awfully en · ADV
Pronunciation
- /ˈɔː.fli/ (UK)
- /ˈɔ.f(ə.)li/ (General-American)
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈɑ.f(ə.)li/ (cot-caught-merger)
- /ˈɔː.fə.li/ (UK)
- /ˈɔː.fʊ.li/ (UK)
Etymology
Etymology tree English awful Middle English -ly English -ly English awfully From awful + -ly.
Meanings
-
Badly, terribly.
She led after the swimming and cycling, but ran awfully and came in fourth.
-
(not-comparable) Very; exceedingly; extremely; excessively.
It was wondrous. 'I'm awfully glad I came now,' his thought ran; 'I'm managing it rather well.'
1912, Arnold Bennett, The Grim Smile of the Five Towns:It’s awfully considerate of you to think of me here / And I’m most obliged to you for making it clear that I’m not here
1968, Syd Barrett, “Jugband Blues”, in A Saucerful of Secrets, performed by Pink Floyd:
- (archaic) In a manner inspiring awe.
- (archaic) Reverently.
-
(obsolete) Fearfully.
I returned to the inn yard, and, impressed by my remembrance of the face, looked awfully around for it. It was not there.
1849 May – 1850 November, Charles Dickens, The Personal History of David Copperfield, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more awfully | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most awfully | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Synonyms
acutely · murrain · insanely · wicked · wildly · very much · highly · impossibly · strikingly · almighty · severely · intensely · mightily · terribly · hugely · very · extremely · badly · terribly · violently · damn · beyond · extraordinarily · drastically · exceedingly · immensely · indecently · jolly · awfully
Translations (7)
ru страшно (in an awe-inspiring manner) · el φοβερά (in an awe-inspiring manner) · es asombroso (in an awe-inspiring manner) · wa carapmint (in an awe-inspiring manner) · cs strašně (in an awe-inspiring manner) · wa k' araedje (in an awe-inspiring manner) · el τρομερά (in an awe-inspiring manner)