if you want a consistent result.


BP

Later diversion of lake drainage between 11,000 and 10,000 BP, due to ice retreat, led to the discharge of Agassiz meltwaters into the western North Atlantic.

2013, Alastair G. Dawson, Ice Age Earth: Late Quaternary Geology and Climate, Routledge, →ISBN, page 107:

(sciences) Initialism of Before Present, conventionally relative to radiocarbon dating in the 1950s.


merely

From Middle English mereli, equivalent to mere + -ly.

But let us not be unfair to the kibitzers. Not all players hate 'em. Some merely dislike 'em.

1951 October, Bruce Hayden, “Of Cabbageheads and Kings”, in Chess Review:

(focus) Without any other reason etc.; only, just, and nothing more.

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.

I am sorry to say, that I doubt if there is a judge in Massachusetts who is prepared to resign his office, and get his living innocently, whenever it is required of him to pass sentence under a law which is merely contrary to the law of God.

1854, Henry David Thoreau, Slavery in Massachusetts:


patiently

patiently (comparative more patiently, superlative most patiently)

more patiently (comparative)
most patiently (superlative)

"I feel that there is reason lurking in you somewhere, so we will patiently grope round for it."

1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:

Like most human activities, ballooning has sponsored heroes and hucksters and a good deal in between. For every dedicated scientist patiently recording atmospheric pressure and wind speed while shivering at high altitudes, there is a carnival barker with a bevy of pretty girls willing to dangle from a basket or parachute down to earth.

2013 June 7, David Simpson, “Fantasy of navigation”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 36:


uphill

uphill (comparative more uphill, superlative most uphill)

more uphill (comparative)
most uphill (superlative)


AF

Beowulf’s got plenty of admirers, so the romance is totally on point too. Trust me, this story is the lit AF, and you won’t wanna miss it.

2023 May 16, Ella Creamer, quoting ChatGPT, “‘Beowulf is lit AF’ – could ChatGPT really write good book blurbs?”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

(Internet slang, vulgar) Initialism of as fuck.


tosh

tosh (comparative more tosh, superlative most tosh)

more tosh (comparative)
most tosh (superlative)

Compare Old French tonce (“shorn, clipped”) and English tonsure.

Shouther your arms!—O! had them tosh on, And not athraw!


TID

It has been repeatedly documented that moving patients from a TID dosing regimen to BID or OD vastly improves compliance, and thus the medicine's effectiveness.

2014 April, Ken. Seufert, “The New Dawn of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Innovative Solutions for Unprecedented Challenges”, in American Pharmaceutical Review:

(pharmacology) thrice per day, consumed three times per day


throughout

From Old English þurh ūt, equivalent to through + out. Compare German durchaus (“all the way, fully, absolutely”).

cog

Chelsea's youngsters, who looked lively throughout, then combined for the second goal in the seventh minute. Romeu's shot was saved by Wolves goalkeeper Dorus De Vries but Piazon kept the ball alive and turned it back for an unmarked Bertrand to blast home.

During an entire period of time, the whole time.

Thus the VON VÖLCKER of Frankfurt bear : Argent, a rose gules, the field embrassé à senestre of the second. We should blazon this : Gules, a pile throughout issuing from the dexter flank, charged with a rose of the field.

1892, John Woodward, George Burnett, A Treatise on Heraldry, British and Foreign: With English and French Glossaries, page 90:

(heraldry) Of an ordinary such as a pile or chevron, or a partition per chevron, etc: extending to the edge of the field (or quarter, chief, etc).


secondhand

It was almost an article of faith with McEwen never to buy new if he could buy secondhand.

1996, Peter Golding, Black Jack McEwen: Political Gladiator, →ISBN, page 50:

He glanced back at the Jeep, which he'd bought secondhand a dozen years ago and now, fifteen years old, was gaining on "classic" status.

2004, Ruth Doan MacDougall, Henrietta Snow, →ISBN, page 47:

In a used or previously-owned condition.


telepathically

The magician claimed he could telepathically determine which card I was holding, but I knew it was a trick.


beforehand

non-rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger

From Middle English biforhand, biforhond, beforehonde, bifornhand, equivalent to before + hand. [13th century. After Old French avant main].

Will it be possible to have access to the room beforehand so that we can set up chairs?

I love playing tennis but I always get so nervous beforehand.

Weeks beforehand, I had bought the tickets for the concert.


rationally

en-adv

rationally (comparative more rationally, superlative most rationally)

more rationally (comparative)
most rationally (superlative)


plausibly

plausibly (comparative more plausibly, superlative most plausibly)

more plausibly (comparative)
most plausibly (superlative)

She lied plausibly, but the police suspected her anyway.

Plausibly, she said she'd been working at the time.

(modal) Probably; not falsifiably, based on available facts and general knowledge.


upstream

upstream (comparative more upstream, superlative most upstream)

more upstream (comparative)
most upstream (superlative)

In another moment a huge wave, like a muddy tidal bore, but almost scaldingly hot, came sweeping round the bend up-stream.

1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 102:


objectively

objectively (comparative more objectively, superlative most objectively)

more objectively (comparative)
most objectively (superlative)

Struggling with objectively awful English accents, the two actors spend their time on screen dragging out terrible jokes, as though trapped in the improv-exercise equivalent of eternal damnation.

2018 December 25, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, “Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly hit career lows in the abysmally unfunny Holmes & Watson”, in The Onion AV Club, archived from the original on 2019-01-05:

(informal) Without question, without a doubt, definitely, indisputably, not meriting discussion or argument.


steadily

steadily (comparative more steadily, superlative most steadily)

more steadily (comparative)
most steadily (superlative)

She lisped slightly, little-girlish, looking at him still while drinking whisky steadily from a full glass.

1958, Anthony Burgess, The Enemy in the Blanket (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 281:

It grew steadily colder and presently a mushroomy sort of smell came up from the darkness.

1971, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle and the Magic Zodiac, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 18:

In a steady manner; with a steady progression.


electronically

electronically (comparative more electronically, superlative most electronically)

more electronically (comparative)
most electronically (superlative)

In America alone, people spent $170 billion on “direct marketing”—junk mail of both the physical and electronic varieties—last year. Yet of those who received unsolicited adverts through the post, only 3% bought anything as a result. If the bumf arrived electronically, the take-up rate was 0.1%. And for online adverts the “conversion” into sales was a minuscule 0.01%.

2013 May 25, “No hiding place”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8837, page 74:

By means of electronics, or of electronic technology.


prominently

prominently (comparative more prominently, superlative most prominently)

more prominently (comparative)
most prominently (superlative)

It is the transcontinental trains which figure most prominently in railway advertising. Both railways run two trains in each direction.

1959 November, J. N. Westwood, “The Railways of Canada”, in Trains Illustrated, page 554:


rudely

rudely (comparative more rudely, superlative most rudely)

more rudely (comparative)
most rudely (superlative)

From Middle English rudely, rudeliche, equivalent to rude + -ly.


gratefully

gratefully (comparative more gratefully, superlative most gratefully)

more gratefully (comparative)
most gratefully (superlative)

A waiter brought his aperitif, which was a small scotch and soda, and as he sipped it gratefully he sighed.
 ‘Civilized,’ he said to Mr. Campion. ‘Humanizing.’ […] ‘Cigars and summer days and women in big hats with swansdown face-powder, that's what it reminds me of.’

1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 5, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:


thoroughly

thoroughly (comparative more thoroughly, superlative most thoroughly)

more thoroughly (comparative)
most thoroughly (superlative)

He went out in the rain and came back thoroughly drenched.

The editor looked thoroughly for any mistakes in the paper.


quietly

quietly (comparative more quietly, superlative most quietly)

more quietly (comparative)
most quietly (superlative)

From Middle English quietely, quyetly, equivalent to quiet + -ly.

When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him.[…]. The captive made no resistance and came not only quietly but in a series of eager little rushes like a timid dog on a choke chain.

1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:


lightly

lightly (comparative lightlier or more lightly, superlative lightliest or most lightly)

lightlier (comparative)
more lightly (comparative)
lightliest (superlative)
most lightly (superlative)

From Middle English lyghtly, liȝtliche, lihtliche, from Old English lēohtlīċe, equivalent to light + -ly.

As a teacher, I don't take rudeness in class lightly.

Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ¶ "I never understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."

1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter VIII, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:


randomly

randomly (comparative more randomly, superlative most randomly)

more randomly (comparative)
most randomly (superlative)

I just randomly remembered this dream from 2 years ago.

It is easy to implement, is not cost-prohibitive, and provides unbiased randomly sampled data in an ethically acceptable manner.

2019, Li Huang, James Lambert, “Another Arrow for the Quiver: A New Methodology for Multilingual Researchers”, in Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, →DOI, page 12:

When a file is accessed randomly, the programmer must specify the relative record number.

