indistinctly

indistinctly (comparative more indistinctly, superlative most indistinctly)

more indistinctly (comparative)
most indistinctly (superlative)


to a fault

I am trusting to a fault.

1710, Issac Norris, Friendly Advice to the Inhabitants of Pensilvania, Andrew Bradford (Philadelphia), p. 2,
He also had that good qualification, of a moderate expectation, almost to a fault.

1883, Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi, ch. 34 "Tough Yarns,"
These mosquitoes . . . are feeble, insignificant in size, diffident to a fault.

Fitz-Roy's character was a singular one, with very many noble features: he was devoted to his duty, generous to a fault, bold, determined, and indomitably energetic.

1887, Charles Darwin, chapter 3, in The Autobiography of Charles Darwin:

Madam, I'm as gentle as a jellyfish, and peaceful to a fault.

1904, Rex Ellingwood Beach, “Pardners”, in Pardners:

Self-deprecating to a fault, he refuses any praise for his work.

2001 February 13, Aparisim Ghosh, “Subcontinental Drift: Shining Star”, in Time:

(idiomatic) To an excessive degree; extremely; counterproductively.


globally

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

Biden and his spokespeople have proudly touted his signature COVID relief bill as a major stimulus for policing in a national context already characterized by globally unparalleled police spending.

2022 January 25, Eric Reinhardt, “How Joe Biden Launched a New Prison Boom”, in Slate:


mistakenly

I mistakenly assumed that the shop was still there.

Most Americans mistakenly believe that they must see specialists for almost every medical problem.

2017 March 6, Jamie Koufman, “The Specialists’ Stranglehold on Medicine”, in The New York Times:

Today I mistakenly took your packed lunch to work.

by accident, by mistake, in error (without intention to do so)


subtly

en-adv

subtly (comparative more subtly, superlative most subtly)

more subtly (comparative)
most subtly (superlative)

From Middle English sotilly; equivalent to subtle + -ly.

Nexte cometh Arrius by ſoo muche the more wretched and madde in opynyon, by howe muche he dothe more ſubtely and craftily geue unto Chriſt the body of a man, and taketh from hym the ſowle of a man, […]

1533, Erasmus of Roterdame, “The Thyrde Instruction”, in anonymous translator, A Playne and Godly Exposytion or Declaration of the Commune Crede (which in the Latin Tonge is Called Symbolum Apostolorum): And of the .x. Commaundementes of Goddes Law. […], London: […] Robert Redman, […] [for William Marshall], →OCLC, folio 66, verso:

For though Contraria iuxta ſe poſita magis illuceſcunt [opposites placed next to each other shine more brightly] (by an olde Rule) yet it hath beene ſubtilly, and indeede truely noted that our Sight, is not vvell contented, vvith thoſe ſudden departments, from one extreame to another; Therefore let them haue, rather a Duskiſh Tincture, then an abſolute blacke.

1624, Henry Wotton, The Elements of Architecture, […], London: […] Iohn Bill, →OCLC, II. part, page 104:

As the world's drug habit shows, governments are failing in their quest to monitor every London window-box and Andean hillside for banned plants. But even that Sisyphean task looks easy next to the fight against synthetic drugs. No sooner has a drug been blacklisted than chemists adjust their recipe and start churning out a subtly different one.

2013 August 10, “A new prescription”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848:

With subtleness, in a subtle manner; with cleverness rather than brute force.


memorably

memorably (comparative more memorably, superlative most memorably)

more memorably (comparative)
most memorably (superlative)


kinkily

kinkily (comparative more kinkily, superlative most kinkily)

more kinkily (comparative)
most kinkily (superlative)


knowledgeably

knowledgeably (comparative more knowledgeably, superlative most knowledgeably)

more knowledgeably (comparative)
most knowledgeably (superlative)

Mr. Biden’s core supporters expressed confidence in his performance, in which he spoke knowledgeably, if haltingly, about foreign policy after hosting a summit of NATO leaders in Washington.

2024 July 12, Linda Feldmann, “Biden is on a knife’s edge: Can he hang on?”, in The Christian Science Monitor:


doctrinally

doctrinally (comparative more doctrinally, superlative most doctrinally)

more doctrinally (comparative)
most doctrinally (superlative)

He was doctrinally knowledgeable but failed to follow the basic tenets of the religion.

In a doctrinal manner; in terms of doctrine.


jaggedly

jaggedly (comparative more jaggedly, superlative most jaggedly)

more jaggedly (comparative)
most jaggedly (superlative)


jadedly

jadedly (comparative more jadedly, superlative most jadedly)

more jadedly (comparative)
most jadedly (superlative)

As all the unemployed writers gathered for the first meeting, someone jadedly welcomed everyone to `Generic Sketch Show Pilot Number 417'.

2005, Sean Dooley, The Big Twitch, Sydney: Allen and Unwin, page 127:


jarringly

jarringly (comparative more jarringly, superlative most jarringly)

more jarringly (comparative)
most jarringly (superlative)

But Mr. Kleinzahler, 55, noted both for poems that jarringly marry the high and the low and for keeping his distance from the New York illuminati, has found himself late in his career in a rather awkward spot: the cusp of respectability in the cliquish world of poetry.

2005 February 8, Timothy Williams, “In Addition to His Pugnacity and Charm, He Can Write Poetry”, in The New York Times:


durably

durably (comparative more durably, superlative most durably)

more durably (comparative)
most durably (superlative)


jerkily

jerkily (comparative more jerkily, superlative most jerkily)

more jerkily (comparative)
most jerkily (superlative)


jeeringly

jeeringly (comparative more jeeringly, superlative most jeeringly)

more jeeringly (comparative)
most jeeringly (superlative)

You shall find by common experience how your superstitious false worshipers slight the Word of God; they are above it, they speak jeeringly of the Scripture and of warrants from Gods Word; Oh you must do nothing but you must have Scripture for it: They cry up Fathers and antiquity, and such and such Writers, but for the Word of God they usually contemn and scorn it.

1643, Jeremiah Burroughs, An Exposition of the Prophesie of Hosea, London, Volume 2, Chapter 5 Verse 2, p. 362:

[…] they turned their Anger into ridiculing the Man, and his Sorrow for his Wife and Children; taunted him with want of Courage to leap into the great Pit, and go to Heaven, as they jeeringly express’d it, along with them, adding some very profane, and even blasphemous Expressions.

1722, Daniel Defoe, A Journal of the Plague Year, London: E. Nutt et al, page 78:

The sea had jeeringly kept his finite body up, but drowned the infinite of his soul.

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

The Florentine winter lasts only from mid-December to March, and in that season there are luminous days, but there are also jeeringly cold nights and days together when the tramontana wind comes devastatingly down from the Alps three pinched days at a spell, blowing pitilessly […]

1951, Sinclair Lewis, chapter 8, in World So Wide:


jealously

jealously (comparative more jealously, superlative most jealously)

more jealously (comparative)
most jealously (superlative)


jocundly

jocundly (comparative more jocundly, superlative most jocundly)

more jocundly (comparative)
most jocundly (superlative)


judgmentally

judgmentally (comparative more judgmentally, superlative most judgmentally)

more judgmentally (comparative)
most judgmentally (superlative)


jocosely

jocosely (comparative more jocosely, superlative most jocosely)

more jocosely (comparative)
most jocosely (superlative)

Mr. Hurst interrupted, 'to have his name mixed up with shady people, as Ormond says; so, my dear! the long and short of it is, you must refuse her invitation to go there on this visit!' 'But I have accepted it.' 'Unaccept it then,' jocosely.

1880, Mrs. Harry Bennett-Edwards, In Sheep's Clothing, volume 2, page 154:


jumpily

jumpily (comparative more jumpily, superlative most jumpily)

more jumpily (comparative)
most jumpily (superlative)

But when I sympathise and say that dating a pop star can't have helped, he says jumpily: "I think it's important to remember that when I started going out with her, she wasn't famous.

1999 December 20, “Sabine Durrant interview with Jamie Theakston”, in The Guardian:

The bus drove jumpily along the unmade road.


materially

materially (comparative more materially, superlative most materially)

more materially (comparative)
most materially (superlative)

From Middle English materialy; equivalent to material + -ly.

Tobacco, for instance, shrinks materially by frequent reshippings, and as all goods are warehoused as a convenience to importers, duties should be paid on what the importer receives.

1894, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Finance, Opinions of Collectors of Customs Concerning Ad Valorem and Specific Rates of Duty on Imports:

In a material manner; with regard to physical things or characteristics.

In cases of extreme thickening of the coats of the stomach, of a scirrhoid character, where the suffering patients are almost worn out with constant pain, such remedies, applied over the epigastrium, most materially alleviate the distress.

1839, Robley Dunglison, Dunglison's American medical library:


jokingly

jokingly (comparative more jokingly, superlative most jokingly)

more jokingly (comparative)
most jokingly (superlative)

[ˈdʒəʊ.kɪŋ.lɪ]


justifiably

justifiably (comparative more justifiably, superlative most justifiably)

more justifiably (comparative)
most justifiably (superlative)

in a justifiable manner; with justification


juicily

juicily (comparative more juicily, superlative most juicily)

more juicily (comparative)
most juicily (superlative)


jubilantly

jubilantly (comparative more jubilantly, superlative most jubilantly)

more jubilantly (comparative)
most jubilantly (superlative)

The socialist press of the city jubilantly exploited this utterance, scattering it broadcast over San Francisco in tens of thousands of paper dodgers.

1910, Jack London, chapter 7, in Burning Daylight, part II:

Having written jubilantly home to the Secretary of State that his mission had succeeded, he was now faced with the necessity of writing again to confess that this success had been ephemeral.

1922, Rafael Sabatini, “chapter XXIV”, in Captain Blood:


jollily

jollily (comparative more jollily, superlative most jollily)

more jollily (comparative)
most jollily (superlative)

From Middle English jolily; equivalent to jolly + -ly.

Every servant in the family, from high to low, wished Tom success, and I can fancy, an’ please your honour, I see him this moment with his white dimity waistcoat and breeches, and hat a little o’one side, passing jollily along the street, swinging his stick, with a smile and a cheerful word for every body he met.

1782, Laurence Sterne, “Remainder of the Story of Trim’s Brother”, in The Beauties of Sterne: including all his pathetic tales, and most distinguished observations on life, London: T. Davies et al, page 74:

There’s a sermon now, writ in high heaven, and the sun goes through it every year, and yet comes out of it all alive and hearty. Jollily he, aloft there, wheels through toil and trouble […]

1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “Chapter 99”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC:

[Albert, as scout leader:] Forward! Jollily forward!

