sacredly

sacredly (comparative more sacredly, superlative most sacredly)

more sacredly (comparative)
most sacredly (superlative)

Scip[io]. […] Remember Syphax / Thy vow hath made thee Romes. / Syph[ax]. Which Ile preserve / As sacredly inviolate, as if / Eternall seales had ratifi’d it.

1637, Thomas Nabbes, Hannibal and Scipio, London: Charles Greene, act II, scene 3:

[H]e proteſted to me, that if he vvas naked in Bed vvith me, he vvould as ſacredly preſerve my Virtue, as he vvould defend it if I vvas aſſaulted by a Raviſher; […]

1722 (indicated as 1721), [Daniel Defoe], The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders, &c. […], London: […] W[illiam Rufus] Chetwood, […]; and T. Edling, […], published 1722, →OCLC, page 136:

[…] I have a communication of a very private—indeed, I will say, of a sacredly confidential nature, which I desire to make to you.

1871–1872, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], chapter LXI, in Middlemarch […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), Edinburgh, London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, book VI:

Each girl has to read her story out loud and then we talk it over. We are going to keep them all sacredly and have them to read to our descendants […]

1908 June, L[ucy] M[aud] Montgomery, chapter 26, in Anne of Green Gables, Boston, Mass.: L[ouis] C[oues] Page & Company, published August 1909 (11th printing), →OCLC:

Satisfaction because the ritual of Gormenghast was proceeding as sacredly and deliberately as ever before […]

1946, Mervyn Peake, “Mr Rottcodd Again”, in Titus Groan, London: Eyre & Spottiswoode, →OCLC:


even-steven

Alternative form of even steven (“equally, fairly”)


ferociously

en-adv

ferociously (comparative more ferociously, superlative most ferociously)

more ferociously (comparative)
most ferociously (superlative)

Challenger snorted ferociously as he looked at it, and his thick black hair seemed to bristle up in his wrath.

1913, Arthur Conan Doyle, “(please specify the page)”, in The Poison Belt […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:

In a ferocious manner, particularly violent and aggressive.

a ferociously fast pace


equivalently

equivalently (comparative more equivalently, superlative most equivalently)

more equivalently (comparative)
most equivalently (superlative)


sanctimoniously

sanctimoniously (comparative more sanctimoniously, superlative most sanctimoniously)

more sanctimoniously (comparative)
most sanctimoniously (superlative)


stanch

stanch (comparative more stanch, superlative most stanch)

more stanch (comparative)
most stanch (superlative)

From Middle English stanch, a variant of staunch, staunche (“(adjective) in good condition or repair; solidly made, firm; watertight; of a person or wound: not bleeding; certain; intact; (adverb) firmly, soundly”) [and other forms]; see further at staunch.

But you vvill loſe your Labour, and vvhat is more, their Love and Reverence too, if they can receive from others, vvhat you deny them. This is to be kept very ſtanch, and carefully to be vvatched.

1693, [John Locke], “§102”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC, page 119:


unmanly

unmanly (comparative more unmanly, superlative most unmanly)

more unmanly (comparative)
most unmanly (superlative)

He had acted unmanly, unworthy of a gentleman.

1878, The Christian Monitor, volume 17, page 298:

"That means that we shan't quarrel if I agree to whatever you are going to propose. What is it you want to say?" he asked, becoming grave in his turn. "Is it that I have behaved unmanly in visiting your room in your absence? Why cavil about a little thing of that sort? I do this for you as I would for Dora."

1900, Pauline Hopkins, Contending forces : a romance illustrative of negro life north and south:

A Yankee who had not "acclimated" well but had retained his native habit of "arguing" things, came to Riddle's one day, and after some talk about a stray horse, intimated that Mr. Riddle had behaved unmanly in the matter. Wi-ne-ma taking in the situation, pitched into Mr. Yank, and before he knew it, his head was bleeding profusely and a strong hand was grasping his throat. He fought back as best he could, but the poor little Yank was in the hands of an enraged Modoc woman, who was pelting him in the face, saying between her licks, "I'll learn you how you talk about my man."

1914, Jeff C. Davis Riddle, The Indian history of the Modoc war, and the causes that led to it:


everyplace

He told me that Buster took her face 'bout right off. Said there's guts and hair everyplace. There's a platoon or so of Payton's bluejackets up there on the View now.


esoterically

esoterically (comparative more esoterically, superlative most esoterically)

more esoterically (comparative)
most esoterically (superlative)


vanishingly

vanishingly rare

a vanishingly small object on the horizon

When they weren't running ships, meddling with alien civilisations or planning the future course of the Culture itself, the Minds existed in those fantastic virtual realities, sojourning beyondward into the multi-dimensioned geographies of their unleashed imaginations, vanishingly far away from the single limited point that was reality.

[Minnesota Senator Steve] Daines isn’t the only example of right-wing politicians who wish to wield anti-Semitism as a convenient cudgel against their political enemies, with scant if any evidence. But Montana’s vanishingly small Jewish population makes it particularly clear that this strategy has little to do with flesh-and-blood Jews at all.

2019 July 17, Talia Lavin, “When Non-Jews Wield Anti-Semitism as Political Shield”, in GQ:

So as to vanish, or appear to vanish; especially, very small or rare.


ergonomically

ergonomically (comparative more ergonomically, superlative most ergonomically)

more ergonomically (comparative)
most ergonomically (superlative)


ethereally

ethereally (comparative more ethereally, superlative most ethereally)

more ethereally (comparative)
most ethereally (superlative)


ethically

ethically (comparative more ethically, superlative most ethically)

more ethically (comparative)
most ethically (superlative)

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:


all over again

I spent five hours finding a suitable present for my sister, but then I lost it and had to look all over again.


satisfyingly

satisfyingly (comparative more satisfyingly, superlative most satisfyingly)

more satisfyingly (comparative)
most satisfyingly (superlative)

[T]he book, constructed in short, lucid episodes, can be satisfyingly read as a sequence of provocative talks, at once well informed and vatic.

2014 September 26, Tom Payne, “Sapiens: a Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, review: 'urgent questions' [print version: The story of our species, 27 September 2014, p. R32]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review):


for instance

At twilight in the summer[…]the mice come out. They[…]eat the luncheon crumbs. Mr. Checkly, for instance, always brought his dinner in a paper parcel in his coat-tail pocket, and ate it when so disposed, sprinkling crumbs lavishly—the only lavishment of which he was ever guilty—on the floor.

1892, Walter Besant, chapter II, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC:

"Such an outcome would be unusual?" / "Exceptional. But then there are exceptions. And I'm straining every nerve to make this one!" / "And the suffering — such as today's, for instance — is unavoidable?"

1907, Edith Wharton, The Fruit of the Tree, page 205:

One taps any source of comfort — Leigh Ashton at Charleston yesterday for instance.

1940, Virginia Woolf, edited by Leonard Woolf, A Writer's Diary, published 1953, page 323:

I met one yesterday, for instance – some treat he was!

2006, Michael Karpelson, The Master And Margarita, translation of original by Mikhail Afanasevich Bulgakov, page 66:

For instance, one can always find a division that is envy-free and equitable: The equal division is an example.

2009, Christoph Börgers, Mathematics of Social Choice, page 190:

Take yesterday for instance. You can see how busy the store gets and we packers have to be ultra careful how we load the shelves and where we erect the pyramids. Two children aged about eight and ten were racing around the store playing[…]

2011, Gordon Finn, Yesterday's Porridge, page 6:


instanter

Unadapted borrowing from Medieval Latin īnstanter (“immediately”), originally “vehemently” in Classical Latin.

ubor

"They're another reason why I've got to get my girl and start instanter.

1932, Delos W. Lovelace, King Kong, published 1965, page 8:

They lifted him onto the deck where he lay in his wet seersucker suit and his lemoncolored socks, leering walleyed up at the workers with the hook in his face like some gross water homunculus taken in trolling that the light of God's day had stricken dead instanter.

1979, Cormac McCarthy, Suttree, Random House, page 9:

I cleared my throat & bade all good morning, at which our amicable captain swore, 'You can better my morning, by b—ing off, instanter!'

2004, David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas, London: Hodder and Stoughton, →ISBN:


saucily

en-adv

saucily (comparative more saucily, superlative most saucily)

more saucily (comparative)
most saucily (superlative)

She walked off saucily and I watched, entranced, until she turned the corner; then I ran after her to ask her for a date.

The Clown put his hands in his pockets, and after puffing out his cheeks and nodding his head at them saucily he said, “My lady fair, / Why do you stare / At poor old Mr. Joker? / You’re quite as stiff / And prim as if / You’d eaten up a poker!”

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:

'What do you want?' she called saucily from the top of the stairs.

1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 62:

In a saucy manner; impudently or impertinently.


sanguinely

sanguinely (comparative more sanguinely, superlative most sanguinely)

more sanguinely (comparative)
most sanguinely (superlative)


sartorially

sartorially (comparative more sartorially, superlative most sartorially)

more sartorially (comparative)
most sartorially (superlative)

The success rate of the shade varied wildly. Those who qualified for the pale and sartorially interesting included Cotillard, whose dress worked mainly from the back, and Carmen Ejogo, whose sequin slip gown was almost blasé in its simplicity.

2015 February 23, “Oscars 2015: 10 things we learned”, in The Guardian (London):

With regard to good clothing or skilled tailoring.


skyward

The rocket shot skyward and exploded in a burst of glittering stars.

If there is a heaven up there, Carl Sagan will be in his element on November 30, when Venus, Jupiter, and the moon align in a facelike formation. Gaze skyward to appreciate this rare triple feature of the brightest planets with a wry grin from the moon.

2008 January–February, Matt Bean, “Your cultural calendar: 7 things to look forward to this year”, in Men's Health, volume 23, number 1, →ISSN, page 135:


grosso modo

grosso modo (comparative more grosso modo, superlative most grosso modo)

more grosso modo (comparative)
most grosso modo (superlative)

1980. Henry Mehlberg, Robert Sonné Cohen. Time, Causality, and the Quantum Theory: Studies in the Philosophy of Science. p. 211.
The fact that event B takes place in the interval separating events A and C has an invariant significance, which may be expressed grosso modo by saying that events which are closer together have more effects in common.

1985. Edward W. Said. Orientalism Reconsidered. Cultural Critique, 1, pp. 94-95.
Still others criticize Orientalism for falsifying the nature of Islam: these are, grosso modo, the fundamentalists.


reversibly

reversibly (comparative more reversibly, superlative most reversibly)

more reversibly (comparative)
most reversibly (superlative)

In order to accommodate the new platform 4 and the reversibly signalled slow line, a deep cutting had to be cut back and held up in places with a concrete retaining wall.