1989, M. K. Roy, Debabrata Ghosh Dastidar, COBOL Programming, page 314:

(computing) By random access; at any point at a given time; not sequentially.


eagerly

eagerly (comparative more eagerly, superlative most eagerly)

more eagerly (comparative)
most eagerly (superlative)

From Middle English egerly; equivalent to eager + -ly.

Heidi had been listening eagerly, with shining eyes.

1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 103:


distinctly

distinctly (comparative more distinctly, superlative most distinctly)

more distinctly (comparative)
most distinctly (superlative)

I distinctly remember the voice of my deceased grandmother.

About ten months ago a report reached my ears that a Dutchman had constructed a telescope, by the aid of which visible objects, although at a great distance from the eye of the observer, were seen distinctly as if near; […]

1880 [1610 March 13], Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, “The Astronomical Messenger”, in Edward Stafford Carlos, transl., The Sidereal Messenger of Galileo Galilei and a Part of the Preface to Kepler's Dioptrics Containing the Original Account of Galileo's Astronomical Discoveries: A Translation with Introduction and Notes, London: Rivingtons, translation of Sidereus Nuncius: […] , →OCLC, page 10:

Commander Birch was a trifle uneasy when he found there was more than a popple on the sea; it was, in fact, distinctly choppy.

1928, Lawrence R. Bourne, chapter 17, in Well Tackled!:

"Aloud," he said distinctly, "the Seven Words are spoken thus. Melenkurion abatha. Duroc minas mill. Harad khabaal."

2007, Stephen R. Donaldson, Fatal Revenant, →ISBN, page 192:


indirectly

His alcoholism had a direct effect on his health, and indirectly caused problems for others.


exceedingly

1865, Henry David Thoreau, Cape Cod, Chapter II. "Stage-coach Views", page 16.
This coach was an exceedingly narrow one […]

I gasped and nearly sank to the ground, for I knew that such a situation must result in some dreadful tragedy, of which it seemed exceedingly probable to me that I should be the first victim.

1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:

It is an exceedingly easy thing for a Governor or a President to go along with the drift of the tide, to veto vicious legislation, to give honest administration, to lead a perfectly peaceful life, and to avoid criticism or attack. Of such are the hundreds of forgotten Governors and the dozens of Presidents whom we have to look up in a history book.

1928, Franklin D. Roosevelt, The Happy Warrior Alfred E. Smith, Houghton Mifflin, →OCLC, →OL, page 10:

To a great or unusual degree, extent, etc.; extremely


plainly

plainly (comparative plainlier or more plainly, superlative plainliest or most plainly)

plainlier (comparative)
more plainly (comparative)
plainliest (superlative)
most plainly (superlative)

From Middle English playnly, pleinly, pleyneliche, equivalent to plain + -ly.

She decorated the room plainly but neatly.

'Tell me plainly what you think of my daughter's little companion.'

1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 95:

You will see that ours is plainly the better method.

The stories did not seem to me to touch life. They were plainly intended to have a bracing moral effect, and perhaps had this result for the people at whom they were aimed. They left me with the impression of a well-delivered stereopticon lecture, with characters about as life-like as the shadows on the screen, and whisking on and off, at the mercy of the operator.

1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter I, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:

Plainly he was prepared to bark out an interminable succession of charges against the Wanderer.

1932, Delos W. Lovelace, King Kong, published 1965, page 3:


undoubtedly

undoubtedly (comparative more undoubtedly, superlative most undoubtedly)

more undoubtedly (comparative)
most undoubtedly (superlative)

From Middle English undoutedly, equivalent to undoubted + -ly.

The cane was undoubtedly of foreign make, for it had a solid silver ferrule at one end, which was not English hall–marked.

1904–1905, Baroness Orczy [i.e., Emma Orczy], “The Ayrsham Mystery”, in The Case of Miss Elliott, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, published 1905, →OCLC; republished as popular edition, London: Greening & Co., 1909, OCLC 11192831, quoted in The Case of Miss Elliott (ebook no. 2000141h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg of Australia, February 2020:


evidently

evidently (comparative more evidently, superlative most evidently)

more evidently (comparative)
most evidently (superlative)

From Middle English evidently, evydently; equivalent to evident + -ly.

The half-dozen pieces […] were painted white and carved with festoons of flowers, birds and cupids. To display them the walls had been tinted a vivid blue which had now faded, but the carpet, which had evidently been stored and recently relaid, retained its original turquoise.

1963, Margery Allingham, “The Elopers”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC, page 33:

In a manner which makes the fact or conclusion evident; obviously; as may be clearly inferred.

The ſame mã ſawe in a vyſion evydently aboute the nynthe houre of the daye the angell of god commynge in vnto hym […]

1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts x:[3], folio clxviij, recto – verso:

(obsolete) In such a way as to be clearly visible or manifest; distinctly, clearly.


farther

Variant of further, morphologically far + -ther.

But as the matter is often carried farther, even to the absolute rejecting of all profound reasonings, or what is commonly called metaphysics, we shall now proceed to consider what can reasonably be pleaded in their behalf.

1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral., London: Oxford University Press, published 1973, § 5:

Alternative form of further. (See also the usage notes at further.)


comparatively

comparatively (comparative more comparatively, superlative most comparatively)

more comparatively (comparative)
most comparatively (superlative)

And yet I suppose that my life has been, comparatively speaking, a happy one.

Never did I see a more dreary and depressing scene. Miles on miles of quagmire, varied only by bright green strips of comparatively solid ground[.]


scarcely

scarcely (comparative more scarcely, superlative most scarcely)

more scarcely (comparative)
most scarcely (superlative)

From Middle English scarcely, scarsly, scarsely, scarsliche, scarseliche, equivalent to scarce + -ly.

One could scarcely find any trout in the stream without the stocking program.

The staff here are frequently in the news, thanks to their successful efforts to make an attractive station where travellers would scarcely expect to find one.

1951 October, William B. Stocks, “A Few Miles from Huddersfield”, in Railway Magazine, page 701:

One could scarcely expect the man to know how to fly a helicopter.

He did not enter upon the subject without being aware that government by its very nature counteracts the improvement of individual intellect; but, as the views he entertains in this particular are out of the common road, it is scarcely to be wondered at that he understood the proposition more completely as he proceeded, and saw more distinctly into the nature of the remedy.

1842, William Godwin, An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice:

But, of course, this weather had put a stop to every kind of movement; for even if men could have borne the cold, they could scarcely be brought to face the perils of the snow-drifts.

The planet Mars, I scarcely need remind the reader, revolves about the sun at a mean distance of 140,000,000 miles, and the light and heat it receives from the sun is barely half of that received by this world.

1898, H. G. Wells, The War of the Worlds:

His clothes could scarcely be called shabby, at least they passed muster in the half-light, but one’s imagination could not have pictured the wearer embarking on the purchase of a half-crown box of chocolates or laying out ninepence on a carnation buttonhole.

1914, Saki, “Dusk”, in Beasts and Super-Beasts:

He had scarcely finished, when the labourer arrived who had been sent for my ransom.

1824, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], Tales of a Traveller, (please specify |part=1 to 4), Philadelphia, Pa.: H[enry] C[harles] Carey & I[saac] Lea, […], →OCLC:

It is scarcely possible to avoid comparing the eye to a telescope.

1859 November 24, Charles Darwin, “Difficulties on Theory”, in On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, […], London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 188:

In 1776 manufactories scarcely existed even in name in all this vast territory.

1875 December 7, Ulysses S. Grant, Ulysses S. Grant's Seventh State of the Union Address:

Scarcely had she got fairly into it, however, before the beasts closed in behind her, […]

1887, Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet:

“Scarcely had Alice reached her twentieth birthday, than she gave her erstwhile fiancée [sic] his formal congé.[…]”

1904–1905, Baroness Orczy [i.e., Emma Orczy], “The Disappearance of Count Collini”, in The Case of Miss Elliott, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, published 1905, →OCLC; republished as popular edition, London: Greening & Co., 1909, OCLC 11192831, quoted in The Case of Miss Elliott (ebook no. 2000141h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg of Australia, February 2020:

That night, and for many nights after, the Velveteen Rabbit slept in the Boy’s bed. At first he found it rather uncomfortable, for the Boy hugged him very tight, and sometimes he rolled over on him, and sometimes he pushed him so far under the pillow that the Rabbit could scarcely breathe.

1921 June, Margery Williams, “The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real”, in Harper’s Bazar, volume LVI, number 6 (2504 overall), New York, N.Y.: International Magazine Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:

But we shall take scarcely more than two years to reach it, while we should have needed almost as much time to arrive in the region of Proxima Centauris.

