Dictionary

devoutly en · ADV

Etymology

Etymology tree Latin dēvoveō Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Italic *-tos Latin -tus Ecclesiastical Latin dēvōtusbor. Old French devotbor. Middle English devout English devout Middle English -ly English -ly English devoutly From devout + -ly.

Meanings

1. In a devout manner.
   • She probably even believed she was a Roman Catholic. But what she really was, deeply and devoutly, was a superstitionist. 2012, Nick Tosches, Me and the Devil: A Novel, →ISBN:
   • He had no vague false notions of beginning fires in November, and ending them in May; but had arrived at the philosophical conclusion, that there are very few evenings, in all the year, that a fire is not a consummation of domestic felicity in England most devoutly to be wished. 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Influence of the Dead”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 271:
   • " Without further parley, upon their knees they fell most devoutly, and for helpe on heaven never ceased extensively to intercessionate God, for his speedie recoverie. 1594, Thomas Nash, “The Terrors of the Night”, in Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books, volume I, published 1807, →OCLC, page 270:
   • […] I did espie Where towards me a sory wight did cost*, Clad all in black, that mourning did bewray, And Iacob staffe in hand devoutly crost, Like to some pilgrim come from farre away. 1591, Edmund Spenser, The Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser, Volume 5:
   • After receiving a call in March of 1984, her devoutly Catholic parents followed the telephoner's advice of seeking help, speaking with a priest and two male psychiatrists. 1985 December 21, Laurie Sherman, “Lesbian Students' Parents Getting Anonymous Calls”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 23, page 1:
   • Or on the mat devoutly kneeling, Would lift her eyes up to the ceiling, And heave her bosom unaware For neighbouring beaux to see it bare. 1716, Jonathan Swift, Phyllis, or the Progress of Love:

Forms

Translations (1)

de andächtig (1. In a devout manner)