1962 June, David Walters, “The new station and layout at Coventry”, in Modern Railways, page 405:

Relating to something that is reversible.


homewards

From Middle English homwardes, hamwardes, from Old English hāmweardes, equivalent to home + -wards. Cognate with Dutch heimwaarts, German heimwärts (“homewards”).

We're now heading homewards.


sardonically

sardonically (comparative more sardonically, superlative most sardonically)

more sardonically (comparative)
most sardonically (superlative)

Her floppy hat came down to the tip of her nose, revealing only a long chin and a wide tight mouth, twitched up at the corners by a nervous contraction of her cheek muscles, which gave her an unexpected air of smiling sardonically in the recesses of her hat.

1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 93:


scathingly

scathingly (comparative more scathingly, superlative most scathingly)

more scathingly (comparative)
most scathingly (superlative)


schematically

In the manner of a schematic. Drawn or described rather than an example.


scandalously

scandalously (comparative more scandalously, superlative most scandalously)

more scandalously (comparative)
most scandalously (superlative)

She was seen running for her life scandalously underclad.


as it were

From Middle English as it were, as hyt were, als it were, als hit were, from Old English *ealswā hit wǣre, attested only as swā hit wǣre and swylċe hit wǣre (“as it were”, literally “as it would be”).

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see as, it, were.

With so much construction and renovation going on all around him, he was more or less living in a new city now, as it were. [His city is not newly founded, and it has been neither renamed nor moved, but in some practical way it is true that he does not live in the same city that he used to live in.]

God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the ſtrength of an Vnicorne.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 23:22, column 2:

Yet so strong is the parental ambition among those Polygons who are, as it were, on the fringe of the Circular class, that it is very rare to find a Nobleman of that position in society, who has neglected to place his first-born in the Circular Neo-Therapeutic Gymnasium before he has attained the age of a month.

1884, Edwin Abbott Abbott, Flatland, A Romance of Many Dimensions:

[T]here was no very clear vision, to these people, of supra-mundane beings, sitting apart and ordaining the affairs of earth, as it were from a distance.

1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., page 91:

Used to indicate that a word or statement is perhaps not exact though practically right; as if it were so.

as't ware

to indicate a word or statement is not exact

Coordinate term: no pun intended

She gave all of the women seated at the restaurant food for thought, as it were.

Concerns that cloud seeding might “steal” water from an area a cloud is traveling toward—robbing Peter to water Paul, as it were—have been dispelled.

Scientists hope Crispr might also be used for genomic surgery, as it were, to correct errant genes that cause disease.

2014 March 3, “A Powerful New Way to Edit DNA”, in New York Times:

The Volkswagen diesel-emissions exploit was caused by a software failing, even if it seems to have been engineered, as it were, deliberately-

2015 November 5, “Stop Calling Yourselves Engineers”, in The Atlantic:

Congress ended the bracero program in 1964, and the next 15 years were the salad days, as it were, for farmworkers

2017 March 31, “Hail Cesar!”, in National Review:

Used to draw attention to the use of a metaphor, sometimes to prevent confusion or to highlight wordplay.


no doubt

Inherited from Middle English ne doute, a calque of Old French saunz doute, itself borrowed unadapted into Middle English.

No doubt you can provide a better definition (that is, there's no doubt that you can.)


extempore

extempore (comparative more extempore, superlative most extempore)

more extempore (comparative)
most extempore (superlative)

From Latin ex (“immediately after”) + tempore, ablative singular of tempus (“time", "opportunity", "occasion”).


privily

privily (comparative more privily, superlative most privily)

more privily (comparative)
most privily (superlative)

From Middle English prively; equivalent to privy + -ly.

Gaveston: Why do you not commit him to the Tower?
King Edward: I dare not, for the people love him well.
Gaveston: Why, then we'll have him privily made away.

1594, Christopher Marlow[e], The Troublesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edward the Second, King of England: […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Henry Bell, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act II]:

Thou, Richard, shalt to the Duke of Norfolk, / And tell him privily of our intent.

c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:

[…] to cause that foaming in their mouthes, which is fearefull to behold by the standers by, they have this trick, privily to convey a peece of white soape into one corner of their Jawes, which causeth that froth to come boyling forth.

1608, Thomas Dekker, “The Belman of London”, in The Guls Hornbook and The Belman of London, J.M. Dent & Sons, published 1936, page 100:

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 1:19:

Item, because in the convents of women, men come not but underhand, privily, and by stealth; it was therefore enacted, that in this house there shall be no women in case there be not men, nor men in case there be not women.

1653, François Rabelais, translated by Thomas Urquhart, The Works of Rabelais, London: Chatto & Windus, published 1873, Book I, Chapter LII, p. 105:

That if any person shall be convicted of feloniously stealing any of the before mentioned articles from the person of another, whether privily and without his knowledge, or openly and avowedly before his face, he shall be deemed guilty of an higher species of larceny […]

1785, “An Act for the punishing and preventing of Larcenies”, in The Perpetual Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, from the Establishment of its Constitution in the Year 1780, to the End of the Year 1800, volume 1, Boston, published 1801, page 23:

They moved camp in the morning, without breakfast except for a crumbling chunk of dry pemmican which Aaron chewed privily.

1949, Sinclair Lewis, chapter 36, in The God-Seeker, New York: Popular Library, page 196:

‘I have tidings I know you will be anxious to hear, sweet sister, but they are best spoken of privily.’

1999, George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings, Bantam, published 2011, page 398:

(archaic) Secretly, in secret; in a private manner; privately.


from pillar to post

Possibly originally from post to pillar, perhaps a reference to the rapid movement of the ball in real tennis; The Wordsworth Dictionary of Proverbs (1993) notes that from post to pillar dates to at least the 15th century.

Mr. [Charles] Babbage, in his work on the Economy of Manufactures, suggests a new plan of forwarding the mail. […] Mr. Babbage proposes the erection of pillars along each line of road; these pillars are to be connected by inclined wires, or iron rods, along which the letters, inclosed in cylinders attached to the rods by rings, are to slide; persons stationed on these columns are to forward the cylinders from each point, after having extracted the contents belonging to their own station. In this manner it is calculated that a letter might be sent (from pillar to post), to the farthest limits of the land in the course of a very small portion of time; […]

1832 July, “A Novelty in Posting”, in The Annual Register, or a View of the History, Politics, and Literature of the Year 1832, volume LXXIV, London: Printed for Baldwin and Cradock [et al.], published 1833, →OCLC, page 81:

Q. You applied to Secretary [George Sewall] Boutwell because you had ascertained you could not get redress anywhere else?—A. No; we were sent from pillar to post, and from post to pillar, and we got no satisfaction any way.

1872, Testimony in Relation to Alleged Frauds in the New York Custom-House, Taken by the Committee on Investigation and Retrenchment (United States Senate, 42d Congress, 2d Session; report no. 227), volume III, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing-Office, →OCLC, page 181:

All these things, and others of like nature, are in their minds floating possibilities; in consequence of which they are sent from pillar to post in the realms of opinion, and are never anchored anywhere.

1874 May, “From Pillar to Post”, in Sarah J[osepha] Hale, Louis A[ntoine] Godey, editors, Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, volume LXXXVIII, number 527, Philadelphia, Pa.: Published by Louis A. Godey, N.E. cor. Sixth and Chestnut Sts., →OCLC, page 421:

[…] gays are still hounded from pillar to post by the watchdogs of American society.

1989, Marshall Kirk, Hunter Madsen, After the Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the '90s, Doubleday Books, page xv:

We campaigned like hell. On election day we went from pillar to post begging people to support us.

2003, Joan Steinau Lester, Fire in My Soul: Eleanor Holmes Norton, New York, N.Y.: Atria Books, ISBN 978-0-7434-0787-8; republished New York, N.Y.: Atria Books, January 2004, ISBN 978-0-7434-0788-5, page 263

When the bill becomes an act, it will provide a big relief to people who now run from pillar to post and are forced to pay bribes to get their work done in government offices.

2011 March 28, “Bihar assembly passes bill for time-bound government services”, in Daily Bhaskar, archived from the original on 2016-06-21:

Back in August, the Toon ace [Joey Barton] was kicked from pillar to post by Karl Henry in a bone-crunching midfield battle at Molineux.

2011 April 2, Steve Brenner, “Joey will defy pack of Wolves”, in The Sun, London:

There was also a belief that they had been taken advantage of - "kicked from pillar to post, the bottom dogs in the labour market because of the inherent love of railmen for their jobs", according to one NUR member.

2023 March 22, Mike Esbester, “Staff, the public and industry will suffer”, in RAIL, number 979, page 38:

(idiomatic) From one place (or person, or task) to another; from post to pillar, hither and thither.


cussed

(chiefly US, informal, degree) Very, cussedly, accursedly.


sotto voce

/ˌsɒtəʊ ˈvəʊtʃeɪ/

Borrowed from Italian sottovoce (literally “under [the] voice”).

bor+

"I am not your dear; I cannot lie down. Send me to school soon, Mrs. Reed, for I hate to live here." I will indeed send her to school soon," murmured Mrs. Reed sotto voce; and gathering up her work, she abruptly quitted the apartment.

1847 October 16, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], Jane Eyre. An Autobiography. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Smith, Elder, and Co., […], →OCLC:

“Darling,” she says, “a working-class hero is something to be. “Of course,” she adds, sotto voce, “I wouldn’t know.”

2007 February 25, William Shaw, quoting Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza, “We Are Not a Muse”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(music) Sung or played softly, instruments or voice.


defo

en-adv

defo (comparative more defo, superlative most defo)

more defo (comparative)
most defo (superlative)


forensically

forensically (comparative more forensically, superlative most forensically)

more forensically (comparative)
most forensically (superlative)

He banged his fist forensically on the top of a dinner-wagon.

1959, Anthony Burgess, Beds in the East (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 486:

a forensically thorough search

Regarding forensics, or forensic science.


clamorously

clamorously (comparative more clamorously, superlative most clamorously)

more clamorously (comparative)
most clamorously (superlative)


clamourously

clamourously (comparative more clamourously, superlative most clamourously)

more clamourously (comparative)
most clamourously (superlative)


gustily

gustily (comparative more gustily, superlative most gustily)

more gustily (comparative)
most gustily (superlative)


sedately

sedately (comparative more sedately, superlative most sedately)

more sedately (comparative)
most sedately (superlative)

Calmly, without excessive emotion or force; in a composed manner.

tyynesti

calmly, without excessive emotion or force


scornfully

scornfully (comparative more scornfully, superlative most scornfully)

more scornfully (comparative)
most scornfully (superlative)

"Do they not sneakingly bestow on me their crass inability to do anything with their own misbegotten progeny, a subterfuge which I scornfully fub off on text-books?"

1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1965, →OCLC, page 82:

'What does he look like?' asks John Halgard. 'A salesman,' says Gerontius scornfully.