1963, Pierre Boulle, Planet of the Apes:

Nature scarcely ever gives us the very best—for that we must have recourse to art.

1993, Baltasar Gracián, translated by Joseph Jacobs, The Art of Worldly Wisdom:

(degree) Hardly: only just; by a small margin.


strangely

strangely (comparative more strangely, superlative most strangely)

more strangely (comparative)
most strangely (superlative)

From Middle English straungely (“strangely, aloofly, intricately”); equivalent to strange + -ly.

inh

Though I'd never gone to Boston before, everything looked strangely familiar.

Daniel was walking strangely because he had twisted his ankle.

[…]all thy vexations / Were but my trials of thy love, and thou / Hast strangely stood the test[…]

1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals), page 1:


democratically

en-adv

democratically (comparative more democratically, superlative most democratically)

more democratically (comparative)
most democratically (superlative)

a democratically elected leader


scientifically

scientifically (comparative more scientifically, superlative most scientifically)

more scientifically (comparative)
most scientifically (superlative)

He tried to approach his bad habits scientifically.

Scientifically, there's nothing special about the year 2012.

I remembered the old doctor, - ‘It would be interesting for science to watch the mental changes of individuals, on the spot.’ I felt I was becoming scientifically interesting.

1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 210:


continually

continually (comparative more continually, superlative most continually)

more continually (comparative)
most continually (superlative)

In regular or repeated succession; very often.


hastily

hastily (comparative more hastily, superlative most hastily)

more hastily (comparative)
most hastily (superlative)

The departure was not unduly prolonged.[…]Within the door Mrs. Spoker hastily imparted to Mrs. Love a few final sentiments on the subject of Divine Intention in the disposition of buckets; farewells and last commiserations; a deep, guttural instigation to the horse; and the wheels of the waggonette crunched heavily away into obscurity.

1921, Ben Travers, chapter 5, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:

The last occasion on which the Kaiser [Wilhelm II] used this train was for an inglorious journey into Holland towards the end of the 1914 war. He spent the night in it at Eysden [Eijsden], while the Queen of the Netherlands and a hastily summoned Cabinet debated what to do with him.

1945 September and October, C. Hamilton Ellis, “Royal Trains—V”, in Railway Magazine, page 251:

Eudemis moved hastily but as unobtrusively as he could through the gaping crowd[.]

1966, James Workman, The Mad Emperor, Melbourne, Sydney: Scripts, page 40:

In a hasty manner; quickly or hurriedly.

she with liquors strong his eyes did steepe, / That nothing should him hastily awake [...].

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:


presently

presently (comparative more presently, superlative most presently)

more presently (comparative)
most presently (superlative)

From Middle English presently; equivalent to present + -ly.

Polonius: My lord, the queen would speak with you, and presently.

c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

And presently the fig tree withered away.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 21:19:

the butler supposing the Wine had beene so carefully commended unto him for the goodnesse of it, imediately presented some unto the Pope, who whilest he was drinking, his sonne came in and never imagining his bottles had beene toucht, tooke the cup and pledged his father, so that the Pope died presently; and the sonne, after he had long time beene tormented with sicknesse, recovered to another worse fortune.

(now British, rare) Immediately, at once; quickly.

Presently all was quiet again.

It[…]is the greatest example of lenity in our Saviour, when he desired of God forgiveness unto those, who having one day brought him into the City in triumph, did presently after, act all dishonour upon him, and nothing could be heard but, Crucifige, in their Courts.

1646, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, I.3:

But they had already discovered that he could be bullied, and they had it their own way; and presently Selwyn lay prone upon the nursery floor, impersonating a ladrone while pleasant shivers chased themselves over Drina, whom he was stalking.

1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter I, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:

I shall forget you presently, my dear, / So make the most of this, your little day, / Your little month, your little half a year, / Ere I forget, or die, or move away,

1921, Edna St. Vincent Millay, “Sonnet IV”, in A Few Figs from Thistles:

‘I shall presently be getting a call to tell me of that.’

1940, Raymond Chandler, Farewell, My Lovely, Penguin, published 2010, page 55:

скоро

before long, soon — see also before long, soon

The towns and forts you presently have.

a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:

To all of you, therefore, who call Wales your motherland, whether you presently inhabit some other portion of the globe or breathe the air of your cloud-kissed country […].

1891, The Welsh Review, No.1 (November 1891). "A Word to the Welsh People." p.1

(rarely proscribed) At present; now; currently.

сега

at present; now; currently — see also at present, now, currently

March 27 1545, Stephen Gardiner, letter to Thomas Smith and MAtthew PArker
if they perceyve not presently, it shal be wel doon to bringe them to conformite

(obsolete) With actual presence; in actuality.


justly

justly (comparative justlier or more justly, superlative justliest or most justly)

justlier (comparative)
more justly (comparative)
justliest (superlative)
most justly (superlative)

His valor, wisdom, and justice made him justly popular, but caused him to be regarded with suspicion at Rome.

1890, Robert Franklin Pennell, History of Rome:

But the city on the River Clyde can justly claim to have turned the tide.

2012, Jay Newton-Small, ‘Gangless in Glasgow’, Time, 1 Oct 2011

With a just or fair use of language; with good reason, properly.

It is a pleasant imagination to conceive a spirit iustly ballanced betweene two equall desires.

1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 14, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

(obsolete) With great precision; accurately, exactly.


consequently

From Middle English consequentely, consequentliche, consequently; equivalent to consequent + -ly.

He didn't wake up early. Consequently, he was late to work.

He Suſpends on theſe Reaſons, that Thomas Rue had granted a general Diſcharge to Adam Muſhet, who was his Conjunct, and correus debendi, after the alleadged Service, which Diſcharged Muſhet, and conſequently Houstoun his Partner.

1668 July 3, James Dalrymple, “Thomas Rue contra Andrew Houſtoun” in The Deciſions of the Lords of Council & Seſſion I (Edinburgh, 1683), page 548

(conjunctive) As a result or consequence of something; subsequently.

(sequence, obsolete) subsequently, following after in time or sequence.


seriously

seriously (comparative more seriously, superlative most seriously)

more seriously (comparative)
most seriously (superlative)

From Middle English seriously, sereously, ceryously, seryowslech (“earnestly”), equivalent to serious + -ly.

He was hoping that we would take him seriously.

Jimmy jokingly called Bob a doofus. Bob took the insult seriously.

(manner) In a serious or literal manner.

That was a seriously unpleasant thing to say.

Now, seriously, why did you forget to feed the cat today?

Used to attempt to introduce a serious point in a less serious conversation.

You baked ten (10) cakes. Seriously, why did you do that?

Used to call back to a previous point, in disbelief or for emphasis.

Unless you're seriously strapped (armed), you're about to be not okay too.

(informal) In an extreme or major way; majorly


humorously

humorously (comparative more humorously, superlative most humorously)

more humorously (comparative)
most humorously (superlative)

He always managed to make people laugh at the tea table - he could pull faces so humorously.


nat

And he a pistle rowned in her eare, / Nat what I want, for I ne came nat there.

1614, William Browne, The Shepheard's Pipe:


namely

From Middle English namely, nameliche, namelike, equivalent to name + -ly. Cognate with Saterland Frisian nämmelk, West Frisian nammentlik, Dutch namelijk, German Low German nämlich, German nämlich, Danish nemlig, Swedish nämligen, Icelandic nefnilega.

Some of the students — namely Paul, Alice and Jake — seem to have trouble with geometry.

There are three ways to do it, namely the right way, the wrong way and the Army way.

“The story of this adoption is, of course, the pivot round which all the circumstances of the mysterious tragedy revolved. Mrs. Yule had an only son, namely, William, to whom she was passionately attached ; but, like many a fond mother, she had the desire of mapping out that son's future entirely according to her own ideas.[…].

1904–1905, Baroness Orczy [i.e., Emma Orczy], “The Tragedy in Dartmoor Terrace”, in The Case of Miss Elliott, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, published 1905, →OCLC; republished as popular edition, London: Greening & Co., 1909, OCLC 11192831, quoted in The Case of Miss Elliott (ebook no. 2000141h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg of Australia, February 2020:

THus was sir Tramtryst longe there wel cherysshed / with the kynge and the quene / and namely with la beale Isoud / So vpon a daye / the quene and la beale Isoud made a bayne for syre Tramtryst / And whan he was in his bayne / the quene and Isoud her doughter romed vp & doune in the chamber

1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xj”, in Le Morte Darthur, book VIII:


phylogenetically

phylogenetically (comparative more phylogenetically, superlative most phylogenetically)

more phylogenetically (comparative)
most phylogenetically (superlative)


politely

politely (comparative more politely, superlative most politely)

more politely (comparative)
most politely (superlative)

If pressed about a serious accusation like rape, you can politely reply that you can’t answer questions pertaining to such an allegation without legal representation and wish to remain silent.