1959 September 13, Walt Kelly, Pogo, comic strip, →ISBN, page 251:

They stiffened when they saw Hillier, ready to throw him a salute, but he waved at them jollily as he marched through, singing.

1966, Anthony Burgess, Tremor of Intent: An Eschatological Spy Novel, London: Heinemann, Part III, Chapter 3:


exquisitely

exquisitely (comparative more exquisitely, superlative most exquisitely)

more exquisitely (comparative)
most exquisitely (superlative)

Over the fish-dish — something sole-like, exquisitely seethed in a strange sauce, garnished with roots and fruits of the country — Tommy became sentimental.

1959, Anthony Burgess, Beds in the East (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 527:

There was something exquisitely painful in the memories that crowded upon his mind: a thousand of Constance's daily acts of affection rose before him: neyer till this moment had he felt them unrequited; but now they were remembered like a reproach.

1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 282–283:

They danced on silently, softly. Their feet played tricks to the beat of the tireless measure, that exquisitely asinine blare which is England's punishment for having lost America.

1922, Michael Arlen, “2/2/2”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days:


judiciously

judiciously (comparative more judiciously, superlative most judiciously)

more judiciously (comparative)
most judiciously (superlative)

She knows how to ask questions judiciously: and it is a first requisite to make people feel it is easy to answer you; and, also, that their answer reflects credit on themselves.

1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 243–244:


timidly

timidly (comparative more timidly, superlative most timidly)

more timidly (comparative)
most timidly (superlative)

His mother o'er her barm-cloth wide / Gazed forward somewhat timidly / The new-comer's bright weed to see.

1870, William Morris, “September: The Land East of the Sun and West of the Moon”, in The Earthly Paradise: A Poem, part III, London: F[rederick] S[tartridge] Ellis, […], →OCLC, page 80:

The four young pigs who had protested when Napoleon abolished the Meetings raised their voices timidly, but they were promptly silenced by a tremendous growling from the dogs.

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


arrear

arrear (comparative more arrear, superlative most arrear)

more arrear (comparative)
most arrear (superlative)

From Middle English arere, from Old French arere, from Vulgar Latin *ad retro (literally “to the rear”).

der

She, (Ladie) having well before approoved / The feends to be too cruell and severe, / Observ'd th' appointed way, as her behooved, / Ne ever did her ey-sight turne arere [...].

1591, Edmund Spenser, Virgil's Gnat, ll. 465-8:

In case the annuity should be arrear for sixty days being lawfully demanded, then the trustee might enter upon the premises assigned [...].

1803, Edward Hyde East, Reports of cases Argued and determined in the Court of King's Bench, volume 3, London, published 1814, page 559:


accompagnato

Borrowed from Italian accompagnato, past participle of accompagnare (“to accompany”).


jovially

en-adv

jovially (comparative more jovially, superlative most jovially)

more jovially (comparative)
most jovially (superlative)

From jovial + -ly (suffix forming adverbs from adjectives). Jovial is borrowed from French jovial (“jolly, jovial”), from Italian gioviale (“jolly, jovial; (obsolete) born under the influence of the planet Jupiter”), from Latin ioviālis (“relating to the Roman god Jupiter”), from Iuppiter, Iovis (“the Roman god Jove or Jupiter, counterpart of the Greek god Zeus”) (from Proto-Indo-European *dyew- (“to be bright; heaven, sky”)) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship).

der

Some are of the opinion, that the world was made, to giue a body in lieu of puniſhment, vnto the ſpirits, which through their fault were fallen from the puritie, wherin they were created: The firſt creation having beene incorporeal. And that according as they have more or leſſe elonged themſelves from their ſpirituallitie, ſo they are more or leſſe merilie & Giovially, or rudely and Saturnally incorporated: Whence proceedeth the infinite varietie of ſo much matter created.

1603, Michel de Montaigne, “An Apologie of Raymond Sebond”, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC, page 315:

(astrology, obsolete) Under the astrological influence of the planet Jupiter.

The seasoning of a play is the applause. / Now, though the Foxe be punish'd by the lawes, / He, yet, doth hope there is no suffring due, / For any fact, which he hath done 'gainst you; / If there be, sensure him: here he, doubtfull, stands. / If not, fare iouially, and clap your hands.

1605 (first performance), Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Volpone, or The Foxe. A Comœdie. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, Act V, scene vii, page 523:

This enforced solitarinesse takes place, and produceth this effect soonest in such, as haue spent their time Iouially peraduenture in all honest recreations, in all good company, and are vpon a sudden confined, and restrained of their liberty, and barred from their ordinary associats: solitarinesse is very irkesome to such, most tedious, and a sudden cause of great inconvenience.

1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Immoderate Exercise a Cause, and How. Solitarinesse, Idlenesse.”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 1, section 2, member 2, subsection 6, page 76:

After they had put their Affairs in a proper Diſpoſition aboard, they went ashore to a little Village for Refreshments, and lived jovially the remaining Part of the Day, at a Tavern, spending three Pistols, and then departed.

1724, Charles Johnson [pseudonym], “Of Captain John Evans, and His Crew”, in A General History of the Pyrates, […], 2nd edition, London: Printed for, and sold by T. Warner, […], →OCLC, page 392:

Life there was at its usual nocturnal ferment. A few of the men were jovially drunk, a few of them savagely so.

1887, Edgar Fawcett, chapter II, in The Confessions of Claud: A Romance, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Company, →OCLC, page 38:

He greeted Milo jovially each time they met and, in an excess of contrite generosity, impulsively recommended Major Major for promotion.

1955 (date written), Joseph Heller, “Major —— de Coverley”, in Catch-22 (A Dell Book), New York, N.Y.: Dell Publishing, published 1961 (October 1962 printing), →OCLC, page 140:

(by extension) In a jovial (“cheerful and good-humoured”) manner; jollily, merrily.


cynically

en-adv

cynically (comparative more cynically, superlative most cynically)

more cynically (comparative)
most cynically (superlative)


cyclically

cyclically (comparative more cyclically, superlative most cyclically)

more cyclically (comparative)
most cyclically (superlative)

The exhibits, moreover, reject the supposedly Eurocentric notion of historical development. “Things are looked at very cyclically, not in a linear way,” one curator told The Washington Post.

2004 December 12, Christopher Shea, “Nonhegemonic Curating”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

El Niño, a temperature change in the Pacific ocean that happens cyclically, may have begun interacting with the long-term process of global warming, with catastrophic results.

2017 February 20, Paul Mason, “Climate scepticism is a far-right badge of honour – even in sweltering Australia”, in the Guardian:

In a cyclic manner; in cycles; periodically.


amaine

So likewiſe turnde the Prince vpon the Knight, / And layd at him amaine with all his will and might.

1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 27, page 430:

[T]he Queene o'th Skie [ i.e., Juno], / Whoſe watry Arch, and meſſenger, am I. / Bids thee leaue theſe, & with her ſoueraigne grace, / Here on this graſſe-plot, in this very place / To come, and ſport: here [i.e., her] Peacocks flye amaine: / Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertaine.

1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 14, column 2:

For they both ſay and beleeue that this picture hath ſo great vertue, as alſo that of Padua, whereof I haue before ſpoken, that whenſoeuer it is carried abroad in a ſolemne proceſſion in the time of a great drougth, it will cauſe raine to deſcend from heauen either before it is brought backe into the Church, or very ſhortly after. […] I cannot be induced to attribute ſo much to the vertue of a picture, as the Venetians do, except I had ſeene ſome notable miracle wrought by the ſame. For it brought no drops at all with it: onely about two dayes after it rained (I muſt needes confeſſe) amaine. But I hope they are not ſo ſuperſtitious to aſcribe that to the vertue of the picture.

1611, Thomas Coryate [i.e., Thomas Coryat], Coryats Crudities Hastily Gobled Vp in Five Moneths Trauells […], London: […] W[illiam] S[tansby for the author], →OCLC, pages 214–215:

And rearing Lindis [a river] backward pressed / Shook all her trembling bankes amaine; / Then madly at the eygre's breast / Flung uppe her weltring walls again.

1863, Jean Ingelow, “The High Tide on the Coast of Lincolnshire. (1571.)”, in Poems, London: Longmans, Green, Reader, & Dyer, →OCLC, page 167:


beside the point

Judges in the British law courts used to tell lawyers who spoke beside the point or quoted irrelevant cases that they might as well say that Robin Hood in Barnsdale stood.

1944, George Stimpson, A Book about a Thousand Things, quoted in Marcus A.J. Smith and Julian Wasserman, "In the Sheriff's Court: […] ", in Thomas G. Hahn (editor), Robin Hood in Popular Culture, Boydell & Brewer (2000), page 229


voicelessly

voicelessly (comparative more voicelessly, superlative most voicelessly)

more voicelessly (comparative)
most voicelessly (superlative)


voluminously

voluminously (comparative more voluminously, superlative most voluminously)

more voluminously (comparative)
most voluminously (superlative)


volubly

volubly (comparative more volubly, superlative most volubly)

more volubly (comparative)
most volubly (superlative)

They stayed together during three dances, went out on to the terrace, explored wherever they were permitted to explore, paid two visits to the buffet, and enjoyed themselves much in the same way as if they had been school-children surreptitiously breaking loose from an assembly of grown-ups. The boy became volubly friendly and bubbling over with unexpected humour and high spirits.

1909, Archibald Marshall [pseudonym; Arthur Hammond Marshall], “A Court Ball”, in The Squire’s Daughter, New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead and Company, published 1919, →OCLC, page 9:


voraciously

voraciously (comparative more voraciously, superlative most voraciously)

more voraciously (comparative)
most voraciously (superlative)


vocally

vocally (comparative more vocally, superlative most vocally)

more vocally (comparative)
most vocally (superlative)

Passengers complained long and vocally about the timetable changes.

The infant responded vocally to the first stimulus in the study.


voluptuously

voluptuously (comparative more voluptuously, superlative most voluptuously)

more voluptuously (comparative)
most voluptuously (superlative)

In the close of the evening, I took care to have prepar'd for me a warm bath of aromatick and sweet herbs; in which having fully laved and solaced myself, I came out voluptuously refresh'd in body and spirit.

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:


enormously

Gloria is enormously pleased with our progress.

He was enormously popular.

Extremely, greatly: to an enormous degree.


momentously

momentously (comparative more momentously, superlative most momentously)

more momentously (comparative)
most momentously (superlative)


modestly

modestly (comparative more modestly, superlative most modestly)

more modestly (comparative)
most modestly (superlative)

The man bowed modestly and left the dinner table.

These new shuttlelike craft might modestly reduce the cost of getting to low earth orbit.