1985, Joan Morrison, chapter 7, in Share House Blues, Boolarong Publications, page 91:


seaward

From Middle English seaward, seward (attested only as an adjective), equivalent to sea + -ward.

Ever the sailor's widow looked seaward, hoping to see her missing man coming home.

He and Gerald usually challenged the rollers in a sponson canoe when Gerald was there for the weekend; or, when Lansing came down, the two took long swims seaward or cruised about in Gerald's dory, clad in their swimming-suits; and Selwyn's youth became renewed in a manner almost ridiculous,[…].

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

In the direction of the sea, toward the sea.


seasonably

seasonably (comparative more seasonably, superlative most seasonably)

more seasonably (comparative)
most seasonably (superlative)

From Middle English sesonably, equivalent to seasonable + -ly.

...having very long suspended our conference about the freshly mention'd Subject, it was so newly begun when you came in, that we shall scarce need to repeat any thing to acquaint you With what has pass'd betwixt us before your arrival, so that I cannot but look upon it as a fortunate Accident that you should come so seasonably, to be not hearers alone, but we hope Interlocutors at our conference.

1661, Robert Boyle, The Sceptical Chymist, pages 6–7:

[...] I ſuppoſe we may now ſeaſonably proceed to conſider the Style of the Scripture: A Subject that will as well require as deſerve ſome Time and much Attention; [...]

1663, Robert Boyle, Some Considerations Touching the Style of the H[oly] Scriptures. […], London: […] Henry Herringman, […], →OCLC, page 1:

What matters me who wears the crown of France? / Whether a Richard or a Charles possess it? / They reap the glory—they enjoy the spoil— / We pay—we bleed!—The sun would shine as cheerly, / The rains of heaven as seasonably fall, / Tho' neither of these royal pests existed.

1794, Robert Southey, Wat Tyler. A Dramatic Poem. In Three Acts, London: J[ohn] M‘Creery, […] for Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, […], published 1817, →OCLC, Act I, page 6:

In due season; at an opportune or fitting time.

2005: Uniform Commercial Code § 1-204(3). The American Law Institute and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.
An action is taken "seasonably" when it is taken at or within the time agreed or if no time is agreed at or within a reasonable time.

(chiefly law) Within the appropriate time period during which an action will be legally effective, as prescribed in legislation, a contract, or otherwise.


smugly

smugly (comparative more smugly, superlative most smugly)

more smugly (comparative)
most smugly (superlative)

He was smirking smugly at us.


scholastically

scholastically (comparative more scholastically, superlative most scholastically)

more scholastically (comparative)
most scholastically (superlative)


scantly

scantly (comparative more scantly, superlative most scantly)

more scantly (comparative)
most scantly (superlative)

He scantly filled the bag, increasing his profits but getting dissatisified customers.

In a way that is slightly lacking, that is scant of how much should be provided.

We hold a tourney here to-morrow morn, / And there is scantly time for half the work.

1859, Alfred Tennyson, “Enid”, in Idylls of the King, London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, page 16:


yett

So when the L. Chauncellor or Keeper passeth anie patent by imediate warrant, yett the fees of the Clerke of the Seale and Signett are ordered to be awnswered, and yett theie doe noething for them.

1608, “Kalenders of the Starre Chamber, extract republished 1840, J. Payne Collier (editor), Lord Bacon and the Star Chamber”, in The Egerton papers: A collection of public and private documents, chiefly illustrative of the times of Elizabeth and James I, from the original documents, page 431:


scarily

scarily (comparative more scarily, superlative most scarily)

more scarily (comparative)
most scarily (superlative)


scurrilously

scurrilously (comparative more scurrilously, superlative most scurrilously)

more scurrilously (comparative)
most scurrilously (superlative)


geometrically

geometrically (comparative more geometrically, superlative most geometrically)

more geometrically (comparative)
most geometrically (superlative)


scurvily

scurvily (comparative more scurvily, superlative most scurvily)

more scurvily (comparative)
most scurvily (superlative)

If the crops turned out ill next year, the people laid the failure at the door of the ghosts, who fancied themselves scurvily treated and had taken their revenge by trampling down the corn.

1906, James George Frazer, Adonis, Attis, Osiris, volume 2, page 75:

In a scurvy manner; in a low, disgusting and mean way.


grammatically

grammatically (comparative more grammatically, superlative most grammatically)

more grammatically (comparative)
most grammatically (superlative)


counterintuitively

counterintuitively (comparative more counterintuitively, superlative most counterintuitively)

more counterintuitively (comparative)
most counterintuitively (superlative)

in a manner contrary to intuition or common sense


à gogo

Going to a Go-Go, a 1965 album by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

Monster A Go-Go, a 1965 B-movie

Supremes A' Go-Go, a 1966 album by The Supremes

Agogo, a 1998 album by KMFDM

A Go Go, a 1998 album by John Scofield

Global a Go-Go, a 2001 album by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros

JoJo a Go! Go!, an art book for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure by Hirohiko Araki

Whiskey a Go-Go, famous New York punk venue


numerously

numerously (comparative more numerously, superlative most numerously)

more numerously (comparative)
most numerously (superlative)

People voted more numerously this year than last year.


numerically

numerically (comparative more numerically, superlative most numerically)

more numerically (comparative)
most numerically (superlative)

Our forces are numerically inferior to those of the enemy.


twenty to the dozen

As if saying twenty words to another's dozen.

He can talk French twenty to the dozen.


searchingly

searchingly (comparative more searchingly, superlative most searchingly)

more searchingly (comparative)
most searchingly (superlative)

He stared at me searchingly, trying to determine if I was lying.

Away to the left along a side track his eyes travelled searchingly, as they came to a gate.

1902, Barbara Baynton, edited by Sally Krimmer and Alan Lawson, Bush Studies (Portable Australian Authors: Barbara Baynton), St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, published 1980, page 50:

'Hey, what's that?' he exclaimed gruffly, staring searchingly at her as he took her hand.

1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 48:


to the letter

You should follow what your boss said to the letter. Otherwise, you'll lose your job.

Capello warned his players that caution was not an option as they went in search of the result that would take England to Euro 2012. And his message was carried out to the letter in the opening exchanges as England played with a tempo and threat Montenegro struggled to subdue.

2011, Phil McNulty, “Euro 2012: Montenegro 2-2 England”, in BBC News:

(idiomatic) Literally, exactly, following the rules as written.

တစ်သဝေမတိမ်း

idiomatic for “literally”, following the rules as they're written


secondarily

From Middle English secundarili; equivalent to secondary + -ly.

Primarily, this will cause deaths; secondarily, it will also cost a lot of money.

And God hath ſet ſome in the Church, firſt Apoſtles, ſecondarily Pꝛophets, thirdly Teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helpes in gouernmẽts, diuerſities of tongues.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Corinthians 12:28:

(obsolete) Secondly; in the second place.


semiannually

From semi- + annually or semi- + annual + -ly.


semiyearly

semiyearly (comparative more semiyearly, superlative most semiyearly)

more semiyearly (comparative)
most semiyearly (superlative)

From semi- + yearly or semi- + year + -ly.


toe-tappingly

toe-tappingly (comparative more toe-tappingly, superlative most toe-tappingly)

more toe-tappingly (comparative)
most toe-tappingly (superlative)

From tap one's toes. Also from toe-tapping.

I saw this at the end of last week, and it struck me how much more toe tappingly infectious and resonant NBC's score and songs were than The Lion King's.

1994 December 15, Pete Clinch, “Nightmare before Christmas”, in bit.listserv.cinema-l (Usenet):

the "goth rap" bit isn't quite as toe-tappingly catchy as it was before.

1996 April 24, Richard Stuart, “Review of Cradle Of Filth - 'Vempire'”, in alt.rock-n-roll.metal.death (Usenet):

Zoidberg: It's toe-tappingly tragic!

2001 April, Matt Groening, “Bendin' in the Wind”, in Futurama, season 3, episode 13:

In the manner of pleasing rhythmic music, as would make one tap one's toes.


contemptibly

contemptibly (comparative more contemptibly, superlative most contemptibly)

more contemptibly (comparative)
most contemptibly (superlative)


semimonthly

They met semimonthly to discuss the latest developments.

In a manner occurring twice a month or at half month intervals.


puppyishly

puppyishly (comparative more puppyishly, superlative most puppyishly)

more puppyishly (comparative)
most puppyishly (superlative)


ceremonially

ceremonially (comparative more ceremonially, superlative most ceremonially)

more ceremonially (comparative)
most ceremonially (superlative)


showily

showily (comparative more showily, superlative most showily)

more showily (comparative)
most showily (superlative)


photogenically

photogenically (comparative more photogenically, superlative most photogenically)

more photogenically (comparative)
most photogenically (superlative)


secretively

secretively (comparative more secretively, superlative most secretively)

more secretively (comparative)
most secretively (superlative)


ingeniously

ingeniously (comparative more ingeniously, superlative most ingeniously)

more ingeniously (comparative)
most ingeniously (superlative)

The exterior of the train is perfectly air-smoothed and to cut passenger steps up to recessed doors would never do; when the deep doors are shut, therefore, the steps fold up ingeniously on the inside of them to create a level floor in the corridor of the coach.

1960 March, G. Freeman Allen, “Europe's most luxurious express - the "Settebello"”, in Trains Illustrated, page 141:

In an ingenious manner; using ingenuity.


contumaciously

contumaciously (comparative more contumaciously, superlative most contumaciously)

more contumaciously (comparative)
most contumaciously (superlative)

The Curate of Lobourne sent in a report that Master Richard's lessons were contumaciously disregarded …

1859, George Meredith, chapter 4, in The Ordeal of Richard Feverel. A History of Father and Son. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC:


purportedly

In addition, none of the purportedly more common terms of these pairs appear to be especially frequent in modern Indian English.

2014, James Lambert, “Diachronic stability in Indian English lexis”, in World Englishes, page 120:

After several years Philip Rigoli left the property, describing his family as ‘strange and toxic’, but father Virgilio and brother Joe continued to develop their nation, maintaining that it was the only valid response to a government purportedly discriminating against ‘Christians, white Anglo-Saxons and capitalists’.

2022, Harry Hobbs, George Williams, “Motivations” (chapter 3), in Micronations and the Search for Sovereignty, Cambridge University Press, →DOI, page 98:

As appears to be true or is stated or accepted to be (though might not be so).


perversely

perversely (comparative more perversely, superlative most perversely)

more perversely (comparative)
most perversely (superlative)

But even if one of the curves is sloped “perversely,” the condition may still be fulfilled […]

2005, Alpha C. Chiang and Kevin Wainwright, Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics, fourth edition, McGraw-Hill, page 482:

There is another reason the films are so entertaining and successful, though (with the franchise earning more than $500 million dollars so far). Perversely, we love John Wick himself. That lethal, bereaved assassin is a good bad guy for our times, the natural extension of Tony Soprano, Walter White and all the other heroic antiheroes the culture has embraced.

