fearfully

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

English fearful

Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der.

Proto-Germanic *līkąder.

Proto-Germanic *-līkaz

Proto-Germanic *-ê

Proto-Germanic *-līkê

Proto-West Germanic *-līkē

Old English -līċe

Middle English -ly

English -ly

English fearfully

From fearful + -ly.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈfɪɹfəli/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈfɪəfəli/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: fear‧ful‧ly

Adverb

fearfully (comparative more fearfully, superlative most fearfully)

1. In a fearful manner; characterized by fear.

   I stepped fearfully into the pitch-dark cave.

2. (UK, dated) very; very much.

   He's a fearfully good striker.

   • 1 November 1884, John Kemp, Saddlers, Harness Makers, and Carriage Builders' Gazette‎^[1], volume XIV, London, pages 155–6:

     Remember, when a horse is on its side the kicking-strap is useless, and the breechen nearly so, to prevent the swing of its hind legs; your aim is to get it away from the steps or wheel-plate of the trap, which, in its struggles, may cut its legs fearfully.

Derived terms

• unfearfully