It was night once more and Mary had got through another day without throwing herself politely from a top floor window or scrawling filthy words on the dining room walls.


doubtless

From Middle English douteles, dowteles, equivalent to doubt + -less.

[…] And, doubtless, unto thee is given
A life that bears immortal fruit
In such great offices as suit
The full-grown energies of heaven.

1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, Canto XXXIX, page 61:

I cannot remember that I spoke a word, though doubtless I did.

1893, Ambrose Bierce, The Realm Of The Unreal:

The men, Dorothy thought, were about as old as Uncle Henry, for two of them had beards. But the little woman was doubtless much older: her face was covered with wrinkles, her hair was nearly white, and she walked rather stiffly.

1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, “The Council with The Munchkins”, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill., New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M[elvin] Hill Co., →OCLC, page 21:

There is also in these matters of Science (though many scientific men would doubtless deny this) a great deal of "Fashion".

1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., published 1921, page 9:

Thom Yorke’s onstage pronouncements became less abstract and more effusive, they played the songs the less committed audience members doubtless wanted to hear in the first place: Paranoid Android, Creep, Fake Plastic Trees and Karma Police. At the end of the latter, Yorke happily led an audience singalong.

2017 June 26, Alexis Petridis, “Glastonbury 2017 verdict: Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Lorde, Stormzy and more”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2017-06-26:

Without doubt; certainly; definitely; very probably, in all likelihood; doubtlessly.


in kind

I made some donations to the charity, not in money, but in kind, such as non-perishable food.

(of paying or giving) With goods or services (as opposed to cash).

Vardy drilled over after getting behind Bartley and also hit the side-netting, resulting in the loudest cheer of the day from the Swansea fans after he kicked an advertising board in frustration. He responded in kind by showing them three fingers with one hand and making a zero with the other.

2015 December 5, Alan Smith, “Leicester City back on top as Riyad Mahrez hat-trick downs Swansea City”, in The Guardian (London):

Armor-piercing shells were heading up the shell hoists, but this procedure took a few minutes, allowing the battered American flagship to reply in kind, the gunners somewhat motivated to set new records for the rate of fire as the cruiser raked the larger ship from stem to stern in response.

2021 March 10, Drachinifel, 17:51 from the start, in Guadalcanal Campaign - The Big Night Battle: Night 1 (IJN 3(?) : 2 USN), archived from the original on 2022-10-17:

(idiomatic) In a reciprocal manner; in a similar way; in the same kind.


manually

stimulate someone manually

The student manually corrected several errors missed by the spell checker.


contra

contra (comparative more contra, superlative most contra)

more contra (comparative)
most contra (superlative)

[…] it is useless to pray “Thy kingdom come” and vote contra or stay away from the polls; […]

1893 November 30, “The W.C.T.U. Convention. Interesting Reports Considered in Relation to the Several Departments of the Work. Suggested Lines of Development—Programme for the Closing Day.”, in The Daily Colonist, volume LXX, number 148, Victoria, B.C., page 3, column 1:


offen

offen (comparative more offen, superlative most offen)

more offen (comparative)
most offen (superlative)

Pronunciation spelling
pronunciation spelling


offen

His old rubber boots wuz all wore offen him, his clothes hangin' in rags and tatters where he had rushed through the woods and swamps, his feet and hands all froze.

1893, Marietta Holley, Samantha at the World's Fair, page 79:

"If I tells Pa Satisfied that ye said that, Myry," muttered the boy, "he wouldn't wait for the law to handle Ben Letts — he'd shoot his dum head offen him quicker than a cat can blink."

1909, Grace Miller White, Tess of the Storm Country, page 241:

“The one Dooley won offen him.” The marshal stared hard at Dooley, then at Chester, then at his four deputies, then at Mort the undertaker, and finally at Blue, who was gnawing on a steak bone. “You read too many dime novels.”

2018, William W. Johnstone, J. A. Johnstone, Hang Him Twice, →ISBN:


deadly

deadly (comparative more deadly, superlative most deadly)

more deadly (comparative)
most deadly (superlative)

From Middle English dedly, dedlych, dedlich, from Old English dēadlīċ (adjective). Cognate with Dutch dodelijk, German tödlich. By surface analysis, dead + -ly.
The adverb is from Middle English dedliche, from Old English dēadlīċe (adverb), from the adjective.

[P]erceiving himſelfe deadly wounded by a ſhot received in his body, being by his men perſwaded to come off and retire himſelfe from out the throng, anſwered, he would not now ſo neere his end, beginne to turne his face from his enemie[…]

1603, Michel de Montaigne, “Our affections are tranſported beyond our ſelues”, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC, page 7:

Her face suddenly became deadly white.

Though deadly weary, till ſpectators do / At once part and call them good boys too[…]

1669, Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery, “Tryphon, A Tragedy”, in Two New Tragedies: The Black Prince, and Tryphon […] , page iv:

John had got an impreſſion that Lewis was ſo deadly cunning a man, that he was afraid to venture himſelf alone with him.

1750 [1712], John Arbuthnot, “The Hiſtory of John Bull (chapter XVIII)”, in The Hiſtory of John Bull and Poems on ſeveral Occaſions […] , page 113:


dreadful

dreadful (comparative more dreadful, superlative most dreadful)

more dreadful (comparative)
most dreadful (superlative)

From Middle English dredful, dredfull, dredeful (also dreful), equivalent to dread + -ful.

I'm sorry, Miz Terrigan. I'm dreadful sorry.

2003, David Davis, Of Preachers and Pagans, page 199:

You don't look so dreadful poor in the face as you did a while back.

2007, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Professor At The Breakfast Table, page 130:

"No," she replied, coolly, "and I shall want my dinner dreadful bad afore I get it, I know. You don't often feel dreadful hungry, do you, sir?

2015, Hesba Stretton, Jessica's first prayer: A Christian Fiction of Hesba Stretton:


dink

Are you The Banjo? Fair dink no bull? Oh, sorry, lady, I mean ... dinki-di?

2006, Pip Wilson, Face in the Street, page 323:

(Australia, New Zealand) Honestly, truly.


acquiescently

acquiescently (comparative more acquiescently, superlative most acquiescently)

more acquiescently (comparative)
most acquiescently (superlative)


sprightly

sprightly (comparative sprightlier, superlative sprightliest)

sprightlier (comparative)
sprightliest (superlative)

From spright + -ly (suffix forming adverbs from adjectives).; see further at etymology 1.

suffix

LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-sprightly.wav

In a lively and vigorous way; sprightlily.


pro forma

He greeted her pro forma.

Undertaken or performed as a perfunctory matter, in the interest of form, or for the sake of politeness.


inter alia

Minority rights and their content can furthermore be clarified by indicating their place among the two pillars of a system of minority protection sensu lato, namely the prohibition of discrimination (inter alia in combination with the individual human rights) on the one hand and minority protection sensu stricto (implying 'special' measures for (members of) minorities) on the other hand.

2000, Kristin Henrard, Devising an Adequate System of Minority Protection: Individual Human Rights, Minority Rights and the Right to Self-Determination, Kluwer Law International, page 159:

Ecma’s standards include, inter alia, safety specifications, specifications for environmental product attributes, specifications for data communications such as IT security, specifications for system interconnection, as well as specifications for multimedia such as universal 3D (Ecma 2007d).

2009, Eliza Varney, “Ecma International”, in Christian Tietje, Alan Brouder, editors, Handbook of Transnational Economic Governance Regimes, Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, →ISBN, part C (Communications, Electronics, and Media), section VI (The Role of Ecma in Transnational Economic Governance), page 556:


amuck

when, like the inhabitants of the Malay Peninsula, they ran amuck, and made it their habit to destroy life[…]

1891, Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urbervilles:


amock

en-adv

amock (comparative more amock, superlative most amock)

more amock (comparative)
most amock (superlative)


arguendo

1978, Matter of Green, 586 F. 2d 1247 - U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit
Assuming arguendo that those assertions are factually true, we find respondent's claim to be without legal merit.

Grant me, arguendo, that sort of scenario, with the Soviet federation rebuilding and small wars raging here and there, as the world of the millennium.

1990 February 5, William Safire, “Staying a Superpower”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(law) for the sake of argument; assuming without deciding; identifying the premises of a hypothetical argument while making it clear that no finding is being made on whether the premises are true.

(law) Used to set off the facts presented in an argument on a point of law from facts in dispute in the case.


tutti

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-tutti.wav

From Italian tutti, from Latin totus (“all”).