2023 March 14, Caryn James, “John Wick: Chapter 4: 'Soars above most action films'”, in BBC:


no

From Middle English no, na, from Old English nā, nō (“no, not, not ever, never”), from Proto-Germanic *nai (“never”), *ne (“not”), from Proto-Indo-European *ne, *nē, *nēy (negative particle), equivalent to Old English ne (“not”) + ā, ever, always. Cognate with Scots na (“no”), Saterland Frisian noa (“no”), West Frisian né (“no”), nea (“never”), Dutch nee (“no”), Low German nee (“no”), German nie (“never”), dialectal German nö (“no”), Danish nej (“no”), Swedish nej (“no”), Icelandic nei (“no”). More at nay.

It is a less physical kind of torture, but no less gruesome.

You’re no better than a common thief.

Look no further than one's nose

This is no different from what we've been doing all along.

(with following adjective) not, not at all

Used before different, before comparatives with more and less, and idiomatically before other comparatives.

This thing is no good.

The teacher’s decision was no fair.

(informal) Used idiomatically before certain other adjectives.

I just want to find out whether she's coming or no.

AS the Devil is not so Black as he is Painted, so neither does he appear in so many Shapes as we make for him; we Dress him up in more Suits of Cloaths, and more Masquerade Habits, than ever he wore; and I question much, if he was to see the Pictures and Figures which we call Devil, whether he would know himself by some of them or no.

1725, Daniel Defoe, An essay on the history and reality of apparitions:

(without adjective, now Scotland, informal) not


no

Variant of No., from the scribal abbreviation for Latin numero (“in number, to the number of”).


jure uxoris

From Latin iūre (“by right”) uxōris (“of wife”).

Robert Bruce, whom genealogists name "Robert Bruce IV" (c 1250 - c 1304), 6th Lord of Annandale, was titled Earl of Carrick jure uxoris.


soulfully

en-adv

soulfully (comparative more soulfully, superlative most soulfully)

more soulfully (comparative)
most soulfully (superlative)


seemly

seemly (comparative more seemly, superlative most seemly)

more seemly (comparative)
most seemly (superlative)

From Middle English semly, semely, semelich, from Old Norse sœmiligr (“seemly”); equivalent to seem + -ly. Cognate with Icelandic sæmilegur (“seemly, passable”), Danish sømmelig (“seemly”).

cog

The great earthes wombe they open to the sky, / And with sad Cypresse seemely it embraue [...].

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


come what may

If you vant a more polished sort o' feller, vell and good, have him; but vages or no vages, notice or no notice, board or no board, lodgin' or no lodgin', Sam Veller, as you took from the old inn in the Borough, sticks by you, come what may.

1837, Charles Dickens, chapter 56, in The Pickwick Papers:

[W]e are here of a set purpose and we will go forward with it, come what may.

1906, Arthur Conan Doyle, chapter 21, in Sir Nigel:

Still, now the prime minister remains "on message," reiterating that the election will be held in January, come what may.

2004 September 23, Tony Karon, “Allawi Rides to Bush's Rescue”, in Time:

May it be, come what may, that I rest all my days in the goodness of Jesus.

2018, Fiona Aghajanian, Harrison Druery, Michael Farren, Jaywan Maxwell, Jonny Robinson, Rich Thompson (lyrics and music), “The Goodness of Jesus”, in Yet Not I:

(idiomatic) In spite of anything that might happen; whatever may occur.


sensationally

en-adv

sensationally (comparative more sensationally, superlative most sensationally)

more sensationally (comparative)
most sensationally (superlative)

"Yes," said Slartibartfast, "staggeringly dull. Bewilderingly so. [...] Would you like me to quote you some statistics?" "Er, well..." "Please, I would like to. They, too, are quite sensationally dull."

1982, Douglas Adams, Life, the Universe and Everything, page 111:


serially

In series, one after the other, as opposed to in parallel.


shadily

shadily (comparative more shadily, superlative most shadily)

more shadily (comparative)
most shadily (superlative)

In a shady manner, particularly used in the sense of untrustworthy.


shabbily

shabbily (comparative more shabbily, superlative most shabbily)

more shabbily (comparative)
most shabbily (superlative)

King-of-the-Sky, whose wife had been so shabbily treated in the turtle division by not being given more than her due share, sat with his great back to one of the house posts.

1929, Robert Dean Frisbee, The Book of Puka-Puka, Eland, published 2019, page 92:


sexily

sexily (comparative more sexily, superlative most sexily)

more sexily (comparative)
most sexily (superlative)

Every eye followed her as she walked sexily across the room.


palpably

palpably (comparative more palpably, superlative most palpably)

more palpably (comparative)
most palpably (superlative)

Mrs. Brown withdrawn, Phoebe came presently to bed to me, and what with the answers she drew from me, what with her own method of palpably satisfying herself

1749, [John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC:

God was palpably present in the country, and the devil had gone with the world to town.

1874, Thomas Hardy, chapter XXII, in Far from the Madding Crowd. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Smith, Elder & Co., […], →OCLC:

In the case of senior police or government officials who were palpably guilty of serving Nazi interests via the puppet regimes that employed them, this defence was at best disingenuous.

2005, Tony Judt, “Retribution”, in Postwar: A history of Europe since 1945, London: Vintage Books, published 2010, →ISBN:


densely

densely (comparative more densely, superlative most densely)

more densely (comparative)
most densely (superlative)

The forest was densely populated with trees.


tantalizingly

tantalizingly (comparative more tantalizingly, superlative most tantalizingly)

more tantalizingly (comparative)
most tantalizingly (superlative)


talkatively

talkatively (comparative more talkatively, superlative most talkatively)

more talkatively (comparative)
most talkatively (superlative)


serenely

serenely (comparative more serenely, superlative most serenely)

more serenely (comparative)
most serenely (superlative)


disparagingly

disparagingly (comparative more disparagingly, superlative most disparagingly)

more disparagingly (comparative)
most disparagingly (superlative)

The candidate spoke of his opponent disparagingly.


tactfully

tactfully (comparative more tactfully, superlative most tactfully)

more tactfully (comparative)
most tactfully (superlative)


tamely

tamely (comparative more tamely, superlative most tamely)

more tamely (comparative)
most tamely (superlative)

It was Suarez, however, who had the first chance. Jagielka's sliced clearance found Kuyt, but Suarez could only head his cross tamely into the arms of Howard.

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


tastefully

tastefully (comparative more tastefully, superlative most tastefully)

more tastefully (comparative)
most tastefully (superlative)

He could see that she was tastefully, though not richly, dressed, and that she walked with an elastic step that revealed a light heart and the vigor of perfect health. Her face, of course, he could not analyze, since he had caught only the one brief but convincing glimpse of it.

1900, Charles W. Chesnutt, chapter I, in The House Behind the Cedars:

Passenger saloons are tastefully furnished with wood veneer and partitions, mottled grey Vyanide walls, pale primrose ceilings and grey floor.

1961 February, “New "Mini-Buffets" from Wolverton”, in Trains Illustrated, page 79:


tastelessly

tastelessly (comparative more tastelessly, superlative most tastelessly)

more tastelessly (comparative)
most tastelessly (superlative)

a tastelessly ill-timed joke

[…] one tablet completely sterilises a quart of water, tastelessly, without discolouration or odour.

1938, The Homestead, numbers 1170-1196, page 14:

Such that it cannot be detected by the sense of taste.


tactlessly

tactlessly (comparative more tactlessly, superlative most tactlessly)

more tactlessly (comparative)
most tactlessly (superlative)

In a tactless manner; in a manner intentionally inconsiderate of another's feelings.


a day late and a dollar short

Help arrived a day late and a dollar short.

(US, idiomatic) Adverbial use of the adjectival form.


radioactively

radioactively (comparative more radioactively, superlative most radioactively)

more radioactively (comparative)
most radioactively (superlative)


sensuously

sensuously (comparative more sensuously, superlative most sensuously)

more sensuously (comparative)
most sensuously (superlative)


ex gratia

Learned borrowing from Latin ex grātiā (literally “out of grace”).

lbor

a payment given ex gratia


nolens volens

From Latin nōlēns (“unwilling”), from nōlō (“I am unwilling”) and volēns (“willing”), from volō (“I am willing, I will”).

Now I would not, quoth my uncle Toby, get a child, nolens, volens, that is, whether I would or no, to pleaſe the greateſt prince upon earth——

1765, [Laurence Sterne], chapter XXXIII, in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, volume VIII, London: […] T. Becket and P. A. Dehondt, […], →OCLC, page 183:

“Well, nolens volens, you must hold your tongue,” said Pleydell.

1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], chapter L, in Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and Archibald Constable and Co., […], →OCLC:

Boats with soldiers were sent under the direction of the padres to capture Indians and bring them to the missions, where they were made Christians nolens volens.

1843, Edward Belcher, Narrative of a Voyage Round the World:

He won't go very “dangerous lengths,” but thinks the truth lies half-way between Agassiz and the ‘Origin.’ As he goes thus far he will, nolens volens, have to go further.

1887, Charles Darwin, “To T. H. Huxley. Down, August 8 [1860]”, in Francis Darwin, editor, The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, volume II, New York: D. Appleton & Company, page 123:


full-time

to work full-time

Area Boards are wholly part-time, but their Chairmen are members of the Commission and may work full-time in that capacity.

1960 September, “The Select Committee on Nationalised Industries examines British Railways”, in Trains Illustrated, page 524:


superstitiously

en-adv

superstitiously (comparative more superstitiously, superlative most superstitiously)

more superstitiously (comparative)
most superstitiously (superlative)


ruggedly

ruggedly (comparative more ruggedly, superlative most ruggedly)

more ruggedly (comparative)
most ruggedly (superlative)

From Middle English ruggedli, ruggidly, equivalent to rugged + -ly.


rustically

rustically (comparative more rustically, superlative most rustically)

more rustically (comparative)
most rustically (superlative)


subversively

subversively (comparative more subversively, superlative most subversively)

more subversively (comparative)
most subversively (superlative)


spuriously

spuriously (comparative more spuriously, superlative most spuriously)

more spuriously (comparative)
most spuriously (superlative)


swankily

swankily (comparative more swankily, superlative most swankily)

more swankily (comparative)
most swankily (superlative)


succinctly

succinctly (comparative more succinctly, superlative most succinctly)

more succinctly (comparative)
most succinctly (superlative)

With this preface, Sam related, as succinctly as he could, the last memorable conversation he had had with Mr. Pickwick.