2013, Harry L. Shipman, Space 2000: Meeting the Challenge of a New Era, page 55:


visually

visually (comparative more visually, superlative most visually)

more visually (comparative)
most visually (superlative)

The radar's detection was confirmed visually, because seeing is believing.

He explained that engineers had been able to examine the bridge visually, and had started surveying likely sites for access roads and where to place the heavyweight crawler crane. NR was also ordering the aggregates needed for the access roads.

2020 August 26, “Network News: Mid-September before line reopens, says Network Rail”, in Rail, page 10:


seductively

seductively (comparative more seductively, superlative most seductively)

more seductively (comparative)
most seductively (superlative)


tangibly

tangibly (comparative more tangibly, superlative most tangibly)

more tangibly (comparative)
most tangibly (superlative)


AMSL

Alternative form: amsl


gamely

gamely (comparative more gamely, superlative most gamely)

more gamely (comparative)
most gamely (superlative)

From game + -ly; compare Old English gamenlīċ (“belonging to games, sportive, theatrical, ridiculous”) and Middle High German gāmelich, gemelich (“joyful”).

cog

Stoke pressed gamely but clear chances were few and Fulham held on to record a first away league win in 16 months.

2010 December 28, Marc Vesty, “Stoke 0 - 2 Fulham”, in BBC:

Many of the other boats cut in, with their radios, to cheer Dick on, while he gamely fought the huge fish. The monster was continually stripping line off the reel, as Dick fought gamely; reeling for all he was worth!

2011, Harry Grigsby, Key Largo Adventures:

But her belief in the fruits of that labor[…]means that she will gamely take whatever licks and praise might come with being in charge and trying to stay on the cutting edge.

2022 March 17, Joe Coscarelli, “Rosalía Reserves the Right to Transform”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

In a game or plucky manner; in a willing and spirited fashion.


namelessly

en-adv

namelessly (comparative more namelessly, superlative most namelessly)

more namelessly (comparative)
most namelessly (superlative)

Without using, or revealing a name; anonymously.


nationalistically

nationalistically (comparative more nationalistically, superlative most nationalistically)

more nationalistically (comparative)
most nationalistically (superlative)


whistly

whistly (comparative more whistly, superlative most whistly)

more whistly (comparative)
most whistly (superlative)


nauseatingly

nauseatingly (comparative more nauseatingly, superlative most nauseatingly)

more nauseatingly (comparative)
most nauseatingly (superlative)


nattily

nattily (comparative more nattily, superlative most nattily)

more nattily (comparative)
most nattily (superlative)

He arrived at the party, nattily dressed and eager to socialize.


nauseously

nauseously (comparative more nauseously, superlative most nauseously)

more nauseously (comparative)
most nauseously (superlative)


nautically

nautically (comparative more nautically, superlative most nautically)

more nautically (comparative)
most nautically (superlative)


nastily

nastily (comparative more nastily, superlative most nastily)

more nastily (comparative)
most nastily (superlative)

laced with humor that lampoons and ridicules, but never nastily so

1979 August 4, Lisa Nussbaum, “Lesbianism 101”, in Gay Community News, page 15:


narrow-mindedly

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

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

'Funny,' I said, 'that she should be quite so narrow-mindedly English when you think that she spent five years in India.'

2011, Nancy Mitford, The Penguin Complete Novels of Nancy Mitford, →ISBN:


naughtily

naughtily (comparative more naughtily, superlative most naughtily)

more naughtily (comparative)
most naughtily (superlative)


nakedly

nakedly (comparative more nakedly, superlative most nakedly)

more nakedly (comparative)
most nakedly (superlative)

From Middle English nakidly; equivalent to naked + -ly.

So while Ralph generally seems to inhabit a different, more glorious and joyful universe than everyone else here his yearning and heartbreak are eminently relateable. Ralph sometimes appears to be a magically demented sprite who has assumed the form of a boy, but he’s never been more poignantly, nakedly, movingly human than he is here.

2012 August 5, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “I Love Lisa” (season 4, episode 15; originally aired 02/11/1993)”, in The A.V. Club:

The past 14 years have shown that decisions on such fundamental issues as fuel duty and fares are taken within the Treasury for nakedly short-term political reasons, with no regard for environmental or transport objectives.

2024 June 12, Sir Michael Holden, “A manifesto for our railway to thrive”, in RAIL, number 1011, page 41:

In a naked manner; without concealing anything; blatantly or openly.


nasally

nasally (comparative more nasally, superlative most nasally)

more nasally (comparative)
most nasally (superlative)

speak nasally


asexually

asexually (comparative more asexually, superlative most asexually)

more asexually (comparative)
most asexually (superlative)

Amoebas reproduce asexually.

One of the pioneers was a French plant scientist named Georges Morel who figured out how to produce asexually thousands of identical orchids from one plant through cloning instead of breeding from seed.

2019 April 10, Adrian Higgins, “This florist started caring for ailing orchids on the side. He’s now babysitting 13,000.”, in The Washington Post:

In an asexual manner; without having sex.

suvuttomasti

in an asexual manner; without having sex


pejoratively

pejoratively (comparative more pejoratively, superlative most pejoratively)

more pejoratively (comparative)
most pejoratively (superlative)

In a pejorative manner. Insultingly, disparagingly; so as to belittle another or harm their reputation.


baso

Clipping of basically + -o (diminutive suffix). Compare deffo.

i mean yeah it's baso the same tbh


coronad

coronad (comparative more coronad, superlative most coronad)

more coronad (comparative)
most coronad (superlative)

Besides its axis, therefore, the Malleus possesses a pivot, which projects coronad or superiorly to the bony ring of the membrana tympani and antinio-basilad or anteriorily and inferiorily to its own head […]

1808 May, The Medical and Physical Journal, volume 19, number 111, page 396:

This canal is formed basilad or inferiorly by the crura cerebri g, and superiorly or coronad by the posterior commissure p […]

1825, John Lizars, A System of Anatomical Plates:

The facial branch of the left antler differs from the right one in being slender, round, and tapering throughout, and in curving coronad from near its commencement.

1854, Edward Forbes, editor, The zoology of the voyage of H. M. S. Herald:


hygienically

hygienically (comparative more hygienically, superlative most hygienically)

more hygienically (comparative)
most hygienically (superlative)


hypercritically

hypercritically (comparative more hypercritically, superlative most hypercritically)

more hypercritically (comparative)
most hypercritically (superlative)


hypocritically

hypocritically (comparative more hypocritically, superlative most hypocritically)

more hypocritically (comparative)
most hypocritically (superlative)


gymnastically

gymnastically (comparative more gymnastically, superlative most gymnastically)

more gymnastically (comparative)
most gymnastically (superlative)

The Nicholas Brothers had a unique talent for being gymnastically athletic in their dancing while they maintained an elegance and sense of humor that was thrilling.

2008, Thomas S. Hischak, The Oxford Companion to the American Musical:


hysterically

hysterically (comparative more hysterically, superlative most hysterically)

more hysterically (comparative)
most hysterically (superlative)

In a hysterical manner; showing signs of hysteria.


qualitatively

qualitatively (comparative more qualitatively, superlative most qualitatively)

more qualitatively (comparative)
most qualitatively (superlative)

With respect to quality rather than quantity.


needless to say

Having won the championship, he is, needless to say, a very happy man.

Some time ago I was on the footplate of an engine fresh from the shops after overhaul, and the combined efforts of driver and fireman were needed to open and close the regulator. Needless to say, the men were not in a very happy frame of mind."

1951 September, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 623:


quick-wittedly

quick-wittedly (comparative more quick-wittedly, superlative most quick-wittedly)

more quick-wittedly (comparative)
most quick-wittedly (superlative)


quantitatively

quantitatively (comparative more quantitatively, superlative most quantitatively)

more quantitatively (comparative)
most quantitatively (superlative)

With respect to quantity rather than quality.

quantitativement

with respect to quantity rather than quality


questionably

questionably (comparative more questionably, superlative most questionably)

more questionably (comparative)
most questionably (superlative)


questioningly

questioningly (comparative more questioningly, superlative most questioningly)

more questioningly (comparative)
most questioningly (superlative)

Ricky nodded, but it was clear his mind worked overtime to assess his situation. He looked around in quick nervous glances. “Fine. Do I get my hands untied?”
Baker looked questioningly at Bruce, who nodded “yes” to him […]

2014, Carol Golembiewski, The Projection Room, page 140:


querulously

querulously (comparative more querulously, superlative most querulously)

more querulously (comparative)
most querulously (superlative)

It was his last demonstration for that time; as, after shedding some more tears and querulously complaining that he couldn't breathe, he slowly fell into a slumber.

1855 December – 1857 June, Charles Dickens, “What was behind Mr. Pancks on Little Dorrit’s Hand”, in Little Dorrit, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1857, →OCLC, book the first (Poverty), page 313:

"There are no crimes and no criminals in these days," he said, querulously. "What is the use of having brains in our profession. I know well that I have it in me to make my name famous.[…]"

1891, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “The Science of Deduction”, in A Study in Scarlet. A Detective Story, 3rd edition, London, New York, N.Y.: Ward, Lock, Bowden, and Co., […], published 1892, →OCLC, part I (Being a Reprint from the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D., […]), page 32:

"I wish to 'eaven I 'adn't these silly sandals on," he cried querulously to the universe. "They give the whole blessed show away."

1907, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “The German Air-fleet”, in The War in the Air: […], London: George Bell and Sons, published 1908, →OCLC, § 2, page 113:

"If we're heroes," Dane asked a little querulously, "what are we doing locked up here?"

1956, Andre Norton, chapter XVII, in Plague Ship:

With grumbling, complaining, or whining.


distad

distad (comparative more distad, superlative most distad)

more distad (comparative)
most distad (superlative)

(anatomy) Toward a distal part; on the distal side of; distally.


totes

Omg, diary, mid-year rotto was the best. time. EVER. Whole #squad stayed at Geordie Bay, obvi. All the planning totes paid off - literally so wasted from start to finish.

2015 August, “The Fresher Diary: Part Five”, in Pelican, volume 86, number 5, University of Western Australia, page 7:

“You convinced us, too.” “Yeah, we're totes donating our dividend check next year.”