(music) All together. Indicates that the remainder of a group should join in playing after a solo or other passage with a reduced number of voices.


colloquially

colloquially (comparative more colloquially, superlative most colloquially)

more colloquially (comparative)
most colloquially (superlative)

Cattle, colloquially referred to as cows, are domesticated ungulates.


periodically

In a manner that is regular or periodic.


first and foremost

"There are many things to be considered before that question can be answered properly," I said, sententiously. "First and foremost, do you love Mr. Edgar?"

1847 December, Ellis Bell [pseudonym; Emily Brontë], Wuthering Heights: […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Thomas Cautley Newby, […], →OCLC:

First and foremost, there is currently lacking any single text which comes close to cataloguing the great variety of terms in use.

2018, James Lambert, “A multitude of ‘lishes’: The nomenclature of hybridity”, in English World-Wide, page 2:

That progress has taken over ten years and £20 million to bring to fruition. But, as Mands explains, the journey has been one that HSG has been almost obligated to undertake. "First and foremost, this is an environmental project," she says.

2023 December 27, Richard Foster, “New rail freight terminal leads the way”, in RAIL, number 999, page 39:

(set phrase) Primarily; most importantly.


tenfold

From Middle English tenfold, tenfolde, from Old English tīenfeald. Equivalent to ten + -fold.

1896, William Allen Sylvester, Modern Carpentry and Building, page 142, "But, since we have increased the original value of 26 tenfold its original value, we must increase the original result tenfold : ten times 2 equal 20, the required answer."

I am here [in prison] for committing a crime, yet I see the state officials commit crimes that are ten fold worse and they do it without ramifications.

1987 August 15, Stephen William Gumpl, “Refusing To Become A Piece”, in Gay Community News, volume 15, number 5, page 4:


softly

softly (comparative softlier or more softly, superlative softliest or most softly)

softlier (comparative)
more softly (comparative)
softliest (superlative)
most softly (superlative)

From Middle English softely, softeliche, equivalent to soft + -ly.

The masseuse was rubbing my back too softly for my liking, so I asked her to go harder.

He had married a lady well educated and softly nurtured, but not dowered with worldly wealth. […] They would give up ideas of gentle living, of soft raiment, and delicate feeding.

1861, Anthony Trollope, Framley Parsonage:

whisper softly in someone's ear

play music softly


firmly

firmly (comparative firmlier or more firmly, superlative firmliest or most firmly)

firmlier (comparative)
more firmly (comparative)
firmliest (superlative)
most firmly (superlative)

From Middle English fermely; equivalent to firm + -ly.

She corrected him firmly but gently.

(manner) In a firm or definite or strong manner.

Tie the rope firmly to the post.

When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him.

1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:

Dotcom mania was slow in coming to higher education, but now it has the venerable industry firmly in its grip. Since the launch early last year of Udacity and Coursera, two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations.

2013 July 20, “The attack of the MOOCs”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845:


stately

stately (comparative more stately, superlative most stately)

more stately (comparative)
most stately (superlative)

From Middle English stately, statli, equivalent to state + -ly.


farthest

Alternative form of furthest. (See also usage notes at further.)


furthest

Of all the children in our school, I can run furthest.

He lives furthest from the office, so his commute is the longest.

To, at or over the greatest distance in space, time or other extent.

This civilisation was the furthest advanced.

superlative form of far: most far
To the greatest degree or extent.


archæologically

Alternative spelling of archaeologically


earnestly

earnestly (comparative more earnestly, superlative most earnestly)

more earnestly (comparative)
most earnestly (superlative)

From Middle English ernestly, from Old English eornostlīċe (“earnestly, strictly”), equivalent to earnest + -ly.

inh

The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and the Lion now thanked the Good Witch earnestly for her kindness; and Dorothy exclaimed:

1900, L. Frank Baum, chapter 23, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz:

In an earnest manner; being very sincere; putting forth genuine effort.


somehow

This problem has to be tackled somehow.

We don't know how he's still alive after the accident, but somehow he is.

December 1, 2016, Tom Donaghy writing in The New York Times, Tender Side of Edward Albee
It’s not by accident Edward wrote “The Goat,” “The Zoo Story” or “Seascape,” with its two lizards, Sarah and Leslie. In fact, in all of his plays the animal is pretty prominent, somehow or other.

Carried somehow, somewhither, for some reason, on these surging floods, were these travelers, of errand not wholly obvious to their fellows, yet of such sort as to call into query alike the nature of their errand and their own relations.

1910, Emerson Hough, chapter II, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:

Have I not loathed to live again and said
It would have been far better to be dead,
 And yet somehow, I know not why,
Remained afraid to die!

Although youngest of the family, he has somehow or other got the entire management of all the others.

In one way or another; in a way not yet known or explained; by some means

কেনেবাকৈ

in one way or another; in some way not yet known or designated


safely

en-adv

safely (comparative more safely or (rare) safelier, superlative most safely or (rare) safeliest)

more safely (comparative)
safelier (comparative rare)
most safely (superlative)
safeliest (rare superlative)

From Middle English savely; equivalent to safe + -ly.

With fresh material, taxonomic conclusions are leavened by recognition that the material examined reflects the site it occupied; a herbarium packet gives one only a small fraction of the data desirable for sound conclusions. Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get[…]

1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page vii:

In a safe manner; without risk; using caution above all else.

Edward Churchill still attended to his work in a hopeless mechanical manner like a sleep-walker who walks safely on a well-known round. But his Roman collar galled him, his cassock stifled him, his biretta was as uncomfortable as a merry-andrew's cap and bells.

1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XV, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:

It had been agreed that they should all meet in the big barn as soon as Mr. Jones was safely out of the way.

1943 November – 1944 February (date written; published 1945 August 17), George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg, published May 1962, →OCLC:

In a secure manner; without the possibility of injury or harm resulting.

en toute sécurité

in a secure manner; without the possibility of injury or harm resulting


grandiloquently

grandiloquently (comparative more grandiloquently, superlative most grandiloquently)

more grandiloquently (comparative)
most grandiloquently (superlative)


silently

silently (comparative more silently, superlative most silently)

more silently (comparative)
most silently (superlative)

It often happens that the most important results in the natural world are brought about by causes which operate silently, if not imperceptibly.

1838, William Andrus Alcott, chapter I, in The Young House-keeper: Or, Thoughts on Food and Cookery, third stereotype edition, Boston: George W. Light, page 21:

Frederick, I presume, at this late hour of four, may be snatching a morsel of dinner; his orderlies are silently speeding, plans taken, orders given: […]

1865, Thomas Carlyle, chapter IX, in History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Called Frederick the Great, volume VI, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC:

There never was an English-language text, either in 1561 or 1859. Yule and Burnell have silently provided a translation.

2018, James Lambert, “Setting the Record Straight: An In-depth Examination of Hobson-Jobson”, in International Journal of Lexicography, volume 31, number 4, →DOI, page 496:

Of an edit or change to a text, without explicit acknowledgment.


loudly

loudly (comparative loudlier or more loudly, superlative loudliest or most loudly)

loudlier (comparative)
more loudly (comparative)
loudliest (superlative)
most loudly (superlative)

From Middle English loudly, equivalent to loud + -ly.

He spoke loudly so that his brother could hear him from across the street.

And still when loudliest howls the storm, / And darkliest lowers his native sky, / The king's fierce soul is in that form, / The warrior's spirit threatens nigh!

1846, R[obert] S[tephen] Hawker, “The Wreck”, in Echoes from Old Cornwall, London: Joseph Masters, […], →OCLC, stanza X, page 76:


from the word go

Suggesting a footrace that is begun with the word "go".

I watched him closely from the word go because I did not trust him.

"I promise to take care of myself. Yes; I won't take any risks. Not a single blessed risk. Of course not. I mean to hang out. Don't worry. Jove! I feel as though nothing could touch me. Why! this is luck from the word Go."

1900, Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim, page xxiii. 177:

(idiomatic) From the very beginning; from the outset; immediately upon starting.


anymore

/ˌæ.niˈmɔːɹ/

He doesn't live here anymore.

(especially US) Alternative form of any more.


meantime

From Middle English menetime, equivalent to mean + time. Adverb is by ellipsis from in the meantime.

Meantime Pope Urban II convoked two councils, one after another.

1919, Boris Sidis, The Source and Aim of Human Progress:

Lunch will be in twenty minutes. Meantime: I have[…]

1934, Rex Stout, Fer-de-Lance, Bantam edition edition, published 1992, →ISBN, page 97:

Meantime, the train went on to Brighton without further incident. No small stir was caused by its arrival with No. 61 at its head, resplendent with "East London Line Special" head boards, which at once caught the eye of William Stroudley, who was observing the traffic working from his office window.