1836 March – 1837 October, Charles Dickens, chapter XLIII, in The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1837, →OCLC:

My companion smiled approvingly. “You sum up the difficulties of the situation succinctly and well,” he said.

1891, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, chapter IV, in A Study in Scarlet. A Detective Story, 3rd edition, London, New York, N.Y.: Ward, Lock, Bowden, and Co., […], published 1892, →OCLC:

["]Who is he?" "He is Tom," replied Ajor succinctly.

1918 September–November, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Land That Time Forgot”, in The Blue Book Magazine, Chicago, Ill.: Story-press Corp., →OCLC; republished as chapter IV, in Hugo Gernsback, editor, Amazing Stories, (please specify |part=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Experimenter Publishing, 1927, →OCLC:


robustly

robustly (comparative more robustly, superlative most robustly)

more robustly (comparative)
most robustly (superlative)

This implies the use of two selection criteria – frequency and prominence – both of which are difficult to determine without access to a robustly representative corpus or an extensive and comprehensive citation collection.

2016, James Lambert, “Ornithonymy and Lexicographical Selection Criteria”, in International Journal of Lexicography, volume 30, number 1, pages 39–62:


rottenly

rottenly (comparative more rottenly, superlative most rottenly)

more rottenly (comparative)
most rottenly (superlative)


rosily

rosily (comparative more rosily, superlative most rosily)

more rosily (comparative)
most rosily (superlative)


gainfully

gainfully (comparative more gainfully, superlative most gainfully)

more gainfully (comparative)
most gainfully (superlative)


roguishly

roguishly (comparative more roguishly, superlative most roguishly)

more roguishly (comparative)
most roguishly (superlative)

"Well, it's never too late to mend," said Anne roguishly.

1909 September, L[ucy] M[aud] Montgomery, “A Chapter of Accidents”, in Anne of Avonlea, Boston, Mass.: L[ouis] C[oues] Page & Company, →OCLC, page 195:


surrealistically

surrealistically (comparative more surrealistically, superlative most surrealistically)

more surrealistically (comparative)
most surrealistically (superlative)

The artist painted the flowers surrealistically.


sublimely

sublimely (comparative more sublimely, superlative most sublimely)

more sublimely (comparative)
most sublimely (superlative)


submissively

submissively (comparative more submissively, superlative most submissively)

more submissively (comparative)
most submissively (superlative)


sultrily

sultrily (comparative more sultrily, superlative most sultrily)

more sultrily (comparative)
most sultrily (superlative)


surgically

His cancer was treated surgically instead of with drugs or radiation.

The cause of uroperitoneum often can be determined and the condition corrected surgically.

2015 July 3, Ueli Braun, Karl Nuss, “Uroperitoneum in cattle: Ultrasonographic findings, diagnosis and treatment”, in Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, volume 57, →DOI:

Relating to surgery; by means of surgery.


garrulously

garrulously (comparative more garrulously, superlative most garrulously)

more garrulously (comparative)
most garrulously (superlative)


roundly

roundly (comparative more roundly, superlative most roundly)

more roundly (comparative)
most roundly (superlative)

From Middle English roundly, roundely, roundliche, equivalent to round + -ly.

Mr. Cooke at once began a tirade against the residents of Asquith for permitting a sandy and generally disgraceful condition of the roads. So roundly did he vituperate the inn management in particular, and with such a loud flow of words, that I trembled lest he should be heard on the veranda.

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:

When, over in the east, General Valentine Baker led his force of four thousand irregulars against Osman Digna, he was roundly thrashed.

1974, Richard Garrett, General Gordon, page 203:

A few short years ago, Musk was roundly mocked as a crazy con artist on the verge of going broke. Now this shy South African with Asperger’s syndrome, who escaped a brutal childhood and overcame personal tragedy, bends governments and industry to the force of his ambition.

December 13 2021, Molly Ball, Jeffrey Kluger, Alejandro de la Garza, “Elon Musk: Person of the Year 2021”, in Time Magazine:

Weak management and a small team of civil servants who were out of their depth have been roundly blamed for the £4 billion overspend on London's Elizabeth line (Crossrail) and its opening four years late in May 2022.

2024 April 3, Howard Johnston, “Network News: Weak bosses and staff blamed for Crossrail overspend”, in RAIL, number 1006, page 20:

Moko, a name given by sportsmen to pheasants killed by mistake during September, before the pheasant-shooting comes in. They pull out their tails, and roundly assert that they are no pheasants at all, but mokos.

1873, John Camden Hotten, The Slang Dictionary:


garishly

garishly (comparative more garishly, superlative most garishly)

more garishly (comparative)
most garishly (superlative)

"My tastes," he said, still smiling, "incline me to the garishly sunlit side of this planet." And, to tease her and arouse her to combat: "I prefer a farandole to a nocturne; I'd rather have a painting than an etching; Mr. Whistler bores me with his monochromatic mud; I don't like dull colours, dull sounds, dull intellects;[…]."

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


scratchily

scratchily (comparative more scratchily, superlative most scratchily)

more scratchily (comparative)
most scratchily (superlative)


gauchely

gauchely (comparative more gauchely, superlative most gauchely)

more gauchely (comparative)
most gauchely (superlative)


gawkily

gawkily (comparative more gawkily, superlative most gawkily)

more gawkily (comparative)
most gawkily (superlative)


sensitively

sensitively (comparative more sensitively, superlative most sensitively)

more sensitively (comparative)
most sensitively (superlative)

In a sensitive manner; with sensitivity.


gaudily

gaudily (comparative more gaudily, superlative most gaudily)

more gaudily (comparative)
most gaudily (superlative)

Apparently, Henry VII visited the city [Bristol] in 1487, "taking care to entail a sumptuary fine on the citizens because their wives dressed too gaudily".

2023 January 11, Stephen Roberts, “Bradshaw's Britain: castles and cathedrals”, in RAIL, number 974, page 55:


gastronomically

gastronomically (comparative more gastronomically, superlative most gastronomically)

more gastronomically (comparative)
most gastronomically (superlative)


guardedly

guardedly (comparative more guardedly, superlative most guardedly)

more guardedly (comparative)
most guardedly (superlative)

The DfT states guardedly: "Subject to future decisions, this first phase of the Rail Hub could be completed by the early 2030s."

2024 March 20, Howard Johnston, “Network News: Midlands Hub can go ahead - if HS2 money stays in the pot”, in RAIL, number 1005, page 10:


guiltily

guiltily (comparative more guiltily, superlative most guiltily)

more guiltily (comparative)
most guiltily (superlative)

Guiltily, from time to time, she took swift inquiring looks at Mina, who was dressed more carefully, and had fresh plaited her hair.

1907, Barbara Baynton, edited by Sally Krimmer and Alan Lawson, Human Toll (Portable Australian Authors: Barbara Baynton), St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, published 1980, page 262:

He was guiltily aware now that he had kept Podson in the dark about the state of his finances to secure that extra fortnight's painting.

1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 156:


behovely

behovely (comparative more behovely, superlative most behovely)

more behovely (comparative)
most behovely (superlative)

From Middle English behovely, equivalent to behoof + -ly.


backhandedly

backhandedly (comparative more backhandedly, superlative most backhandedly)

more backhandedly (comparative)
most backhandedly (superlative)


fractiously

fractiously (comparative more fractiously, superlative most fractiously)

more fractiously (comparative)
most fractiously (superlative)


genteelly

genteelly (comparative more genteelly, superlative most genteelly)

more genteelly (comparative)
most genteelly (superlative)

[A]nd Rosamund though quite a genteelly brought up young lady had responded to his advances by slapping his face.

1945, Tom Ronan, Strangers on the Ophir, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 59:


genitally

genitally (comparative more genitally, superlative most genitally)

more genitally (comparative)
most genitally (superlative)

Genitally, he did not in the least resemble those lewd markings on the walls of public conveniences. He was properly and sturdily endowed, normally shaped and without any pecularities.

1952, Gore Vidal, The Judgement of Paris:


genially

genially (comparative more genially, superlative most genially)

more genially (comparative)
most genially (superlative)

Some men are genially disposed to some opinions.

1665, Joseph Glanvill, Scepsis Scientifica: Or, Confest Ignorance, the Way to Science; […], London: […] E. C[otes] for Henry Eversden […], →OCLC:

(obsolete) By genius or nature; naturally.


shakily

shakily (comparative more shakily, superlative most shakily)

more shakily (comparative)
most shakily (superlative)


shrilly

shrilly (comparative more shrilly, superlative most shrilly)

more shrilly (comparative)
most shrilly (superlative)

[T]he thwarted Hawk circled above, calling shrilly.

1948, Alec H. Chisholm, Bird Wonders of Australia, page 96:


incuriously

incuriously (comparative more incuriously, superlative most incuriously)

more incuriously (comparative)
most incuriously (superlative)

At a single table a couple of Chinese drinkers looked up incuriously.

1958, Anthony Burgess, The Enemy in the Blanket (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 280:


unstanchably

unstanchably (comparative more unstanchably, superlative most unstanchably)

more unstanchably (comparative)
most unstanchably (superlative)


gloweringly

gloweringly (comparative more gloweringly, superlative most gloweringly)

more gloweringly (comparative)
most gloweringly (superlative)


suggestively

suggestively (comparative more suggestively, superlative most suggestively)

more suggestively (comparative)
most suggestively (superlative)

She smiled suggestively and then walked towards the bedroom.


sumptuously

sumptuously (comparative more sumptuously, superlative most sumptuously)

more sumptuously (comparative)
most sumptuously (superlative)


sweepingly

sweepingly (comparative more sweepingly, superlative most sweepingly)

more sweepingly (comparative)
most sweepingly (superlative)


selflessly

selflessly (comparative more selflessly, superlative most selflessly)

more selflessly (comparative)
most selflessly (superlative)

They’re the first non-mammals observed helping each other in this way, suggesting other animals have evolved the ability to act selflessly.

2020 September 1, Elizabeth Preston, “Parrots Show Off Selfless Behavior”, in The New York Times:

In a selfless manner; done in a way that disregards concerns for the self and places other first.


diviso

Borrowed from Italian diviso (literally “divided”).


shamefacedly

shamefacedly (comparative more shamefacedly, superlative most shamefacedly)

more shamefacedly (comparative)
most shamefacedly (superlative)


sensually

sensually (comparative more sensually, superlative most sensually)

more sensually (comparative)
most sensually (superlative)

In a sensual manner; in a way that excites the senses; sexily.


with baited breath

with bated breath
with bated breath#English


shortsightedly

shortsightedly (comparative more shortsightedly, superlative most shortsightedly)

more shortsightedly (comparative)
most shortsightedly (superlative)

The teacher peered shortsightedly around the classroom.