2024 March 17, Thomas Reyes, “The Mighty Pucks Adventure” (19:58 from the start), in The Great North, season 4, episode 6, spoken by Wolf Tobin (Will Forte):


forrad

(dialectal, chiefly nautical) Alternative spelling of forrard.


uprightly

uprightly (comparative more uprightly, superlative most uprightly)

more uprightly (comparative)
most uprightly (superlative)


ubiquitously

ubiquitously (comparative more ubiquitously, superlative most ubiquitously)

more ubiquitously (comparative)
most ubiquitously (superlative)


ultrasonically

ultrasonically (comparative more ultrasonically, superlative most ultrasonically)

more ultrasonically (comparative)
most ultrasonically (superlative)


upwardly

upwardly (comparative more upwardly, superlative most upwardly)

more upwardly (comparative)
most upwardly (superlative)

Towards a higher level, position or status.


mandatorily

In a mandatory manner; not optionally; required.


uproariously

uproariously (comparative more uproariously, superlative most uproariously)

more uproariously (comparative)
most uproariously (superlative)

Everybody, old and young, laughs uproariously at this and immediately forgets all about it.

1929, Robert Dean Frisbee, The Book of Puka-Puka, Eland, published 2019, page 35:

From the first frames, it reveals itself as an outrageously, uproariously sexed-up piece of work, stylishly directed by Alfonso Cuaron from a script by his brother Carlos.

2002 April 12, Peter Bradshaw, “Three go mad in Mexico”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:


optionally

optionally (comparative more optionally, superlative most optionally)

more optionally (comparative)
most optionally (superlative)

optionally piloted vehicleorally disintegrating tablet


urbanely

urbanely (comparative more urbanely, superlative most urbanely)

more urbanely (comparative)
most urbanely (superlative)

From urbane + -ly. Piecewise doublet of urbanly.

The other took the card from his hand, read it in a rapid glance, looked again at Newman from head to foot, hesitated a moment, and then said, gravely but urbanely, “Madame de Cintré is not at home.”

1876 June, Henry James, Jr., “The American”, in The Atlantic Monthly: A Magazine of Literature, Science, Art, and Politics, volume XXXVII, number CCXXIV, Boston, Mass.: H[enry] O[scar] Houghton and Company; New York, N.Y.: Hurd and Houghton; Cambridge, Mass.: The Riverside Press, chapter III, page 673, column 1:

Appleby[…]rose from his seat when Morales came in. He shook hands urbanely, unbuckled his sword, and laid his kepi on the table, and then sat down with an expression of concern in his olive face which Appleby fancied was assumed.

1907 January, Harold Bindloss, chapter 22, in The Dust of Conflict, 1st Canadian edition, Toronto, Ont.: McLeod & Allen, →OCLC:


uselessly

uselessly (comparative more uselessly, superlative most uselessly)

more uselessly (comparative)
most uselessly (superlative)

Mr. Civil, warned and guided by distant axe-whangs, had found them, and had been unsparing in his condemnation of Jim's stupid waste of time in coming an unnecessary mile to chop down a tree uselessly far away.

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 213:


upmarket

Towards the more expensive end of the market.


wondrously

wondrously (comparative more wondrously, superlative most wondrously)

more wondrously (comparative)
most wondrously (superlative)


optimally

optimally (comparative more optimally, superlative most optimally)

more optimally (comparative)
most optimally (superlative)


whimsically

whimsically (comparative more whimsically, superlative most whimsically)

more whimsically (comparative)
most whimsically (superlative)


ornately

ornately (comparative more ornately, superlative most ornately)

more ornately (comparative)
most ornately (superlative)

From Middle English ornatly; equivalent to ornate + -ly.


opulently

opulently (comparative more opulently, superlative most opulently)

more opulently (comparative)
most opulently (superlative)


whensoever

From Middle English quen-so-ever, wensoever, whanne so evere, whan-so-ever, whan-so-evere, whenne-soever, when so evyr. By surface analysis, when + so + ever.

Now or whensoever, provided I be so able as now.

1602, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, act V scene 2:

Again, whereas men affirm they perceive an addition of ponderosity in dead bodies, comparing them usually unto blocks and stones, whensoever they lift or carry them; this accessional preponderancy is rather in appearance than reality.

1672, Sir Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica:

But we mean whensoever her majesty or any other patron do present any person unto a benefice, that the person presented shall be tried and examined by the judgment of learned men of the church; […]

1840, Lewis Rose, chapter I, in An Humble Attempt to Put an End to the Present Divisions in the Church of Scotland, and to Promote Her Usefulness. […] , Glasgow: George Gallie, →OCLC, page 8:


organically

organically (comparative more organically, superlative most organically)

more organically (comparative)
most organically (superlative)

“But after meeting Jaleel serendipitously on an airplane and becoming friends, the idea grew organically, and we knew we had the right partner.”

2021 August 5, Pierre-Antoine Louis, “Jaleel White Wants to Sell You ‘Purple Urkle’”, in The New York Times:

Inherently, naturally or constitutionally.

natürlich

inherently, naturally or constitutionally


optimistically

optimistically (comparative more optimistically, superlative most optimistically)

more optimistically (comparative)
most optimistically (superlative)

Less optimistically observed, she was a short, broad-shouldered girl, built like a sturdy pony[.]

1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1965, →OCLC, page 59:


organizationally

Organizationally, the campaign will have its home office in Durham, which will provide support for grassroots efforts in each of the state's 100 counties.

1990 April 7, Jennie McKnight, “N.C. Activists Mobilize To Oust Helms”, in Gay Community News, page 7:

With regard to organization or an organization.


wonderingly

wonderingly (comparative more wonderingly, superlative most wonderingly)

more wonderingly (comparative)
most wonderingly (superlative)

The flowers that Florence held to her breast began to fall when she heard those words, so wonderingly spoken.

1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, “chapter 23”, in Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC, page 245:

1891, Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, London: James R. Osgood, McIlvaie & Co., Volume I, Phase the First, Chapter 4, p. 50,
The poor creature looked wonderingly round at the night, at the lantern, at their two figures, as if he could not believe that at that hour, when every living thing was intended to be in shelter and at rest, he was called upon to go out and labour.

“That will be sat-is-fac-tor-y,” said Tik-Tok, picking up the gun and examining it wonderingly, for he had never before seen such a weapon.

1914, L. Frank Baum, chapter 8, in Tik-Tok of Oz, Chicago: Reilly & Britton, page 89:

She listened to him wonderingly as he told her of the real miner’s cottage of his birth in Carmarthenshire where his father still lived […]

1960, Muriel Spark, chapter 8, in The Bachelors, London: Macmillan:


liever

Alternative spelling of liefer; comparative form of lief: more lief


whilom

From Middle English whilom (“(adverb) at one time, formerly, once; once upon a time; at times, sometimes; at a future time; (conjunction) while”) [and other forms], from Old English hwīlum, hwīlan, hwīlon (“at one time, once; sometimes”), from Proto-West Germanic *hwīlum, the dative plural of *hwīlu (“period of time, time, while; period of rest, pause”), from Proto-Germanic *hwīlō (“period of time, time, while; period of rest, pause”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- (“to rest; peace, rest”).
The Oxford English Dictionary regards adverb sense 2.2 (“for some time that has passed”) as “aberrant”.
cognates
* Old High German hwīlōn (Middle High German wīlen, wīlent, German weiland (“at one time, formerly”))
* Old Saxon hwīlon (“sometimes”) (Middle Dutch wilen, Middle Low German wilen (“at one time, formerly”), Dutch wijlen (“deceased, late”))

nb...

quilum, whileme, whilen, whilene, whilome, whilon, whilum, whilumm, whylom, whylome, whylon, whylum, (Kent) hwilem, wilem, (Scotland) qhilom, quhilom, quhilum, quhylum, qwhilom, qwhilum, qwhylum, qwylum, (Southwest England) ʒwilene, ʒwuilene, (Early Middle English) hwilan, hwilem, hwilen, hwilon, hwilum, hwylem, hwylen, wilen, wylem, ȝwilene

cog

Lo I the man, vvhoſe Muſe vvhilome did maske, / As time her taught, in lowly Sheapards vveeds, / Am novv enforſt a far unfitter taske, […]

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 1, page 1:

VVith ſuch an invention [a sumptuary law] did Zelevcus vvhilome correct the corrupted maners of the Locrines.

1603, Michel de Montaigne, “Of Sumptuarie Lawes, or Lawes for Moderating of Expences”, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC, page 145:

In Northern Clime a valorous Knight / Did whilom kill his Bear in fight, / And wound a Fidler: we have both / Of these the objects of our Wroth / And equal Fame and Glory from / Th' Attempt or Victory to come.

1662 (indicated as 1663), [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]. Canto I.”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC, page 26:

My vvarbling Lute, the Lute I vvhilom ſtrung / VVhen to King John of Portugal I ſung, / VVas but the Prelude to that glorious Day, / VVhen thou on Silver Thames did'ſt cut thy vvay, / VVith vvell-tim'd Oars before the Royal Barge, / Svvell'd vvith the Pride of thy Celeſtial charge; […]

c. 1678 (date written; published 1682), J[ohn] Dryden, “Mac Flecknoe”, in Mac Flecknoe: A Poem. […] With Spencer’s Ghost: Being a Satyr Concerning Poetry. […], London: […] H[enry] Hills, […], published 1709, →OCLC, page 4:

The Squire himſelf novv ſallied forth, and begun to roar forth the Name of Sophia loudly, and in as hoarſe a Voice, as vvhileom did Hercules that of Hylas: […]

1749, Henry Fielding, “In which the History Goes Backward”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume IV, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book VII, pages 66–67:

They who whilome, in midnight fight, / Had marvelled at her matchless might, / No less her maiden charms approved, / But looking liked, and liking loved.

1808 February 22, Walter Scott, “Introduction to Canto Fifth: To George Ellis, Esq.”, in Marmion; a Tale of Flodden Field, Edinburgh: […] J[ames] Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Company, […]; London: William Miller, and John Murray, →OCLC, page 231:

Holding it [the skull of a hare] in the hand the shadow falls into and darkens the cavities once filled by the wistful eyes which whilom glanced down from the summit here upon the sweet clover fields beneath.

1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], “The Downs—The Entrenchment—Ways of Larks. Hares—A Combat—Happiness of Animals. Ants—A Long Journey.”, in Wild Life in a Southern County […], London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC, page 10:

(archaic except literary) At some time in the past; formerly, once upon a time.

Wald ze be lov'd, this lessone mon ze leir; / Flie vhylome Love, and it will folou thee.

a. 1599 (date written), Alexander Montgomery [i.e., Alexander Montgomerie], “An Admonitioun to Zoung Lassis”, in David Irving, editor, The Poems of Alexander Montgomery: […], Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for W[illiam] and C[harles] Tait, […], published 1821, →OCLC, page 222:

(obsolete)
At times, on occasion, sometimes.