1951 May, J. Pelham Maitland, “A Memorable Run by a Brighton "Terrier"”, in Railway Magazine, page 347:


unctuously

unctuously (comparative more unctuously, superlative most unctuously)

more unctuously (comparative)
most unctuously (superlative)


en passant

/ˌɒ̃ pæˈsɒ̃/

Unadapted borrowing from French en passant.

ubor

Turtle doves have long been celebrated for their fidelity; and this turtle dove, though he flirts, en paſſant, with a ſky-lark, a jay, and a quail, does not materially diſcredit the famed conſtancy of his ſpecies, theſe birds being all coquettes: but when he meets (as he fortunately does) with an amiable dove-mate, he is as faithful as any turtle, of any grove.

1791 January, “[Miscellaneous.] Art. 65. The Turtle Dove. A Tale, from the French of M. de Florian. 8vo. pp. 25. 1s. Printed at Caen in Normandy; and Sold in London by Payne [book review]”, in The Monthly Review; or, Literary Journal, Enlarged, volume IV, London: Printed for R[alph] Griffiths; and sold by T[homas] Becket, in Pall Mall, →OCLC, page 113:

Mr. William Poole called in, and examined […] I spoke to sheriff Thorpe, en passant, one day in Sackville-street, saying, "I should wish to be on the next commission jury;" and he said, it should be so.

1823 May 6, “Sheriff of Dublin—Inquiry into His Conduct”, in T[homas] C[urson] Hansard, editor, The Parliamentary Debates: Forming a Continuation of the Work Entitled “The Parliamentary History of England from the Earliest Period to the Year 1803.” (New Series; Commencing with the Accession of George IV), volume IX (Comprising the Period from the First Day of May, to the Nineteenth Day of July, 1823), London: Printed by T. C. Hansard at the Pater-noster-Row Press; for Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy [et al.], published 1824, →OCLC, columns 71–72:

[H]e [the newly elected Pope] is placed on the altar, where all the cardinals, according to their rank, pay their reverence to him, and kiss his feet, hands, and mouth. I should observe, en passant, that cardinals only have the right to kiss the Pope's hand.

1825, [Victor-Joseph Étienne] de Jouy, “The Conclave”, in The Hermit in Italy, or Observations on the Manners and Customs of Italy; being a Continuation of the Sketches of French Manners, … In Three Volumes, volume I, London: Printed for Geo[rge] B[yrom] Whittaker, Ave-Maria Lane, →OCLC, pages 170–171:

أَخْذٌ بِالتَّجَاوُز

(chess) captured “in passing” by the other player's pawn

[I]f the opponent chooses to make this capture, he must do it immediately on his next move – if he makes any other move on his next move, he forever loses the chance to capture that pawn en passant, though he still retains the right to capture another pawn en passant should a similar situation arise elsewhere.

2007, Mark A. Borders, “The Rules”, in The Self-Improvement of Chess: Why the Game's Basics Apply to Daily Living, [Raleigh, N.C.]: Lulu, →ISBN, page 12:

(of capturing an enemy pawn in chess) By moving one's pawn to the square that the enemy pawn has just passed over.


theocratically

en-adv

theocratically (comparative more theocratically, superlative most theocratically)

more theocratically (comparative)
most theocratically (superlative)


theatrically

theatrically (comparative more theatrically, superlative most theatrically)

more theatrically (comparative)
most theatrically (superlative)

The film premiered on 3 August before opening theatrically two days later.


nevermore

From Middle English nevermore, from the Old English phrase nǣfre mā. Equivalent to never + -more.

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
 Shall be lifted—nevermore!

1845 February, — Quarles [pseudonym; Edgar Allan Poe], “The Raven”, in The American Review, volume I, number II, New York, N.Y., London: Wiley & Putnam, […], →OCLC:


never again

Never again becomes more than a slogan: It’s a prayer, a promise, a vow … never again the glorification of base, ugly, dark violence

2012, Elie Wiesel, (Please provide the book title or journal name):

Yet, as Rose says, "Never again is obsolete. Never again is now.” She points out that there are contemporary genocides and many human rights violations happening at this very second. Rose's words challenge us all to respond to the moral imperative of standing up when confronted by injustice, ...

2014, Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Whitney Douglas, Sara W. Fry, The Activist Learner: Inquiry, Literacy, and Service to Make Learning Better, Teachers College Press, →ISBN, page 93:

(set phrase) At no time in the future; usually said of a negative event, practice, etc., which should not be allowed to reoccur.


zoologically

After returning from my first expedition none of these more northern lakes were zoologically known nor had the other great lakes the Victoria Nyanza and the chains of lakes in the eastern arm of the rift been sufficiently minutely examined to show whether the halolimnic fauna existed in any of them or not.

1901, J. E. S. Moore, The Geographical journal, Great Britain: Royal Geographical Society, page 6:


abiogenetically

(biology) In an abiogenetic manner; to have created life without life.


aberrantly

aberrantly (comparative more aberrantly, superlative most aberrantly)

more aberrantly (comparative)
most aberrantly (superlative)

The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles

Oxford University Press
w:Oxford University Press


crossly

crossly (comparative more crossly, superlative most crossly)

more crossly (comparative)
most crossly (superlative)

'What do you want, Miss?' he asked, rather crossly.

1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 75:

You have the money, but if you want to be mean / Why keep your money (this crossly) and go along

1936, Robert Frost, The Roadside Stand, page 669:


inconsequentially

inconsequentially (comparative more inconsequentially, superlative most inconsequentially)

more inconsequentially (comparative)
most inconsequentially (superlative)


consequentially

consequentially (comparative more consequentially, superlative most consequentially)

more consequentially (comparative)
most consequentially (superlative)

In a consequential manner; with consequence or significance.


allegorically

allegorically (comparative more allegorically, superlative most allegorically)

more allegorically (comparative)
most allegorically (superlative)


jes

Pronunciation spelling of just, representing African-American Vernacular English.


ab initio

From Latin ab (“from”) + initiō, ablative singular of initium (“beginning”).

(law) From the time when a law, legal right or decree, contract, ownership interest, partnership (etc.) comes into force.

ab initio

referring to the time from when a legal document comes into force

Parliament of India
w:Parliament of India

w:Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006

2007, Parliament of India, “Section 14”, in Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, page 4:
Any child marriage solemnised in contravention of an injunction order issued under section 13, whether interim or final, shall be void ab initio.

[…] this soul does not exist ab initio, as orthodox Christianity teaches; it has to be brought into existence by a process of guided self-observation. However, this is rarely achieved, owing to man's unique ability to be distracted from spiritual matters by everyday trivia.

1983, Monty Python, The meaning of life, at about 1h 15'

(sciences) Calculated from first principles, i.e. from basic laws without any further additional assumptions.

(of an academic course) Taken with no prior qualifications.


pro per

short form of the Latin “in propria persona”

in propria persona
in propria persona#English


in propria persona

She became a subscriber—amazed at being anything in propria persona, amazed at her own doings in every way; to be a renter, a chuser of books!

1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter IX, in Mansfield Park: […], volume III, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 191:

By the person themselves; often used when a defendant is representing themselves in court without an attorney.


theoretically

I haven't tested it, but theoretically it ought to fly.

I solved the problem theoretically rather than practically.

Rumors of an indictment had spread through this heavily gay and lesbian community since shortly after the theoretically secret investigation began in 1984.

1985 December 14, Gordon Gottlieb, “L.A. Community Divided over Terrigno Indictment”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 22, page 10:

No, but insurance does cover it. Theoretically.

2023 November 1, Honest Dentist Appointment:

in theory though not necessarily in reality.


thereabout

/ðɛəɹəˈbaʊt/

/ˈðɛəɹəbaʊt/

/ˈðɛɹəˌbaʊt/

/ˌðɛɹəˈbaʊt/

From Middle English ther-aboute, ther-abouten (“of a place or an object: around there, in its vicinity; surrounding it; nearby, neighbouring; here and there, throughout that place; of an action, matter, etc.: about, concerning; of an amount or distance: approximately, more or less; of time: about then, around that time”) [and other forms], from Old English þǣr-ābūtan, þǣr-onbūtan, from þǣr (“there”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *só (“this; that”) + *-r) + abūtan, onbūtan (“about; round about; on; on the outside”) (from on- (prefix meaning ‘on; upon; there; thither; to’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂en- (“on; onto”)) + būtan (“just, merely, only”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep- + *úd (“away; out; outwards; upwards”))). The English word is analysable as there + about.
The word is attested earlier than thereabouts.

nb...

therabouʒtte, there a-bowtyn, thorbuten, þare aboute, þare a-bouten, (Early Middle English) þarabutan, þær abuton

sielläpäin

of a location that is not pointed at but indicated otherwise

Dinner will be ready at six-thirty or thereabout.

About or near to that condition or quality.

nêzîkî

about or near to that condition or quality

The speed of light is 186,000 miles per second, right? Yes, thereabout.