He shortsightedly decided not to go to college and instead entered the workforce; so he made more money the first few years, but his earning power was never as great as it could have been.

In a manner that fails to consider the big picture or future effects of an action or decision.


slackly

slackly (comparative more slackly, superlative most slackly)

more slackly (comparative)
most slackly (superlative)

He shook my hand slackly. It was like shaking a dead fish.

The flags hung slackly, there wasn't a breeze in the sky.


exorbitantly

exorbitantly (comparative more exorbitantly, superlative most exorbitantly)

more exorbitantly (comparative)
most exorbitantly (superlative)


skywards

The explosion sent him skywards.

It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street. [...] He halted opposite the Privy Gardens, and, with his face turned skywards, listened until the sound of the Tower guns smote again on the ear and dispelled his doubts.

1906, Stanley J[ohn] Weyman, “The Dissolution”, in Chippinge Borough, New York, N.Y.: McClure, Phillips & Co., →OCLC, page 3:

[I]f your neighbour is not exploiting their potential to go skywards, you can buy it off them and make your building even taller. It seems fitting that in the cut-throat capital of capitalism, even the air is for sale.

2019 June 1, Oliver Wainwright, “Super-tall, super-skinny, super-expensive: the ‘pencil towers’ of New York’s super-rich”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2020-10-05:


benignly

benignly (comparative more benignly, superlative most benignly)

more benignly (comparative)
most benignly (superlative)

From Middle English benignely; equivalent to benign + -ly.


backwardly

backwardly (comparative more backwardly, superlative most backwardly)

more backwardly (comparative)
most backwardly (superlative)

1552, Richard Huloet, Abcedarium Anglico Latinum
Bowed backwardlye, recuruue.


long-windedly

long-windedly (comparative more long-windedly, superlative most long-windedly)

more long-windedly (comparative)
most long-windedly (superlative)

[…] an Italian piece of many parts and much intricacy—it is only a Master Braham or Madame Catalani who has got throat long enough and flexible enough for it; which stretching out as gracefully as a hen drinketh water, she cackles out the whole piece as sweetly as Orpheus, as dexterously as a fiddler’s elbow, as long-windedly as the pipe of an ass, and as proudly as if she had laid a golden egg.

1814, James Gilchrist, Reason the True Arbiter of Language; Custom a Tyrant, London: J. Johnson, page 21:

One who had caught a glimpse of the shining yet solemn eyes of the youth, as he walked home, would wonder no longer that he should talk as he did—so sedately, yet so poetically—so long-windedly, if you like, yet so sensibly—even wisely.

1875, George Macdonald, chapter 18, in Malcolm, volume I, London: Henry S. King, pages 219–220:

1962, Isaac Babel quoted by Konstantin Paustovsky in “Reminiscences of Babel” in Patricia Blake and Max Hayward (editors), Dissonant Voices in Soviet Literature, New York: Pantheon, p. 50,
Perhaps my sentences are too short. This may be partly due to my chronic asthma. I can’t talk long-windedly; I’m short of breath.

But then I thought, perhaps this is how these Dutch Protestants behave when they fall in love: prudently, long-windedly, without fire, without grace.

2009, J. M. Coetzee, “Adriana”, in Summertime, London: Harvill Secker:

In a long-winded manner; employing more lengthy phrasing than required.


squarrosely

squarrosely (comparative more squarrosely, superlative most squarrosely)

more squarrosely (comparative)
most squarrosely (superlative)


tersely

tersely (comparative more tersely, superlative most tersely)

more tersely (comparative)
most tersely (superlative)

It was replaced by a New Euston, "bold in design and layout and in keeping with a new railway era". Betjeman was unmoved, describing it tersely as "no masterpiece" and noting that its lack of platform seating made it an "inhuman structure" which seemed to ignore passengers.

2023 February 8, Greg Morse, “Crossing the border... by Sleeper”, in RAIL, number 976, page 45:

In a brief, concise, or to the point manner.


stereotypically

stereotypically (comparative more stereotypically, superlative most stereotypically)

more stereotypically (comparative)
most stereotypically (superlative)

It makes up an estimated 73 percent of the U.S. food supply, and contains stereotypically “unhealthy” products like sodas, candies and hot dogs as well as seemingly “healthy” ones like whole grain breads, breakfast cereals, flavored yogurts and plant milks.

2024 May 9, Alice Callahan, “Are Some Ultraprocessed Foods Worse Than Others?”, in The New York Times:


in potentia

/ˌɪn pɒˈtɛnʃɑː/

Borrowed from Latin in potentia, from in (“in”) + potentiā, ablative singular form of potentia (“force; power”).


Saturdays

(US, Canada) On Saturday; each Saturday.


way back when

The book's enduring power is also evident in its big-headed tripods from outer space, described perfectly by Wells way back when.

2005 July 8, Caryn James, “Critic's Notebook: When the Film Outshines The Novel”, in New York Times, retrieved 2018-03-02:

(idiomatic) At a time in the distant past.


churchwards

Presently we began to pass little knots of people trudging along churchwards.

1888, John Kirkwood Leys, The Lindsays, volume 1, page 40:


fervidly

fervidly (comparative more fervidly, superlative most fervidly)

more fervidly (comparative)
most fervidly (superlative)


preternaturally

preternaturally (comparative more preternaturally, superlative most preternaturally)

more preternaturally (comparative)
most preternaturally (superlative)

Deirdre’s mom never leaves her in the Grotto but also never leaves her side, and has the lipless and flinty-eyed look of a parent whose kid is preternaturally good at something.

1997, David Foster Wallace, “A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again”, in A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again, Kindle edition, Little, Brown Book Group:

In a preternatural manner; beyond what could possibly be natural.


Christianly

Christianly (comparative more Christianly, superlative most Christianly)

more Christianly (comparative)
most Christianly (superlative)

From Middle English Cristenli, cristenly, cristenliche, equivalent to Christian + -ly.

Sufferings […] patiently and Christianly borne.

a. 1714, John Sharp, How far God is concerned in the temptations to sin, which happen to mankind:


shapelessly

shapelessly (comparative more shapelessly, superlative most shapelessly)

more shapelessly (comparative)
most shapelessly (superlative)


unobjectively

unobjectively (comparative more unobjectively, superlative most unobjectively)

more unobjectively (comparative)
most unobjectively (superlative)

in an unobjective manner; in a manner lacking objectivity


putatively

putatively (comparative more putatively, superlative most putatively)

more putatively (comparative)
most putatively (superlative)

The following are the focus of research: in the Pyraloidea (Subobjective 1.1) Ategumia, Desmia, Diaphania, Eulepte, Herpetogramma, Omiodes, Patania; in the Gelechioidea (Subobjective 1.2) genera within and putatively near the Recurvaria-group (Gelechiinae: Litini); in the Noctuoidea (Subobjective 1.3) fern-feeding Argyrosticta in relation to Callopistria, boundaries and composition of the Eriopinae, and erebid litter moths (Herminiinae).

(Can we date this quote?), United States Department of Agriculture, SYSTEMATICS OF HYPER-DIVERSE MOTH SUPERFAMILIES, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON AGRICULTURAL PESTS, INVASIVE SPECIES, BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS, AND FOOD SECURITY:

To construct a phylogenetic tree, molecular biologists compare the differences in nucleotide sequences of many isolates of putatively related organisms.

2011, Jacques Pepin, “The Source”, in The Origins of AIDS, 1st edition, →ISBN, page 22:


nearsightedly

nearsightedly (comparative more nearsightedly, superlative most nearsightedly)

more nearsightedly (comparative)
most nearsightedly (superlative)

They nearsightedly planned only for the first two months.

In a nearsighted manner; as if nearsighted; myopically.


monotonously

monotonously (comparative more monotonously, superlative most monotonously)

more monotonously (comparative)
most monotonously (superlative)

She worked monotonously at the assembly line.

Time passed as time ever does when passed monotonously, that is, with a degree of rapidity which only astonishes us when it is recalled to mind by some chance circumstance.

1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XIII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 97:

In a manner that is tedious, repetitious or lacking in variety.

The minister spoke monotonously and his congregation began to doze.

In a droning manner, that does not change pitch.


shamefully

shamefully (comparative more shamefully, superlative most shamefully)

more shamefully (comparative)
most shamefully (superlative)

I looked shamefully at the floor.

The hospital was shamefully underequipped.

Used to express discontent with a situation or occurrence.

ντροπιαστικά

expresses discontent with a situation or occurrence


asquint

From Middle English asquint, asquynt, asqweynt, equivalent to a- (“on, at”) + a word related to Dutch schuinte (“tilt, slant, slope”), Saterland Frisian Schüünte (“slope, slant”), West Frisian skeante (“slope, slant”), German Low German Schüünte (“angle, slant, slope, pitch”). Compare also Middle English askoin, askoyn, of skwyn (“on a slant, askance”), Dutch schuin (“oblique, slanting, sloping”), West Frisian skean (“oblique, slanting, sloping”), German Low German schüün (“slanting”), Norwegian Nynorsk skeina (“to move obliquely”).

cog

[B]oth the muſes and the graces are his hard Miſtriſſes, though he daily Invocate them, though he ſacrifize Hecatombs, they ſtil look a ſquint, […]

a. 1632 (date written), John Donne, “[Characters.] The True Character of a Dunce.”, in Paradoxes, Problemes, Essayes, Characters, […], London: […] T. N. for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1652, →OCLC, page 68:

It is not to be supposed, however, that in the delivery of such passages I was found at all deficient in the looking asquint—the showing my teeth—the working my knees—the shuffling my feet—or in any of those unmentionable graces which are now justly considered the characteristics of a popular performe


stertorously

en-adv

stertorously (comparative more stertorously, superlative most stertorously)

more stertorously (comparative)
most stertorously (superlative)

The patient was now breathing stertorously and it was easy to see that he had suffered some terrible injury.

1897, Bram Stoker, chapter 28, in Dracula, New York, N.Y.: Modern Library, →OCLC:

He was a plump little man and we had been walking uphill at a pace—set by him—far too rapid for his short legs. He breathed stertorously, and half the drops which glimmered on his rotund face were not rain but sweat.

1956, Delano Ames, chapter 23, in Crime out of Mind:

Captain McGarrigle, however, seemed to be in trouble. He was breathing stertorously, his throat and chest juddering like those of an asthmatic.

2000, Mark Gatiss, chapter 20, in Last of the Gaderene:

With heavy breathing, as if snoring; in a stertorous manner.


probabilistically

probabilistically (comparative more probabilistically, superlative most probabilistically)

more probabilistically (comparative)
most probabilistically (superlative)

In a probabilistic manner; using a method based on probability.


single-mindedly

single-mindedly (comparative more single-mindedly, superlative most single-mindedly)

more single-mindedly (comparative)
most single-mindedly (superlative)

It was obvious that the story was a lot more complicated than that, and that to attribute oppression so single-mindedly to a particular style of sexuality was not only diversionary but potentially very divisive for the movement as a whole.