This money I do give ye, becauſe of vvhilom / You have bin thought my ſonne, and by myſelfe too, […]

1610–1616 (date written), Iohn Fletcher [i.e., John Fletcher], Monsieur Thomas. A Comedy. […], London: […] Thomas Harper, for Iohn Waterson, […], published 1639, →OCLC, Act IV, scene ii, signature I2, verso:

(rare) Preceded by of or this: for some time that has passed.


validly

en-adv

validly (comparative more validly, superlative most validly)

more validly (comparative)
most validly (superlative)


valorously

valorously (comparative more valorously, superlative most valorously)

more valorously (comparative)
most valorously (superlative)


variously

My caravan served variously as a changing room, office and bedroom.


vixenishly

vixenishly (comparative more vixenishly, superlative most vixenishly)

more vixenishly (comparative)
most vixenishly (superlative)


vibrantly

vibrantly (comparative more vibrantly, superlative most vibrantly)

more vibrantly (comparative)
most vibrantly (superlative)


vaingloriously

vaingloriously (comparative more vaingloriously, superlative most vaingloriously)

more vaingloriously (comparative)
most vaingloriously (superlative)

From another point of view, it was a place without a soul. The well-to-do had hearts of stone; the rich were brutally bumptious; the Press, the Municipality, all the public men, were ridiculously, vaingloriously self-satisfied.

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


virulently

virulently (comparative more virulently, superlative most virulently)

more virulently (comparative)
most virulently (superlative)


vindictively

vindictively (comparative more vindictively, superlative most vindictively)

more vindictively (comparative)
most vindictively (superlative)

For answer the boy's bravely challenging eyes met his blinking vindictively.

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 164:


vivaciously

vivaciously (comparative more vivaciously, superlative most vivaciously)

more vivaciously (comparative)
most vivaciously (superlative)


ignobly

ignobly (comparative more ignobly, superlative most ignobly)

more ignobly (comparative)
most ignobly (superlative)


vitally

vitally (comparative more vitally, superlative most vitally)

more vitally (comparative)
most vitally (superlative)

To an extent that is vital; indispensably


ignorantly

ignorantly (comparative more ignorantly, superlative most ignorantly)

more ignorantly (comparative)
most ignorantly (superlative)


vacuously

vacuously (comparative more vacuously, superlative most vacuously)

more vacuously (comparative)
most vacuously (superlative)

Here, in distress that was consternation, and in fear that was panic, excitedly bobbed up and down a cowboy in bearskin chaps, vacuously repeating the exclamation, "Oh God! Oh God!" […]

1915, Jack London, The Little Lady of the Big House:

He scowled vacuously, keeping at bay a horrible enlightenment on the mechanism of effort, which must drive into being a resistance equal to itself.

1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 211:

The statement is vacuously true because P is false and P implies Q.

(logic) Because of being a vacuous truth.


virtuously

virtuously (comparative more virtuously, superlative most virtuously)

more virtuously (comparative)
most virtuously (superlative)

From Middle English vertuously; equivalent to virtuous + -ly.


vaginally

It would have been advisable to examine Conchita vaginally to see how far she was in labour.

2002, Jennifer Worth, Call the Midwife, Phoenix (2012), page 286:

route of administration
route of administration

Via the vagina, as (usually, more specifically) by the vaginal route of administration.


atrociously

atrociously (comparative more atrociously, superlative most atrociously)

more atrociously (comparative)
most atrociously (superlative)


vigilantly

vigilantly (comparative more vigilantly, superlative most vigilantly)

more vigilantly (comparative)
most vigilantly (superlative)

He shuffled athwart, keeping one eye ahead vigilantly.

1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 204:


ignominiously

ignominiously (comparative more ignominiously, superlative most ignominiously)

more ignominiously (comparative)
most ignominiously (superlative)

A window opened above the shop, and a frowsty-looking man, yellow-pale, was quickly and nervously hauling in the national flag. There were shouts of derision and mockery—a great overtone of acrid derision—the flag and its owner ignominiously disappeared.

1918–1921 (date written), D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, “XX Settembre”, in Aaron’s Rod, New York, N.Y.: Thomas Seltzer, published April 1922, →OCLC, page 215:


victoriously

victoriously (comparative more victoriously, superlative most victoriously)

more victoriously (comparative)
most victoriously (superlative)

From Middle English victoriously, vittoryously; equivalent to victorious + -ly.

in a victorious manner; as part of a victory


valiantly

valiantly (comparative more valiantly, superlative most valiantly)

more valiantly (comparative)
most valiantly (superlative)

I valiantly resolve not to go to bed at all, but to walk up and down the pier till morning.

1842, Charles Dickens, “A Night Steamer on the Potomac River. […]”, in American Notes for General Circulation. […], volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, page 4:

We may think of the young people who valiantly stood for the cause of human rights and resisted their infringement, in spite of the violent crackdown by the Chinese regime at T’ien-an-men Square in June 1989.

1999, Felix Wilfred, “Asian Dreams and Christian Hope”, in Virgil Elizondo, Jon Sobrino, editors, 2000: Reality and Hope, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 71:


wakefully

wakefully (comparative more wakefully, superlative most wakefully)

more wakefully (comparative)
most wakefully (superlative)


callously

callously (comparative more callously, superlative most callously)

more callously (comparative)
most callously (superlative)

In a callous manner; done without regard to others' sensitivities.


meticulously

meticulously (comparative more meticulously, superlative most meticulously)

more meticulously (comparative)
most meticulously (superlative)

Near-synonyms: carefully, methodically, precisely, rigorously, scrupulously, thoroughly

In fact, they ran that forty-three minutes’ meeting so meticulously, they even took input from the public with predictable results.

2016, Tim Carvell [et al.], “Special Districts”, in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, season 3, episode 4, John Oliver (actor), Warner Bros. Television, via HBO:


atilt

He wore his hat rakishly atilt.

Ale should not be drunk under five dayes old; new Ale is unwholsome, sowre Ale, and dead, and Ale which do stand atilt is most unwholesome.

1659, Nicholas Culpeper, “Doctor Diets Directory”, in Culpeper’s School of Physick, London: N. Brook, page 300:

In that nice Moment, as another Lye
Stood just a-tilt, the Minister came by.

1733, Alexander Pope, The Impertinent, London: John Wileord, page 12:

[…] the slope flattened to a wide shelf where limestone cropped through the heather and many huge boulders were scattered atilt.

1928, Maurice Walsh, chapter 24, in While Rivers Run, London: W. & R. Chambers:

Had earthquakes shaken the windows atilt so they mirrored intruders with distorted gleams and glares?

1969, Ray Bradbury, “The Haunting of the New”, in I Sing the Body Electric!, New York: Knopf, page 136:

At an angle from the vertical or horizontal; at the point of falling over.

to run / ride atilt at someone or something

What will you do, good grey-beard? break a lance,
And run a tilt at death within a chair?

1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First 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 III, scene ii]:

The shadow of death to David is but the shadow of evill. Though ten thousand Curiassiers run upon him atilt with envenom’d and poysoned spears, he layes him down in the bosome of God, he sleeps in peace;

1669, Samuel Lee, chapter 7, in Contemplations on Mortality, London, page 69:

Make feeble Ladies, in their Works,
To fight like Termagants and Turks;
To lay their native Arms aside,
Their modesty, and ride a-stride;
To run a-Tilt at Men, and wield
Their naked tools in open field;

1663 (indicated as 1664), [Samuel Butler], “The Second Part of Hudibras”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC, page 79:

1895, F. F. Montrésor, Into the Highways and Hedges, New York: Appleton, Part 2, Chapter 9, p. 235,
Other people may ride atilt against all the problems one bruises head and heart over. Good luck go with them, and more power to their elbows!

Tilting or as if tilting (charging with a lance, like a knight on horseback in a joust).


warm-heartedly

warm-heartedly (comparative more warm-heartedly, superlative most warm-heartedly)

more warm-heartedly (comparative)
most warm-heartedly (superlative)


cavernously

cavernously (comparative more cavernously, superlative most cavernously)

more cavernously (comparative)
most cavernously (superlative)

The lurid unearthly glow still hovered in the shadowy chamber, lighting ghostlily the dead face of Thugra Khotan, which seemed to grin mirthlessly and cavernously at them.

...the mother of the boy was alarmed beyond measure at Jimmie's curious illness, which caused him to lie on the rug in front of the fire and groan cavernously.

In a cavernous manner; sounding deep, hollow, or echoey.


per alia

Borrowed from Latin per alia, from per (“by; through”) + alia (“others”).

If humans are mortal, and Socrates is a human, then per alia Socrates is mortal.

By others; through others. Said of a proposition held to be true because it follows from other true propositions.


philosophically

philosophically (comparative more philosophically, superlative most philosophically)

more philosophically (comparative)
most philosophically (superlative)


wanly

wanly (comparative more wanly, superlative most wanly)

more wanly (comparative)
most wanly (superlative)

She has the faded look of a St. James's Street illumination, as it may be seen of an early morning, when half the lamps are out, and the others are blinking wanly, as if they were about to vanish like ghosts before the dawn.

1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 48, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:

Having turned about, he kept his horse to a walk, and at this gait the sleighbells tinkled but intermittently. Gleaming wanly through the whitish vapour that kept rising from the trotter’s body and flanks, they were like tiny fog-bells, and made the only sounds in a great winter silence.

1918, Booth Tarkington, chapter 7, in The Magnificent Ambersons:

[…] [he] spent a lot of time wanly imagining how warm and secure marriage must make men feel […]

1988, Edmund White, chapter 5, in The Beautiful Room is Empty, New York: Vintage International, published 1994:


reflexively

Reflexively he opened his mouth to breathe, forgetting he was underwater.

By reflex, automatically, without conscious thought.


infrequently

infrequently (comparative more infrequently, superlative most infrequently)

more infrequently (comparative)
most infrequently (superlative)


customarily

customarily (comparative more customarily, superlative most customarily)

more customarily (comparative)
most customarily (superlative)

(manner) In the customary manner; as is custom

(frequency) Under normal circumstances, normally.


willfully

willfully (comparative more willfully, superlative most willfully)

more willfully (comparative)
most willfully (superlative)


uncommonly

uncommonly (comparative more uncommonly, superlative most uncommonly)

more uncommonly (comparative)
most uncommonly (superlative)

For a gentleman, he was uncommonly rude, but she supposed wearing silk and jade gave him that privilege.

2012, Jeannie Lin, My Fair Concubine, page 12:

To an uncommon degree; unusually or extremely.