And they entred in, and found not the body of the Lord Jeſus. And it came to paſſe, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men ſtood by them in ſhining garments.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 24:3–4, column 2:

(figuratively) Near to that activity or situation.


satirically

en-adv

satirically (comparative more satirically, superlative most satirically)

more satirically (comparative)
most satirically (superlative)

From satiric + -ally or satirical + -ly.


a trifle

Could you lend me some money? I'm a trifle short of what I need to pay the rent.

He contemplated the large well-proportioned letters and final flourish, with his head a trifle on one side for an instant […]

1872, George Eliot, Middlemarch, Book 3, Chapter 23:

Commander Birch was a trifle uneasy when he found there was more than a popple on the sea; it was, in fact, distinctly choppy. Strictly speaking, he ought to have been following up the picket–boat, but he was satisfied that the circumstances were sufficiently urgent for him to take risks.

1928, Lawrence R. Bourne, chapter 17, in Well Tackled!:

He stared at the chart. “Maybe we’ll move away towards the west a trifle, and come down on Fiji from the north.”

1957, Neville Shute, chapter 4, in On the Beach, New York: William Morrow:

2006, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Wizard of the Crow, New York: Knopf Doubleday, Book 3, p. 411,
“Let’s get on with it,” Sikiokuu replied, a trifle impatiently.


plump

From Middle English plumpen, akin to Middle Dutch plompen, Middle Low German plumpen, German plumpfen.

I suppose then, that going plump on a flying whale with your sail set in a foggy squall is the height of a whaleman’s discretion?

1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 49, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 253:


assiduously

assiduously (comparative more assiduously, superlative most assiduously)

more assiduously (comparative)
most assiduously (superlative)

He who had appeared rather assiduously to shun her, whose good opinion she had valued, notwithstanding his seeming indifference to her, had now declared himself, and given proofs of a regard the most unequivocal.

1838, [Letitia Elizabeth] Landon (indicated as editor), chapter XVII, in Duty and Inclination: […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 238:

They were all too assiduously engaged to talk to us as we passed.

1895–1897, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “What I Saw of the Destruction of Weybridge and Shepperton”, in “The War of the Worlds”, in Pearson’s, London: C. Arthur Pearson Ltd, published 1897, page 39, column 2:

There were many wooden chairs for the bulk of his visitors, and two wicker arm-chairs with red cloth cushions for superior people. From the packing-cases had also emerged some Indian clubs,[…]; and all these articles[…]made a scattered and untidy decoration that Mrs. Clough assiduously dusted and greatly cherished.

1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXIII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, page 184:

Her voice caught in her throat and another violent shiver ran through her. Bradly thought she was going to cry and became actively disturbed, holding her with one arm and patting her shoulder assiduously. "Damme, don't think about it, Cora."

1938, Norman Lindsay, chapter XXII, in Age of Consent, London: T[homas] Werner Laurie […], →OCLC, page 236:

No. 21C9 was in need of a boiler washout and though she was carefully and assiduously fired and use made of the fire-irons during the run, it was not possible to maintain steam, which often fell as low as 210 lb.

1944 March and April, E. S. Waterhouse, “Two Footplate Rides on "Merchant Navy" Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 88:

While it remains a burden assiduously avoided, it is not unexpected, and thus not beyond a measure of control. Which has led you, inexorably, here.

2003, Matrix Reloaded, spoken by The Architect:

2020, Frank Bowman, The role of the chief justice in an impeachment trial, SCOTUSblog (Jan. 10, 2020, 11:18 AM), online
What little precedent we have in such cases suggests that chief justices keep their heads down and, so far as possible, defer assiduously to the will of the Senate majority.

In an assiduous manner; diligently, industriously.


slatternly

slatternly (comparative more slatternly, superlative most slatternly)

more slatternly (comparative)
most slatternly (superlative)


inadvertently

'Dear me! I may have inadvertently touched the handle,' said he.

1929, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Disintegration Machine:

Neven Subotic hooked a volley wide after Ramsey inadvertently headed a Reus free-kick back into the danger zone, and Blaszczykowski was also off target when he met Kevin Grosskreutz's cross.

2013 November 6, Chris Bevan, “Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Arsenal”, in BBC Sport:

Unintentionally; because of an oversight.


tightly

tightly (comparative tightlier or more tightly, superlative tightliest or most tightly)

tightlier (comparative)
more tightly (comparative)
tightliest (superlative)
most tightly (superlative)

tightly clenched fingers

Clutching my cure / I tightly lock the door / I try to catch my breath again

2003, Linkin Park (lyrics and music), “Breaking the Habit”, in Meteora:

(of speech) Curtly in a way that suggests anger or other intense emotion is being contained.


thereabouts

/ðɛəɹəˈbaʊts/

/ˈðɛəɹəbaʊts/

/ˈðɛɹəˌbaʊts/

/ˌðɛɹəˈbaʊts/

The adverb is derived from Middle English there-aboutes, þare aboutes (“of a place or an object: around there, in its vicinity; of time: about then, around that time”) [and other forms], from ther (“in that place, in those places, there; on that; thither, to that place; from there, thence; at that time; thereupon; in that situation, under those circumstances; in that case, with regard to that”) (from Old English þǣr (“there”)) + aboutes (“in all directions, around”, adverb), aboutes (“in all directions from, on all sides of; near; concerned with”, preposition) (from aboute, abouten (“so as to surround; so as to cover; on the border or edge; as measured around the outside; to as to travel around something; so as to revolve about an axis or centre; aside; in all directions; in the vicinity; in connection with something; in several places; everywhere, throughout; to all or everyone; almost, approximately; concerning; in succession; so as to be or happen”, adverb), aboute, abouten (“surrounding; covering; over; upon; on the border of; in all directions; in the vicinity of, near to; in several places; everywhere, throughout; almost, approximately; concerning; engaged in; on behalf of”, preposition) (from Old English abūtan, onbūtan (“about; round about; on; on the outside”)) + -s (suffix forming adverbs)); see further at thereabout. The English word is analysable as thereabout + -s (suffix forming adverbs).
The noun may result from a confusion of thereabouts with whereabouts.
The word is attested later than thereabout.

suffix

[W]e reſolv'd to put into a ſmall River, which however had a Depth enough of Water for us, and to ſee if we could, either over Land, or by the Ship's Pinnace, come to know what Ships were in any Port thereabouts.

1719, [Daniel Defoe], The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, page 266:

Synonym of thereabout:
About or near that place.

We ſtay'd by it a quarter of an Hour or thereabouts, 'till the Powder in the Eyes, and Mouth, and Ears of the Idol blew up; and we could perceive had ſplit and deform'd the Shape; […]

1719, [Daniel Defoe], The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, page 338:

Synonym of thereabout:
About or around that date or time.

Fiue or ſix thouſand horſe I ſed, I will ſay true, or thereabouts ſet downe, for Ile ſpeake truth.

c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii], page 247, column 2:

Synonym of thereabout:
Approximately that number or quantity.

Synonym of thereabout:
(obsolete)
About that; concerning that.

Synonym of thereabout:
About that; concerning that.

Cam. [i.e., Canidus.] Our Fortune on the Sea is out of breath,
And ſinkes moſt lamentably. Had our Generall
Bin what he knew himſelfe, it had gone well:
Oh his [i.e., he] ha's giuen example for our flight,
Moſt groſſely by his owne.
Eno[barbus]. I, are you thereabouts? Why then goodnight indeede.

c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene x], page 355, column 2:

Canidus. Our fortune [in the battle] on the sea is out of breath,
And sinks most lamentably. Had our general
Been his old self, it would have gone well.
Oh, he has given us an example for our desertion,
Most grossly by his own.
Enobarbus. Ay, are you near that situation [i.e., also considering desertion]? Why, then we must be at the end indeed.

Cam[illo]. I dare not know (my Lord.)
Pol[ixenes]. How, dare not? doe not? doe you know, and dare not?
Be intelligent to me, 'tis thereabouts:
For to your ſelfe, what you doe know, you muſt,
And cannot ſay, you dare not.

c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 280, column 2:

Amid[eo]. […] [D]o not work
Upon my pity; for I feel already
My ſtout heart melts.
Hip[polito]. Oh! are you thereabouts?

1675, John Driden [i.e., John Dryden], The Rival Ladies. A Tragi-comedy. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], →OCLC, Act IV, scene iii, page 46:

Synonym of thereabout:
Near to that activity or situation.


hereupon

From here + upon. Spelled as two words before the 16th century.


bona fide

Unadapted borrowing from Latin bonā fidē (“in good faith”).

ubor

But by the knots I am speaking of, may it please your reverences to believe, that I mean good, honest, devilish tight, hard knots, made bona fide, as Obadiah made his; […]

1761, [Laurence Sterne], chapter X, in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, volume III, London: […] R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley […], →OCLC, pages 29–30:

Let thinking people, then, judge what must be the fate of a church, whose fundamental doctrines are disbelieved by men of sense and inquiry, whose articles are well known not to be subscribed bonâ fide by those who officiate in it […].