1986 December 7, Margaret Hunt, “Discord in the Happy Valley: Report of a Conference on Feminism, Sexuality and Power”, in Gay Community News, volume 14, number 21, page 8:


glacially

glacially (comparative more glacially, superlative most glacially)

more glacially (comparative)
most glacially (superlative)

/ˈɡleɪʃɪəli/

‘Monsieur,’ Louis XV glacially remarked to Choiseul days before the dénouement, ‘I told you that I did not want war.’

2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 278:

In a (literally or figuratively) icy manner; icily.

Played acoustically, glacially paced and sung in Kristofferson’s parched, age-weathered voice, even his more lighthearted songs – Jesus Was a Capricorn, Best Of All Possible Worlds – were leant an eerie gravitas, while Me and Bobby McGee and Sunday Morning Coming Down sounded heartbreakingly careworn and poignant.

2017 June 26, Alexis Petridis, “Glastonbury 2017 verdict: Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Lorde, Stormzy and more”, in the Guardian:

The daunting problem is that the incidence of tuberculosis has declined only glacially (at a rate of 1.0 to 1.5% per year) and in some places may be increasing.

2018 January 18, Barry R. Bloom, “A neglected epidemic”, in the New England Journal of Medicine, pages 291–3:

With the speed of a glacier; very slowly.


sixfold

From Middle English sexfold, from Old English sixfeald. Equivalent to six + -fold.

I will return your investment sixfold. That's right, you'll have 600% of what you started with.
1885, Alexander Campbell, Speeches on Divers Occasions, page 101, "[He] would state that in [1842, there were] 3,448 letters ... received, and in 1865 [that total was] 18,222, or nearly sixfold more.


againe

What, ha's this thing appeard againe to night?

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 I, scene i]:


scenically

scenically (comparative more scenically, superlative most scenically)

more scenically (comparative)
most scenically (superlative)


shiftlessly

shiftlessly (comparative more shiftlessly, superlative most shiftlessly)

more shiftlessly (comparative)
most shiftlessly (superlative)


sketchily

sketchily (comparative more sketchily, superlative most sketchily)

more sketchily (comparative)
most sketchily (superlative)

But, bowing with sketchily joined hands, they smiled their way clumsily out, down to the darkness.

1959, Anthony Burgess, Beds in the East (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 514:

22 March 2012, Scott Tobias, AV Club The Hunger Gameshttp://www.avclub.com/articles/the-hunger-games,71293/
The Hunger Games has its share of standalone payoffs, though some are too sketchily developed to have much of an impact, like Katniss’ motherly connection to Rue.


shiftily

shiftily (comparative more shiftily, superlative most shiftily)

more shiftily (comparative)
most shiftily (superlative)


evangelically

evangelically (comparative more evangelically, superlative most evangelically)

more evangelically (comparative)
most evangelically (superlative)

In an evangelical manner, concerning evangelism.


yesternight

From Middle English yesternyght, yisternight, from Old English ġiestranniht (“yesternight”), equivalent to yester- + night.

inh

What man was he talk'd with you yesternight
 Out at your window betwixt twelve and one?

c. 1598, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, act IV, scene 1:

It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

1611, King James Version of the Bible, Genesis 31:29:

[…] when the Templar crossed the hall yesternight, he spoke to his Mussulman slaves in the Saracen language, which I well understand, and charged them this morning to watch the journey of the Jew […]

1820, Walter Scott, chapter 6, in Ivanhoe:

[…] she has disturbed me, night and day, through eighteen years—incessantly—remorselessly—till yesternight; and yesternight I was tranquil.

1847, Emily Brontë, chapter 29, in Wuthering Heights:

I came here yesternight for a call of nature and to do what none can do for me[.]

1885, Richard F. Burton, chapter XXII, in The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, volume I, The Burton Club, page 228:


evenhandedly

en-adv

evenhandedly (comparative more evenhandedly, superlative most evenhandedly)

more evenhandedly (comparative)
most evenhandedly (superlative)


evocatively

evocatively (comparative more evocatively, superlative most evocatively)

more evocatively (comparative)
most evocatively (superlative)

We have met twice this year and, during our first interview, Mata spoke evocatively when remembering how, having joined Real Oviedo aged 10 in 1998, he was given a previously unimaginable opportunity. Mata sat in a car park in 2003, when he was 14, and watched his father talking to a Real Madrid scout.

2018 January 1, Donald McRae, “The Guardian footballer of the year 2017: Juan Mata”, in the Guardian:


everlastingly

everlastingly (comparative more everlastingly, superlative most everlastingly)

more everlastingly (comparative)
most everlastingly (superlative)

`Curse her, may she be everlastingly accursed.' The arms fell and the flame sank.

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

Their lives are dedicated to world conquest, but they also know that it is necessary that the war should continue everlastingly and without victory.

1949 June 8, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter 9, in Nineteen Eighty-Four: A Novel, London: Secker & Warburg, →OCLC; republished [Australia]: Project Gutenberg of Australia, August 2001:

In an everlasting manner; without end; forever.

They talk about education, everlastingly, as if it were a cure-all instead of a process for making unfit nations unfitter […]

1909, Ford Madox Ford, The English Review, volume 2, page 130:


sheepishly

sheepishly (comparative more sheepishly, superlative most sheepishly)

more sheepishly (comparative)
most sheepishly (superlative)

Renton’s big mistake is sheepishly to offer Sick Boy his stolen share 20 years on: £4,000 in a crumpled brown envelope. “What am I supposed to buy with that?” rages Sick Boy bitterly later. “A time machine?”

2017 January 19, Peter Bradshaw, “T2 Trainspotting review – choose a sequel that doesn't disappoint”, in the Guardian:

In a sheepish way; shyly; meekly; bashfully; self-consciously; with embarrassment.


sisterly

sisterly (comparative more sisterly, superlative most sisterly)

more sisterly (comparative)
most sisterly (superlative)

"What honest man, who is not insane, would take lost women and thieves into his house to dwell with him sisterly and brotherly?"

1908 February 19, Jack London, The Iron Heel, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., →OCLC:

In the manner of a sister, behaving as one would expect of a sister; as a sister, as sisters.


noway

From Middle English no way, no wey, no weye, na wai, equivalent to no + way; compare nowise, -wards.

In no manner or degree; not at all; nowise; no way.


excellently

excellently (comparative more excellently, superlative most excellently)

more excellently (comparative)
most excellently (superlative)

Stephen Ward then had to time his tackle excellently to deny Tarmo Kink as the Wolves winger slid the ball out of play before the Estonian could attempt to beat Given.

2011 November 11, Rory Houston, “Estonia 0-4 Republic of Ireland”, in RTE Sport:

In a manner that demonstrates excellence; very well.


nutritiously

nutritiously (comparative more nutritiously, superlative most nutritiously)

more nutritiously (comparative)
most nutritiously (superlative)


suavely

suavely (comparative more suavely, superlative most suavely)

more suavely (comparative)
most suavely (superlative)

"Your Highness's wish is my command," says Sir Joshua suavely, for he is intensely curious as to the contents of the document.

1900 March 31, The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, NSW, page 6, column 4:


supremely

supremely (comparative more supremely, superlative most supremely)

more supremely (comparative)
most supremely (superlative)

They were supremely confident at the beginning of the season.

The second half was a test United passed supremely. They began with an equaliser that again illustrated how ruthless their attacking play can be.

2021 April 29, Jamie Jackson, “Edinson Cavani and Bruno Fernandes help Manchester United hit Roma for six”, in The Guardian:

To the greatest, highest, or utmost degree.


subcutaneously

The injection was given subcutaneously, which should have hurt less than intramuscularly but still hurt a great deal.


reproachfully

reproachfully (comparative more reproachfully, superlative most reproachfully)

more reproachfully (comparative)
most reproachfully (superlative)

“Won’t you tell me a story, while we are resting?” asked the child. The Scarecrow looked at her reproachfully, and answered, “My life has been so short that I really know nothing whatever. […]

1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, “The Road through the Forest”, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill., New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M[elvin] Hill Co., →OCLC, page 45:


stupendously

stupendously (comparative more stupendously, superlative most stupendously)

more stupendously (comparative)
most stupendously (superlative)


slickly

slickly (comparative more slickly, superlative most slickly)

more slickly (comparative)
most slickly (superlative)

"We've demonstrated that when push comes to shove, we can be really fast, we can be agile, we can do things more slickly.

2020 May 20, Andrew Haines talks to Stefanie Foster, “Repurpose rail for the 2020s”, in Rail, page 35:


stridently

stridently (comparative more stridently, superlative most stridently)

more stridently (comparative)
most stridently (superlative)


sturdily

sturdily (comparative more sturdily, superlative most sturdily)

more sturdily (comparative)
most sturdily (superlative)

This table is so sturdily built that I can stand on it without fear of it breaking.

Look at the little fellows, mere bundles of fluff, paddling along so busily and sturdily.

1934, Henry G. Lamond, An Aviary on the Plains, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 5:


superbly

superbly (comparative more superbly, superlative most superbly)

more superbly (comparative)
most superbly (superlative)

Despite of the absence of Shaun Derry and Adel Taarabt because of illness and injury respectively, the home side began superbly. Helguson twice threatened early on with shots from the right-hand corner of the box before Anton Ferdinand spurned a great chance at the back post following the Icelandic striker's header back across goal.

2011 November 5, Phil Dawkes, “QPR 2 - 3 Man City”, in BBC Sport:

excellently, done to the best possibly degree, admirably.


stuffily

stuffily (comparative more stuffily, superlative most stuffily)

more stuffily (comparative)
most stuffily (superlative)

Perhaps, indeed, it was one of their best qualities that they spent the greater part of their time stuffily indoors.

1895, Kenneth Graham, The Golden Age, London, page 3:

In a poorly-ventilated and close manner.

a stuffily tedious lecture on art


breathily

breathily (comparative more breathily, superlative most breathily)

more breathily (comparative)
most breathily (superlative)

"Shall I slip into something more comfortable?" she said breathily.


superciliously

superciliously (comparative more superciliously, superlative most superciliously)

more superciliously (comparative)
most superciliously (superlative)


skittishly

skittishly (comparative more skittishly, superlative most skittishly)

more skittishly (comparative)
most skittishly (superlative)


strategically

strategically (comparative more strategically, superlative most strategically)

more strategically (comparative)
most strategically (superlative)

Ursula saw that now Bella Watson's chance meetings with him had to be strategically and singly planned by Bella, whose wifely attentions to the bereaved man were markedly meaning.

