excessively, adv.
(ɛkˈsɛsɪvlɪ)
[f. prec. + -ly2.]
† 1. Of manner: a. Wastefully, lavishly, prodigally. b. Greedily. Obs.
| 1552 Huloet, Excessyuely..profuse. 1563 Golding Cæsar 85 The beastes which the Galles do most delight in and whych they pay for excessiuely. 1596 Spenser F.Q. ii. xii. 3 Which having swallowd up excessively, He soone in vomit up againe doth lay. |
2. In an excessive amount or degree; beyond measure, immoderately. (In mod. use a stronger expression than exceedingly.)
| c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714) 68 Whan any of his Lords schal happyn to be so excessively grete as [etc.] 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) iv. i. 167 He is excessyuely humylyed. 1591 Horsey Trav. (Hakluyt Soc.) 192 He used me but rufflye, by reason I could not drincke excessivlie with him. 1634 H. R. Salerne Regim. 2 Anger..excessiuely chafeth and inflameth the membres. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. v. xxi. 271 A conceit..wherein although it seeme excessively ridiculous there may be some⁓what of truth. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 145 ¶6 The Fellow is rich..but excessively ill-bred. 1747 Wesley Prim. Physic (1762) 63 It makes them smart and burn excessively. 1841 Lane Arab. Nts. I. 80 There came forth from it nothing but smoke..at which he wondered excessively. 1877 A. Brassey Voy. Sunbeam xxii. (1878) 378 The scenery seemed of an excessively rudimentary description. |