1791, Joseph Priestley, Letters to Burke, section XII:

auf Treu und Glauben

done in good faith; genuinely; sincerely


cheerfully

en-adv

cheerfully (comparative more cheerfully, superlative most cheerfully)

more cheerfully (comparative)
most cheerfully (superlative)

/ˈt͡ʃɪɹfəli/

From Middle English cherefully; equivalent to cheerful + -ly.

'Well, what have you done this time?' asked Sebastian cheerfully.

1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 90:


speedily

speedily (comparative speedilier or more speedily, superlative speediliest or most speedily)

speedilier (comparative)
more speedily (comparative)
speediliest (superlative)
most speedily (superlative)

From Middle English spedily, spedili, from Old English *spēdiġlīċe, ġespēdiġlīċe (“prosperously”), equivalent to speedy + -ly. Cognate with Scots spedely, spedelie (“quickly, speedily”). Compare also Old English spēdlīċe (“effectually, effectively, successfully, efficaciously, powerfully, in a manner which produces a result”).

cog

He was speedily reassured, and with a large, white, rascally grin, and a glance at his charge, seemed to take me into partnership in his exalted trust.

1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 205:

If they keep marching as speedily as they are now, they should reach us within three days."

1944, H. Lorna Bingham, Tuckonie's Warrior Friend, page 33, column 2:


sarcastically

en-adv

sarcastically (comparative more sarcastically, superlative most sarcastically)

more sarcastically (comparative)
most sarcastically (superlative)

`Sprung!' cried Jeff Basin, the local dubbo. 'Oh, der,' moaned Boardie sarcastically.

1979, Gabrielle Carey, Kathy Lette, Puberty Blues, page 46:


reasonably

reasonably (comparative more reasonably, superlative most reasonably)

more reasonably (comparative)
most reasonably (superlative)

They were able handle their disagreements reasonably.

The shoes were reasonably priced.

Fanny said she would drive to Center Campobello, but Dubin in his laryngitic voice told her he was reasonably sure he could make it to her after another week.

1979, Bernard Malamud, chapter 7, in Dubin’s Lives:

That car goes reasonably fast.


bitterly

bitterly (comparative more bitterly, superlative most bitterly)

more bitterly (comparative)
most bitterly (superlative)

From Middle English bitterli, biterli, biterliche, from Old English biterlīċe, bitterlīċe (“bitterly”), equivalent to bitter + -ly. Cognate with German Low German bitterlik (“bitterly”), German bitterlich (“bitterly”), Swedish bitterligen (“bitterly”).

cog

Judge Short had gone to town, and Farrar was off for a three days' cruise up the lake. I was bitterly regretting I had not gone with him when the distant notes of a coach horn reached my ear, and I descried a four-in-hand winding its way up the inn road from the direction of Mohair.

1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:

Heidi threw herself down beside Clara's chair and began to cry bitterly.

1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 91:

Liverpool's £58m strikeforce of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez scored the goals that settled the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park - but Everton were left complaining bitterly about Jack Rodwell's controversial early red card.

2011 October 1, Phil McNulty, “Everton 0-2 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:

On a bitterly cold evening at Wembley, the Lionesses knew only victory would be enough to keep alive Team GB's hopes of competing in Paris.

2023 December 1, Emma Sanders, “England 3-2 Netherlands”, in BBC Sport:


adown

From Middle English adoun, from Old English adūn, earlier ofdūne (“down”), from of dūne (“off the hill”) (compare Latin ad vallum > Old French à val, used in the same way).

Thrice did she sink adown.

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 24:

Many a family circle wept as they looked upon the familiar places, which would know their lost ones no more; but ah, chide me not, kind reader, in thus leading you adown to the coldness of death, in setting before you that which causes your tender heart to shudder.

1859, Ferna Vale, Natalie; or, A Gem Among the Sea-Weeds:

The policeman on the beat moved up the avenue impressively. […] Trying doors as he went, twirling his club with many intricate and artful movements, turning now and then to cast his watchful eye adown the pacific thoroughfare, the officer, with his stalwart form and slight swagger, made a fine picture of a guardian of the peace.

1906 April, O. Henry [pseudonym; William Sydney Porter], “After Twenty Years”, in The Four Million, New York, N.Y.: McClure, Phillips & Co, →OCLC, page 214:

(archaic) Down, downward; to or in a lower place.


in addition

Plant breeding is always a numbers game.[…]The wild species we use are rich in genetic variation, and individual plants are highly heterozygous and do not breed true. In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try, the better.

2013 May-June, David Van Tassel, Lee DeHaan, “Wild Plants to the Rescue”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:

(conjunctive, idiomatic) Also; as well; besides.


obviously

en-adv

obviously (comparative more obviously, superlative most obviously)

more obviously (comparative)
most obviously (superlative)

She was in floods of tears and obviously very upset.

It was a casual sneer, obviously one of a long line. There was hatred behind it, but of a quiet, chronic type, nothing new or unduly virulent, and he was taken aback by the flicker of amazed incredulity that passed over the younger man's ravaged face.

1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 8, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:

In an obvious or clearly apparent manner.

You weren't to know, but I've spoken to, obviously, Jim about this, and ...

(colloquial) Used as a filler word, or to introduce information even when not obvious.


post mortem

From Latin post (“afterwards”) + mortem, from mors (“death”).

The injuries were found to have been caused post mortem.

հետմահու

occurring after death — see also posthumously

по́сле сме́рти (pósle smérti, literally “after death”)

пі́сля сме́рті (píslja smérti, literally “after death”)


environ

The adverb is derived from Middle English enviroun (“round about in a circle or ring; all around”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman enviroun, environ [and other forms], and Middle French enviroun, environ [and other forms], from Old French environ (“around, surrounding; about, approximately, roughly”) (modern French environ), from en- (prefix meaning ‘in; into’) + viron (“circuit; circumference, compass; country round about”) (though first attested later) (from virer (“to bear, turn, veer”) (either from Latin gȳrō (“to turn in a circle, rotate; to circle, revolve around”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gew- (“to bend, curve; an arch, vault”)), or from Latin vibrō (“to hurl, launch; shake; to tremble, vibrate”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weyb-, *weyp- (“to shake; to tremble; to sway, swing; to rotate, turn, wind, wrap (around)”))) + -on (augmentative suffix)).
The preposition is derived from Middle English enviroun (“around the outside or perimeter of; all around; about or throughout the extent of”), which is from the adverb.
cognates
* Catalan enviró, environ (both obsolete)
* Occitan environ
* Spanish environ (obsolete)

nb...

enuyroun, enveroun, environ, enviroun, enviroune, envroun, envyron, envyroun, envyrowne, inviroun, in viroun, invirown, invirowne, invyroun, invyrown

inh

Thaboũdant grace of the power deuyne / whiche doth illumyne yͤ world inuyron / Preſerue this audyẽce and cauſe them to inclyne / To charyte this is my petycyon

c. 1519 (date written), [John Rastell], A New Iuterlude [sic] and a Mery of the Nature of the .IIII. Element[s...]; reprinted as John S. Farmer, editor, The Nature of the Four Elements (The Tudor Facsimile Texts), London, Edinburgh: […] T. C. & E. C. Jack, […], 1908, →OCLC, signature Aij:

The abundant grace of the power divine / which doth illumine the world environ / Preserve this audience and cause them to incline / To charity; this is my petition

Lord Godfreyes eie three times enuiron goes, / To vievv vvhat count'nance euerie vvarriour beares, […]

1600, [Torquato Tasso], “The Second Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield, for I[saac] Iaggard and M[atthew] Lownes, →OCLC, stanza 80, page 35:


going forward

Going forward we plan to leverage our core competencies to gain market share.

[…] Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Friday that going forward, when flash floods were forecast, the city would go door-to-door in neighborhoods with high concentrations of such apartments and evacuate residents.

2021 September 3, Andy Newman, Luis Ferré-Sadurní, Tracey Tully, Jonah E. Bromwich, “Latest Updates: Death Toll Grows From Ida Flooding in Northeast”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(business, politics) In the immediate future and beyond.


heartily

en-adv

heartily (comparative more heartily, superlative most heartily)

more heartily (comparative)
most heartily (superlative)

From Middle English hertely, herteliche, heorteliche, from Old English ġeheortlīċe (“whole-heartedly, vigorously”), equivalent to hearty + -ly.

inh

eat heartily

greet someone heartily

Sometimes he laughed heartily as if he heard some capital joke; by degrees this lessened, and he spoke rapidly, but in very low tones.

1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 166: