Dictionary

vilely en · ADV

Pronunciation

• /ˈvaɪl.li/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English vyly, vileliche, fijlliche, villiche, equivalent to vile + -ly.

Meanings

1. In a vile manner, evilly, despicably.
   • We broke off diplomatic relations with Russia Ukraine is defending itself and will not give up its freedom, no matter what Moscow thinks[...] Russia vilely and suicidally attacked our state in the morning Just like fascist Germany did during the Second World War 2022 February 24, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 4:58 from the start, in Ukraine Special: Putin's Russia launches full-scale invasion, Channel 4 News:
2. Terribly, awfully.
   • The chauffeur must, as it seemed to me, have been a novice or else have lost his nerve in this disturbance, for he drove vilely on the way to the station. 1913, Arthur Conan Doyle, “(please specify the page)”, in The Poison Belt […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:

Forms