Not uncommonly, I find that I have arrived too late to catch my train.


grossly

grossly inflated expectations

grossly enlarged hepatic lobes, evident on palpation

Third-class carriages are grossly overcrowded, with passengers lying on the luggage racks, standing between the benches, and occasionally even riding on the footboards and clinging to the outsides of the coaches for short distances.

1950 February, W. Dendy, “Impressions of the Indian Railways—3”, in Railway Magazine, page 120:

Barker believed that evidence was emerging that a "solid proportion" of operations were "grossly uneconomic", and that no amount of improvement in equipment would make them viable. He suggested that "while the superstructure of the report is correct, the foundations require radical re-examination".

2023 March 8, David Clough, “The long road that led to Beeching”, in RAIL, number 978, page 42:

Greatly; to a large degree, especially one large enough to be frankly appreciable.

grossly misjudged

grossly inflamed

A draft deal to cut global fossil fuel production is “grossly insufficient” and “incoherent” and will not stop the world from facing dangerous climate breakdown, according to delegates at the UN’s Cop28 summit.

2023 December 11, Fiona Harvey, Patrick Greenfield, Nina Lakhani, Adam Morton, Damian Carrington, “Cop28 draft climate deal criticised as ‘grossly insufficient’ and ‘incoherent’”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

To a serious, severe, or offensive degree.

Coordinate term: grotesquely

The men were talking grossly about their sexual conquests.

(informal) In a gross (disgusting) manner; without delicacy.

(archaic) Roughly; approximately; inexactly; sketchily.


nine to five

Typical office work hours in many countries.

Nine to five, what a way to make a living; barely getting by, it's all taking and no giving.

1980, Dolly Parton (lyrics and music), “9 to 5”:


hic et nunc

hic et nunc (comparative more hic et nunc, superlative most hic et nunc)

more hic et nunc (comparative)
most hic et nunc (superlative)

From Latin hic et nunc (“here and now”).

Such sentences explicitly state that something both has taken place and will take place; they are silent about what Bruce and Wayne are doing hic-et-nunc.

1995, Andrew L. Sihler, New Comparative Grammar of Greek and Latin:

Perhaps, then, it is wiser, more "realistic," and more fruitful first to examine religion not in relation to a group of individuals but in relation to each one of those individuals, hic et nunc, not on a collective level but on a concrete, personal, and above all psychological level.

2000, Jean Bottéro, Clarisse Herrenschmidt, Jean-Pierre Vernant, Ancestor of the West, →ISBN, page 51:

“We need a Marshall Plan hic et nunc” proffered a man who, to camera and in profile, looked like a sole.

2012, Alain Mabanckou, Black Bazaar, →ISBN:

But what, more precisely, distinguishes such an actual perception from a solely possible perception if not its accomplishment hic et nunc?

2015, Burt Hopkins, Steven Crowell, The New Yearbook for Phenomenology and Phenomenological Philosophy, →ISBN:


aplenty

From earlier a-plenty, equivalent to a- + plenty.


frightfully

frightfully (comparative more frightfully, superlative most frightfully)

more frightfully (comparative)
most frightfully (superlative)

It all went frightfully quickly.

"Really!" he said, collapsing into lassitude. "It's too frightfully hot for singing."

1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1965, →OCLC, page 199:


face-to-face

I came face-to-face with her on the battlefield recently. Resistance vs. Roekaar. My favorite mother looked at me with the kindness and empathy that I remembered… then she shot me.

2017 June 8, Evfra de Tershav, quotee, “Roekaar Occupation”, in Mass Effect: Andromeda APEX HQ (Science Fiction), archived from the original on 2019-02-09:


darned

That was darned nice of him, wasn't it?

He is so darned pig-headed.


here and now

On January 8, 1964, in my first State of the Union address to the Congress, I announced: "This administration today, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in America." I warned that "it will not be a short or easy struggle" but that it was a war "we cannot afford to lose."

1971, Lyndon Johnson, The Vantage Point, Holt, Reinhart & Winston, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 75:


watchfully

watchfully (comparative more watchfully, superlative most watchfully)

more watchfully (comparative)
most watchfully (superlative)


wastefully

wastefully (comparative more wastefully, superlative most wastefully)

more wastefully (comparative)
most wastefully (superlative)

From Middle English wastfully; equivalent to wasteful + -ly.

Özil was narrowly wide with a free-kick after Nathaniel Chalobah fouled Danny Welbeck and Santi Cazorla shot wastefully over the bar, before Arsenal nearly managed to take the lead just before the half-hour.

18 April 2015, Paul Wilson, “Alexis Sánchez sends Arsenal into final after gallant Reading go the distance”, in The Guardian:

City carried little threat in the early stages and when they did work an opportunity on 10 minutes, Dzeko's replacement Balotelli shot wastefully over the bar.

2011 October 1, David Ornstein, “Blackburn 0 - 4 Man City”, in BBC Sport:


waywardly

waywardly (comparative more waywardly, superlative most waywardly)

more waywardly (comparative)
most waywardly (superlative)

He waywardly wished for something, and he set about obtaining it like a child in a nursery.

1874, Thomas Hardy, chapter XV, in Far from the Madding Crowd. […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder & Co., […], →OCLC:


dreckley

dreckley (comparative more dreckley, superlative most dreckley)

more dreckley (comparative)
most dreckley (superlative)

From the West Country pronunciation of directly.


weightlessly

weightlessly (comparative more weightlessly, superlative most weightlessly)

more weightlessly (comparative)
most weightlessly (superlative)

The astronaut hung weightlessly in the capsule.


psychotically

psychotically (comparative more psychotically, superlative most psychotically)

more psychotically (comparative)
most psychotically (superlative)


ebulliently

ebulliently (comparative more ebulliently, superlative most ebulliently)

more ebulliently (comparative)
most ebulliently (superlative)


isotropically

In an isotropic manner; so as to exhibit the same properties or behavior in all directions.


weirdly

weirdly (comparative more weirdly, superlative most weirdly)

more weirdly (comparative)
most weirdly (superlative)

The teacher suspected he was on drugs because he was behaving weirdly.

She wore a necklace strung with weirdly-shaped pearls.

Weirdly, Alice showed up 10 minutes early. She was usually late for everything.

The roughness of the wool was weirdly pleasant.


psychically

psychically (comparative more psychically, superlative most psychically)

more psychically (comparative)
most psychically (superlative)


incredulously

incredulously (comparative more incredulously, superlative most incredulously)

more incredulously (comparative)
most incredulously (superlative)

"Sure you never heard of him?" he asked incredulously. "Never," I said flatly.

1946, George Johnston, Skyscrapers in the Mist, page 119:

In an incredulous manner; tending to disbelieve; skeptically.


wetly

wetly (comparative more wetly, superlative most wetly)

more wetly (comparative)
most wetly (superlative)

They lay on one another in heaps, or attempted to crawl about—some itching madly with leprosies—some swollen and gasping with dropsies—some wetly reeking, like hands washed in winter-time.

1846, Leigh Hunt, “The Journey Through Hell”, in Stories from the Italian Poets, volume I, London: Chapman & Hall, page 134:

1916, Marie Adelaide Belloc Lowndes, The Red Cross Barge, London: Smith, Elder & Co., Part III, Chapter 2, p. 113,
On a rickety low cart, drawn by a decrepit pony, was a large wooden packing-case on which some well-meaning hand had drawn, in black paint which still gleamed wetly in the sun, a rude cross.

She looked back just as closely through her little eyes, with the near-blackmailing insolence of her knowledge. Whereupon he kissed her long and wetly.

1961, Muriel Spark, chapter 4, in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, London: Macmillan:

Rupert Frazer reveals the hollowness behind the elder Forsyth's tyrannical bluster, while Geoff Breton does all that is possible to reconcile us to his wetly conventional son.

2008 October 29, Michael Billington, “Independent Means”, in The Guardian:

Hypocrisy is all around us: in supermarkets with their fake green credentials, in a wetly liberal BBC, in publishers now falling over themselves to promote pornography, in a Government that wrings its hands about social problems—sport for children, the erosion of the countryside, gambling, greed—while at the same time busily exploiting and exacerbating them.

2012 August 27, Terence Blacker, “Fifty years after the satire boom, the country needs it more than ever”, in The Independent:

(UK, informal) Ineffectually, feebly, showing no strength of character.


epidemically

Malaria occurs endemically, epidemically, pandemically, or sporadically.

1886, Hermann Ludwig Eichhorst, Handbook of Practical Medicine, page 168:


ephemerally

ephemerally (comparative more ephemerally, superlative most ephemerally)

more ephemerally (comparative)
most ephemerally (superlative)


indisputably

From indisputable + -ly or in- + dispute + -ably.

It is, perhaps, the most brilliant of all the Westinghouse inventions, and is indisputably one of the cleverest devices ever produced by the human brain.

1946 November and December, “George Westinghouse, 1846-1914”, in Railway Magazine, page 375:

In a manner that is incapable of being disputed or argued against.

indiscutiblement

in a manner that is incapable of being disputed


elementally

elementally (comparative more elementally, superlative most elementally)

more elementally (comparative)
most elementally (superlative)


helplessly

helplessly (comparative more helplessly, superlative most helplessly)

more helplessly (comparative)
most helplessly (superlative)

The fish flopped helplessly in the tiny remaining pool.

The boy rolled on the floor laughing helplessly.

The whole covey of victims was thus netted; the household ruin was thus full and orbicular; and in that proportion the tendency of men and women, flutter as they might, would be helplessly and hopelessly to sink into the all-conquering hands of the mighty murderer.

1854, Thomas De Quincey, “On Murder, Considered as One of the Fine Arts. Postscript.”, in Miscellanies (De Quincey’s Works; IV), London: James Hogg & Sons, →OCLC, page 76:

The spectators gaped helplessly as the balloon approached the power lines.


squeamishly

squeamishly (comparative more squeamishly, superlative most squeamishly)

more squeamishly (comparative)
most squeamishly (superlative)


squeakily

squeakily (comparative more squeakily, superlative most squeakily)

more squeakily (comparative)
most squeakily (superlative)


evanescently

evanescently (comparative more evanescently, superlative most evanescently)

more evanescently (comparative)
most evanescently (superlative)


squalidly

squalidly (comparative more squalidly, superlative most squalidly)

more squalidly (comparative)
most squalidly (superlative)


psychologically

The new novel is a psychologically complex thriller.

The patient's behaviour was interpreted psychologically.

The economics of rebuilding all the stations covered by the electrification would be prohibitive, but to help bring home to the Glasgow public that their North Clyde suburban service has been transformed, not merely re-equipped with new trains, stations have at least been associated psychologically with the rolling stock by a common colour scheme.