1907, Barbara Baynton, edited by Sally Krimmer and Alan Lawson, Human Toll (Portable Australian Authors: Barbara Baynton), St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, published 1980, page 211:


sleazily

sleazily (comparative more sleazily, superlative most sleazily)

more sleazily (comparative)
most sleazily (superlative)


skimpily

skimpily (comparative more skimpily, superlative most skimpily)

more skimpily (comparative)
most skimpily (superlative)

No flashy dressers, skimpily dressed starlets, or celebrities stepping out of stretch limos. Instead, on a warm Friday evening in June 2009, one hundred protestors sang prayers, chanted slogans, and carried signs […]


slothfully

slothfully (comparative more slothfully, superlative most slothfully)

more slothfully (comparative)
most slothfully (superlative)


sleeplessly

sleeplessly (comparative more sleeplessly, superlative most sleeplessly)

more sleeplessly (comparative)
most sleeplessly (superlative)


snappily

snappily (comparative more snappily, superlative most snappily)

more snappily (comparative)
most snappily (superlative)


snazzily

snazzily (comparative more snazzily, superlative most snazzily)

more snazzily (comparative)
most snazzily (superlative)


sneeringly

sneeringly (comparative more sneeringly, superlative most sneeringly)

more sneeringly (comparative)
most sneeringly (superlative)

"You know what sort of portrait we want?" "Captain of Industry?" Roger said sneeringly.

1958, A.G. Yates, The Cold Dark Hours, Sydney: Horwitz, published 1963, page 57:


sluggishly

sluggishly (comparative more sluggishly, superlative most sluggishly)

more sluggishly (comparative)
most sluggishly (superlative)

It hung together in banks, flowing sluggishly down the slope of the land and driving reluctantly before the wind[.]

1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 145:

In a sluggish manner; responding or moving slowly.


snidely

snidely (comparative more snidely, superlative most snidely)

more snidely (comparative)
most snidely (superlative)


snottily

snottily (comparative more snottily, superlative most snottily)

more snottily (comparative)
most snottily (superlative)


sleepily

sleepily (comparative more sleepily, superlative most sleepily)

more sleepily (comparative)
most sleepily (superlative)

Igins was studying the habits of a capuchin caterpillar, that, like his betters, was sleepily eating his way through existence on the leaf of a cabbage in the garden […]

1839, Launcelot Lamprey, “Mems in the Mediterranean”, in The Metropolitan Magazine, volume 24:

Lettie's eyes were scarcely open, but she answered sleepily, "Well, papa."

1857 January 5, “To-morrow”, in The Mother's Magazine:


snootily

snootily (comparative more snootily, superlative most snootily)

more snootily (comparative)
most snootily (superlative)


snobbishly

snobbishly (comparative more snobbishly, superlative most snobbishly)

more snobbishly (comparative)
most snobbishly (superlative)


staidly

staidly (comparative more staidly, superlative most staidly)

more staidly (comparative)
most staidly (superlative)


snappishly

snappishly (comparative more snappishly, superlative most snappishly)

more snappishly (comparative)
most snappishly (superlative)

Lucy […] was too happy and excited to notice how snappishly Edmund spoke or how flushed and strange his face was.

1950, C. S. Lewis, chapter 4, in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Collins, published 1998:


stagnantly

stagnantly (comparative more stagnantly, superlative most stagnantly)

more stagnantly (comparative)
most stagnantly (superlative)

Andrew, Mina's husband! Ursula turned from her to him. The veins in his forehead stood out stagnantly; his blood-red eyes looked mournfully, helplessly at Ursula's, filling swiftly with maternal solicitude.

1907, Barbara Baynton, edited by Sally Krimmer and Alan Lawson, Human Toll (Portable Australian Authors: Barbara Baynton), St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, published 1980, page 251:


sneakily

sneakily (comparative more sneakily, superlative most sneakily)

more sneakily (comparative)
most sneakily (superlative)


untidily

untidily (comparative more untidily, superlative most untidily)

more untidily (comparative)
most untidily (superlative)


strenuously

strenuously (comparative more strenuously, superlative most strenuously)

more strenuously (comparative)
most strenuously (superlative)

By my direction, however, the head of his unwieldy machine was so critically pointed that, feeling him foreright against the tender opening, a favourable motion from me met his timely thrust, by which the lips of it, strenuously dilated, gave way to his thus assisted impetuosity, so that we might both feel that he had gain'd a lodgement.

1749, [John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC:

Not only did I oppose President George H.W. Bush on his China policy, I strenuously disagreed with Democratic President Bill Clinton on his trade and human rights policies toward China and Tibet as well. This was difficult because I otherwise greatly supported and admired his leadership.

2008, Nancy Pelosi, “A Voice That Will Be Heard”, in Know Your Power: A Message to America's Daughters, Doubleday, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, pages 96–97:

[W]hen Chauvin’s trial for his alleged role in Floyd’s death begins, much of the argument will center instead on the autopsy details, most specifically whether fentanyl and underlying health conditions — not the police officer’s actions — stopped Floyd’s heart and lungs. Seven experts in toxicology, cardiology and illegal drug use consulted by The Washington Post largely disagreed with that idea, most of them strenuously.

2021, Lenny Bernstein and Holly Bailey, At the heart of Derek Chauvin’s trial is this question: What killed George Floyd?, in: The Washington Post, March 11 2021


stably

stably (comparative more stably, superlative most stably)

more stably (comparative)
most stably (superlative)

The new procedures for money market operations continue to be in place until the consumer price index (excluding perishables, on a nationwide statistics) registers stably a zero percent or an increase year on year.

2001, Bank of Japan, New Procedures for Money Market Operations and Monetary Easing, March 19 2001


stirringly

stirringly (comparative more stirringly, superlative most stirringly)

more stirringly (comparative)
most stirringly (superlative)


stodgily

stodgily (comparative more stodgily, superlative most stodgily)

more stodgily (comparative)
most stodgily (superlative)


staggeringly

staggeringly (comparative more staggeringly, superlative most staggeringly)

more staggeringly (comparative)
most staggeringly (superlative)

The ancient city was staggeringly beautiful.

‘Yes,’ said Slartibartfast, ‘staggeringly dull. Bewilderingly so.[…]’

1982 August, Douglas Adams, Life, the Universe and Everything (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; 3), London: Pan Books, →ISBN, page 111:

Barely a bird and definitely none of my target species greeted the morning so I cut my losses and headed north through the staggeringly vast emptiness of the Outback.

2005, Sean Dooley, The Big Twitch, Sydney: Allen and Unwin, page 254:

As The Dark Knight Rises brings a close to Christopher Nolan’s staggeringly ambitious Batman trilogy, it’s worth remembering that director chose The Scarecrow as his first villain—not necessarily the most popular among the comic’s gallery of rogues, but the one who set the tone for entire series.

2012 July 18, Scott Tobias, “The Dark Knight Rises”, in AV Club:

Green can be a double-edged sword. Does it make sense for an eco-warrior to arrive at (say) the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in his Tesla electric car, get out in his low-carbon vegan trainers, and then step into a 19th century means of transport that is staggeringly inefficient and pretty darn polluting?

2022 February 23, Benedict le Vay, “Part of rail's past... present... and future”, in RAIL, number 951, page 54:

Her fanbase is staggeringly large, with 53% of Americans saying they are fans and 16% identifying as “avid fans”, according to a March 2023 Morning Consult poll.

2024 February 8, Carter Sherman, “Could Taylor Swift really swing the 2024 presidential election?”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2024-02-15:

He made his way staggeringly to the bar.

hoiperrellen

(manner) in a staggering way; with a stagger


sidesaddle

He rode sidesaddle to avoid worsening his injured leg.

He had his daughter riding sidesaddle on the bicycle frame while he pedaled.


stock-still

Inversion of earlier still as a stock, from stock (“tree-trunk”).

He lay stock-still among the bodies and blasted equipment.

Paul stood stock still; then came a strong impulse to turn and run back.

1897, Sam T. Clover, Paul Travers' Adventures:

Now his fingertips were tapping in addition to his toe-bouncing, until soon his entire body was wibbling in jumping-bean fashion. “Old Mag, you say?” He peered around Nitty at Mag, and Mag took the opportunity to inspect his mask and goggles with her trunk. The boy quit wibbling, stood stock-still, and gulped.

2019 June, Suzanne Nelson, A Tale Magnolious, New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, →ISBN, page 36:


fourthly

Fourthly, I have made an effort to call the attention of the reader to the pertinent literature.

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 viii:


sidelong

sidelong (comparative more sidelong, superlative most sidelong)

more sidelong (comparative)
most sidelong (superlative)

1520s, from Middle English sidlyng (early 14th century), from side + -lyng (“(frequentative)”) (modern English -le (“(frequentative)”)). Reanalyzed as side + long.


fuck-off

fuck-off (comparative more fuck-off, superlative most fuck-off)

more fuck-off (comparative)
most fuck-off (superlative)

He was fuck-off smashing it out of the park.

(UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, vulgar, slang) An intensifier.


shockingly

shockingly (comparative more shockingly, superlative most shockingly)

more shockingly (comparative)
most shockingly (superlative)

He had thinned shockingly, losing 100 pounds in the last month of his illness.

Their efforts were shockingly slipshod.

He’s forced to travel back to 1969 to prevent an evil alien (a shockingly effective, nearly unrecognizable Jemaine Clement of Flight Of The Conchords, playing sort of a psychotic extraterrestrial-biker serial killer) from destroying the world by killing Brolin. Smith is aided in his quest by an elfin, time-jumping alien with psychic powers played by another Coen brothers veteran, A Serious Man star Michael Stuhlbarg.

2012 May 24, Nathan Rabin, “Film: Reviews: Men In Black 3”, in The Onion AV Club:


snarlingly

snarlingly (comparative more snarlingly, superlative most snarlingly)

more snarlingly (comparative)
most snarlingly (superlative)

When Mina went in again, Woona was still squatted among the ashes; she was silent as Mina entered, but her black eyes rolled defiantly and her lower lip fell snarlingly.

1907, Barbara Baynton, edited by Sally Krimmer and Alan Lawson, Human Toll (Portable Australian Authors: Barbara Baynton), St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, published 1980, page 263:


delightfully

delightfully (comparative more delightfully, superlative most delightfully)

more delightfully (comparative)
most delightfully (superlative)


thirdly

And God hath ſet ſome in the Church, firſt Apoſtles, ſecondarily Pꝛophets, thirdly Teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helpes in gouernmẽts, diuerſities of tongues.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Corinthians 12:28:

Thirdly, I continue to attempt to interdigitate the taxa in our flora with taxa of the remainder of the world.


stylishly

stylishly (comparative more stylishly, superlative most stylishly)

more stylishly (comparative)
most stylishly (superlative)