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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

lamely en · ADV

Pronunciation

  • /ˈleɪmli/
  • (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree English lame Middle English -ly English -ly English lamely From lame + -ly.

Meanings

  1. In the manner of one who is lame.
  2. (colloquial) In a foolish or ineffective way.
    • "I quite admire cats," he said. "There is something about them," he added, "which..." He could not find the words. "Which is quite admirable," he ended lamely. 1959, Anthony Burgess, Beds in the East (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 436:
    • He lamely tried to lie his way out of the situation, but he wasn't really trying and no-one believed him.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
most lamely Degree=Sup lexicographic
more lamely Degree=Cmp lexicographic

Translations (1)

eo mallerte (in a foolish or ineffective way)