1960 December, “The Glasgow Suburban Electrification is opened”, in Trains Illustrated, page 714:


systemically

systemically (comparative more systemically, superlative most systemically)

more systemically (comparative)
most systemically (superlative)

In a manner that affects an entire system.


symmetrically

symmetrically (comparative more symmetrically, superlative most symmetrically)

more symmetrically (comparative)
most symmetrically (superlative)

In a symmetrical manner; so as to show symmetry


odiously

odiously (comparative more odiously, superlative most odiously)

more odiously (comparative)
most odiously (superlative)


occupationally

occupationally (comparative more occupationally, superlative most occupationally)

more occupationally (comparative)
most occupationally (superlative)


oafishly

oafishly (comparative more oafishly, superlative most oafishly)

more oafishly (comparative)
most oafishly (superlative)


tyrannically

tyrannically (comparative more tyrannically, superlative most tyrannically)

more tyrannically (comparative)
most tyrannically (superlative)


natheless

From Middle English natheless, equivalent to no + the + less. Compare netheless.

And if he doth not return, this Wilfred may natheless repay us our charges when he shall gain treasure by the strength of his spear and of his sword, even as he did yesterday and this day also.

With the first light she laughed, and the last light
 Glows round her still; who natheless in the night
 At length must make an end.

1871, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Sunset Wings, lines 18–20:

He had tortured the lady with exceeding tortures, natheless she would not confess to him aught […].

1885, Sir Richard Burton, “Night 13”, in The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night:


euphorically

euphorically (comparative more euphorically, superlative most euphorically)

more euphorically (comparative)
most euphorically (superlative)


egotistically

egotistically (comparative more egotistically, superlative most egotistically)

more egotistically (comparative)
most egotistically (superlative)


eugenically

The controversial U.S. Supreme Court case of Buck v. Bell, a 1926 ruling that upheld the rights of states to eugenically sterilize, without consent, those it considered "unfit".

2006, Matt Wray, Not Quite White, page 19:


ecstatically

ecstatically (comparative more ecstatically, superlative most ecstatically)

more ecstatically (comparative)
most ecstatically (superlative)


ecumenically

ecumenically (comparative more ecumenically, superlative most ecumenically)

more ecumenically (comparative)
most ecumenically (superlative)


ghoulishly

ghoulishly (comparative more ghoulishly, superlative most ghoulishly)

more ghoulishly (comparative)
most ghoulishly (superlative)


tirelessly

tirelessly (comparative more tirelessly, superlative most tirelessly)

more tirelessly (comparative)
most tirelessly (superlative)

The volunteers worked tirelessly to improve the content.

In a tireless manner; without tiring, flagging, or ceasing.


egocentrically

egocentrically (comparative more egocentrically, superlative most egocentrically)

more egocentrically (comparative)
most egocentrically (superlative)


ecclesiastically

ecclesiastically (comparative more ecclesiastically, superlative most ecclesiastically)

more ecclesiastically (comparative)
most ecclesiastically (superlative)

The ecclesiastically robed Choral Majority put on the best performance of the evening, singing their popular satires on several popular hymns and patriotic anthems.

1982 December 11, John Kyper, “March for Milk, Moscone: A Memory and a Tradition”, in Gay Community News, volume 10, number 21, page 3:


egoistically

egoistically (comparative more egoistically, superlative most egoistically)

more egoistically (comparative)
most egoistically (superlative)

He was going to ask her to marry him—indeed, he had intended to ask her without more delay. But the words were not spoken yet; instead, he found himself talking egoistically on and on.

1934, George Orwell, chapter 15, in Burmese Days:


euphoniously

euphoniously (comparative more euphoniously, superlative most euphoniously)

more euphoniously (comparative)
most euphoniously (superlative)

Then there are flowers to be painted on velvet—the new romance to be read—or some invention of novel embellishment to be discussed with your Mlle. Jacinthe, Hyacinthe, or whatever poetic name may euphoniously designate your Parisian priestess of the mirror.

1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XI, in Romance and Reality. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 93:


eccentrically

eccentrically (comparative more eccentrically, superlative most eccentrically)

more eccentrically (comparative)
most eccentrically (superlative)

The face which emerged was not reassuring.[…]. He was not a mongol but there was a deficiency of a sort there, and it was not made more pretty by a latter-day hair cut which involved eccentrically long elf-locks and oiled black curls.

1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 17, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:


massively

massively (comparative more massively, superlative most massively)

more massively (comparative)
most massively (superlative)

massively multiplayer online role-playing game

In a massive manner, in a way that appears large, heavy or imposing.


astoundingly

astoundingly (comparative more astoundingly, superlative most astoundingly)

more astoundingly (comparative)
most astoundingly (superlative)

For such a fancy, well-known restaurant, the food was astoundingly bad.

In an astounding manner; so as to astound, surprise, or amaze.


mystically

mystically (comparative more mystically, superlative most mystically)

more mystically (comparative)
most mystically (superlative)

I spoke to her of power and pride,
But mystically—in such guise
That she might deem it nought beside
The moment’s converse; […]

1829, Edgar Allan Poe, “Tamerlane”, in Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems:

(archaic) Cryptically, disguisedly, with a meaning not openly stated.


ecologically

ecologically (comparative more ecologically, superlative most ecologically)

more ecologically (comparative)
most ecologically (superlative)


squarely

squarely (comparative more squarely, superlative most squarely)

more squarely (comparative)
most squarely (superlative)

From square + -ly. First use appears c. 1557 in the writings of Robert Recorde.

(geometry) In the shape of a square; at right angles.

квадратно

“I stand squarely behind my decision,” he said, adding that he would not “shrink from my share of responsibility for where we are today.”

2021 August 16, Michael D. Shear, David E. Sanger, quoting Joe Biden, “Biden stands behind Afghan withdrawal, despite ‘hard and messy’ final days.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

But Republicans placed the blame squarely on Mr. Biden.

2021 August 16, Michael D. Shear, David E. Sanger, “Biden stands behind Afghan withdrawal, despite ‘hard and messy’ final days.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(figurative) In a direct, straightforward and honest manner.


eclectically

eclectically (comparative more eclectically, superlative most eclectically)

more eclectically (comparative)
most eclectically (superlative)

He draws eclectically on studies of baboons, descriptive anthropological accounts of hunter-gatherer societies and, in a few cases, the fossil record. With this biological framework in place, Corning endeavors to show that the capitalist system as currently practiced in the United States and elsewhere is manifestly unfair.

2012 March-April, John T. Jost, “Social Justice: Is It in Our Nature (and Our Future)?”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, archived from the original on 2012-02-13, page 162:


sympathetically

sympathetically (comparative more sympathetically, superlative most sympathetically)

more sympathetically (comparative)
most sympathetically (superlative)

I feel sure that here before me were assembled those, in whose unhealing hearts the sight of those bleak tablets sympathetically caused the old wounds to bleed afresh.

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

Owing to or showing evidence of sympathy, or affinity; happening through or demonstrating correspondences, whether occult or physiological.

Still she didn't stir, so he patted her shoulder and added sympathetically, 'Come now, don't take it so much to heart.'

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

In a manner which demonstrates a sharing in the feelings of others; compassionately.

myötätuntoisesti

demonstrating a sharing in the feelings of others


subjectively

subjectively (comparative more subjectively, superlative most subjectively)

more subjectively (comparative)
most subjectively (superlative)


onerously

onerously (comparative more onerously, superlative most onerously)

more onerously (comparative)
most onerously (superlative)


preposterously

preposterously (comparative more preposterously, superlative most preposterously)

more preposterously (comparative)
most preposterously (superlative)


astonishingly

astonishingly (comparative more astonishingly, superlative most astonishingly)

more astonishingly (comparative)
most astonishingly (superlative)

Famous hotels, for instance, are astonishingly commonplace.

1946, George Johnston, Skyscrapers in the Mist, page 85:

In an astonishing manner; so as to surprise or astonish.

The advertisements made the place look promising, but the food was astonishingly bad.

Very; remarkably used as an intensifier.


ad absurdum

Borrowed from Latin ad absurdum (“to absurdity”).


circumstantially

circumstantially (comparative more circumstantially, superlative most circumstantially)

more circumstantially (comparative)
most circumstantially (superlative)

Of the fancy and intellect, the powers are only circumstantially different.

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

In respect to circumstances; not essentially; accidentally.

To set down somewhat circumstantially, not only the events, but the manner of my trials.

1665, Robert Boyle, New Experiments and Observations Touching Cold:

In every circumstance or particular; minutely.


circuitously

circuitously (comparative more circuitously, superlative most circuitously)

more circuitously (comparative)
most circuitously (superlative)

I encountered a couple of hungry-looking dogs, but both hurried circuitously away from the advances I made them.

1895–1897, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “The Work of Fifteen Days”, in The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, published 1898, →OCLC, book II (The Earth under the Martians), page 244:

For instance: I raised, as a problem, my difficulty in finishing my book, in writing without a deadline. I raised it at length, circuitously, with emotion.

1998 August 17, Adam Gopnik, “Man Goes To See a Doctor”, in The New Yorker:

In a circuitous manner; following a circuitous route.


civilly

civilly (comparative more civilly, superlative most civilly)

more civilly (comparative)
most civilly (superlative)

Recently, the Supreme Court justices Sonia Sotomayor and Amy Coney Barrett spoke together publicly about how members of the court speak civilly to one another while disagreeing, sometimes vigorously, about the law.

2024 March 4, Stephen Breyer, “Stephen Breyer: The Supreme Court I Served On Was Made Up of Friends”, in The New York Times:


duteously

duteously (comparative more duteously, superlative most duteously)

more duteously (comparative)
most duteously (superlative)


gigantically

gigantically (comparative more gigantically, superlative most gigantically)

more gigantically (comparative)
most gigantically (superlative)


dumbly

dumbly (comparative more dumbly, superlative most dumbly)

more dumbly (comparative)
most dumbly (superlative)

On the flat behind the mill, dawn-rising Chinamen shogged with nimble bare feet under their yoke-linked watering-cans. These busy brethren, meeting sometimes on the same narrow track, would pause, ant-like, seemingly to dumbly regard one another and their burdens, then, still ant-like, pass silently to their work.

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 147:

I handed it dumbly to my friend, who had the grace to giggle.

1946, George Johnston, Skyscrapers in the Mist, page 32:

(derogatory, informal) In an unsmart way.


giddily

giddily (comparative more giddily, superlative most giddily)

more giddily (comparative)
most giddily (superlative)

`Little 'un snoozin'!' Jinny remarked, lurching giddily towards her to merrily twirl her fist in the snoozer.

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 78:


dubiously

dubiously (comparative more dubiously, superlative most dubiously)

more dubiously (comparative)
most dubiously (superlative)

They had perpetuated a dubiously holy union of Church and State that had refused for centuries to hear the cry of the poor and the oppressed.

1993, William J. Leonard, The Letter Carrier, page 218:

But, this information is relegated to a footnote, and no examples of dubiously English words are provided.

2018, James Lambert, “Setting the Record Straight: An In-depth Examination of Hobson-Jobson”, in International Journal of Lexicography, volume 31, number 4, →DOI, page 487:

She looked dubiously up the steep path to the vastness of dark wood on either side. “How far is it up to the top?”

1997, Kelly Joyce Neff, Dear Companion: The Inner Life of Martha Jefferson, page 167:

Accompanied by doubt, or anxious uncertainty.


insomuch

/ɪnsəʊˈmʌt͡ʃ/

From Middle English insomuche; equivalent to in + so + much.

Insomuch as you have consistently paid the bill on time before, we'll excuse one late payment.

In ſo moche that if any verbe be of the thyꝛde coniugation / I ſet out all his rotes and tenſes[…]

1530 July 18, Iohan Palſgrave, “The Introduction”, in Leſclarciſſement de la langue francoyſe […] , London: Richard Pynſon, Iohan Haukyns, →OCLC, page 32; reprinted as Lesclarcissement de la langue françoyse, Genève: Slatkine Reprints, 1972:

These weights did not exert their natural gravity […] insomuch that I could not guess which was light or heavy whilst I held them in my hand.

1712 September 1 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “THURSDAY, August 21, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 463; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume V, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:


girlishly

girlishly (comparative more girlishly, superlative most girlishly)

more girlishly (comparative)
most girlishly (superlative)

Ganymede was once a girlishly handsome precocious youth. That one cannot for any considerable number of years go on being youthful, girlishly handsome, and precocious, seems on consideration to be a statement as worthy of credit as the famous syllogistic conclusion, "Socrates was mortal."

1879, George Eliot, chapter 12, in Impressions of Theophrastus Such:

"What's worse, I suppose I girlishly trilled all this to him, and too often. […]"

1951, Sinclair Lewis, chapter 10, in World So Wide:


famously

famously (comparative more famously, superlative most famously)

more famously (comparative)
most famously (superlative)

President Roosevelt famously said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

2007, Ian Harrison, Take Me to Your Leader, DK, →ISBN, page 152:

But even as religion was on the rise, the word "God" declined dramatically over the course of the eighteenth century. The word is famously absent from the Constitution, but it was also relatively absent from the printed texts of the decade in which the Constitution was drafted and adopted, and more broadly from the revolutionary period overall.

2009, Eric Slauter, The State as a Work of Art, Chicago, →ISBN, page 247:

Indicates that the act, state, or occurrence described by the sentence is famous In such a manner as to become famous or produce something that would become famous.

notably

indicates that the sentence describes something famous

The new roommates got on famously.

(informal) Really well, having great rapport.


onscreen

I leaned over her shoulder to see two cybergirls yanking out each other's hair. Katy was typing insults that appeared onscreen.

Think of them [task panes] as dialog boxes that enable you to type while they're onscreen.

2010 May 10, Herbert L. Tyson, Word 2010 Bible:

And the best voice actors — their names known to fans and promoted by companies — can become celebrities despite never appearing onscreen.

2017 October 27, Todd C. Frankel, “In $25 billion video game industry, voice actors face broken vocal cords and low pay”, in Washington Post:

Inside the frame of the cinema, television or computer screen.


blatantly

blatantly (comparative more blatantly, superlative most blatantly)

more blatantly (comparative)
most blatantly (superlative)

Although he was blatantly on drugs, the crowd still cheered him.

Further on, blatantly advertising its meritorious solidity, a boarding-house exhibits behind uncurtained windows its testimony to the soundness of London.

1922 October 26, Virginia Woolf, chapter 6, in Jacob’s Room, Richmond, London: […] Leonard & Virginia Woolf at the Hogarth Press, →OCLC; republished London: The Hogarth Press, 1960, →OCLC:

In a blatant manner; so as to be highly visible or obvious.


in short order

in short order (comparative in shorter order, superlative in shortest order)

in shorter order (comparative)
in shortest order (superlative)

But it may be just as much of one for the opera house administrators who have come to depend on him as a box-office draw, and for the international audiences that in remarkably short order — less than a decade, really — have embraced him as the most important, versatile tenor of his generation.

2014 February 7, Zachary Woolfe, “For a Sage Tenor, It’s All in the Timing”, in New York Times:

She was scandalised by my suggestion that she should have bought the other three seats, in order to use the table as an office space. Her solution was that I should go and sit elsewhere. Her appeal to the ticket inspector/guard was rebuffed in short order.

2023 May 31, “Open Access: On-train table manners”, in RAIL, number 984, page 63:

In a speedy manner; with dispatch; quickly.


onshore

onshore (comparative more onshore, superlative most onshore)

more onshore (comparative)
most onshore (superlative)

Like most storms, Hurricane Katrina weakened as it came onshore, and by Monday evening the National Hurricane Center had downgraded it to a tropical storm.

2005 August 29, Joseph B. Treasterand Kate Zernike, “Hurricane Katrina Moves Onshore, Weaker but Still Threatening Havoc”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:


fancifully

fancifully (comparative more fancifully, superlative most fancifully)

more fancifully (comparative)
most fancifully (superlative)


monolithically

monolithically (comparative more monolithically, superlative most monolithically)

more monolithically (comparative)
most monolithically (superlative)


matter-of-factly

"I took the liberty of inviting somebody else to have dinner with us," Stallman said, matter-of-factly, giving me the same cat-like smile he gave me back in that Palo Alto restaurant.

2002, Sam Williams, Free as in Freedom, Epilogue:

He was not of the East; and he came of a breed who fought devils and wizards as promptly and matter-of-factly as they battled human foes.

1934, Robert E. Howard, The People of the Black Circle:

As though the situation is normal and not unusual; not dramatically or fancifully.


offkey

offkey (comparative more offkey, superlative most offkey)

more offkey (comparative)
most offkey (superlative)


officiously

officiously (comparative more officiously, superlative most officiously)

more officiously (comparative)
most officiously (superlative)

Slipping then a pillow under me, that I might give him the fairest play, I guided officiously with my hand this furious battering ram, whose ruby head, presenting nearest the resemblance of a heart, I applied to its proper mark, which lay as finely elevated as we could wish

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:


offensively

offensively (comparative more offensively, superlative most offensively)

more offensively (comparative)
most offensively (superlative)


glaringly

glaringly (comparative more glaringly, superlative most glaringly)

more glaringly (comparative)
most glaringly (superlative)

/ˈɡlɛəɹɪŋli/

/ˈɡlɛəɹɪŋlɪ/

[…] the light now on, now off, now on too glaringly, now too dimly, with the glow of a fitful dying battery—then at last to know the whole town plunged into darkness […]

1947, Malcolm Lowry, chapter 5, in Under the Volcano, New York: Reynal & Hitchcock:

The ground was covered with snow, glaringly white even under that pinpoint Sun.

1958, Robert A. Heinlein, chapter 7, in Have Space Suit—Will Travel, New York: Ballantine, published 1977, page 114:

After dusk in Bedford Square you could see into the high first-floor windows of publishers’ offices, the walls of bookshelves and often a huddle of figures at a glaringly lit party.

2011, Alan Hollinghurst, The Stranger’s Child, London: Picador, Part Four, Chapter 1:

In a glaring manner:
(literally) With intense light.

In a glaring manner:
With intense light.

The error was glaringly obvious, yet nobody said anything about it.

1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia, London: T. Payne & Son, and T. Cadell, Volume 4, Book 7, Chapter 9, p. 133,
Cecilia was quite confounded by this speech; to have it known that Delvile had visited her, was in itself alarming, but to have her own equivocation thus glaringly exposed, was infinitely more dangerous.

‘How can you lie so glaringly to the poor child?’ I called from the inside.

1847, Emily Brontë, chapter 22, in Wuthering Heights:

To find the reporters hammering at their doors, so to speak, and fended off only for a time by a proposal that they should call again; to see their incredible secret glaringly in print, did indeed for a moment seem a hopeless exposure to both the Buntings and the Sea Lady.

1901, H. G. Wells, The Sea Lady, London: Methuen, published 1902, Chapter 3, Part I, p. 72:

Her accent is glaringly Kaaps;

1999, J. M. Coetzee, chapter 3, in Disgrace, Penguin, published 2000, page 24:

(figurative) So as to be highly visible or obvious; so as to attract notice or attention.


ofttimes

The victim is an irresistable, insane subject of the peculiar trance, oblivious to his acts, and ofttimes unconscious of them afterward. During the attack he is in no way the same actor.

1895, Medical Review, volumes 30-31, page 423:

(chiefly US, uncommon) (elsewhere, archaic) Often, frequently.


off-key

en-adverb

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

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

The way your smile just beams / The way you sing off-key / The way you haunt my dreams / No, no—they can't take that away from me

1937, “They Can't Take That Away from Me”, Ira Gershwin (lyrics), George Gershwin (music):


off-site

Unlike South Heath, where the tunnel segments are made on site, the ones used here are made off-site and brought in by road.

2022 March 23, Paul Bigland, “HS2 is just 'passing through'”, in RAIL, number 953, page 41:


gloomily

en-adv

gloomily (comparative more gloomily, superlative most gloomily)

more gloomily (comparative)
most gloomily (superlative)

[T]he sedate monk's hood lifted its head still higher and looked gloomily and wickedly down on it, while it nodded and kept time to the cuckoo's song, as if it were counting how many days it had to live.

1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 280:


courtly

courtly (comparative more courtly, superlative most courtly)

more courtly (comparative)
most courtly (superlative)

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

From Middle English courtly, equivalent to court + -ly.

Then will I deck thee Princely, instruct thee courtly,
And present thee to the Queene as my gift.

1598, Robert Greene, The Scottish Historie of James the Fourth, London, act I, scene 1:

[…] where, in the name of wonder, have you learn’d to talk so courtly?

1673, John Dryden, The Assignation, London: Henry Herringman, act II, scene 3, page 17:

1766, Elizabeth Griffith, The Double Mistake, London: J. Almon et al., Act I, Scene 3, p. 12,
Very courtly and correctly spoken on all sides, my lord;

The driver waited courtly by the open doors of the saloon.

1980, Anthony Burgess, chapter 74, in Earthly Powers, New York: Simon & Schuster, page 661:

In the manner of a royal court; in a manner befitting of a royal court.