dreadfully, adv.
(ˈdrɛdfʊlɪ)
[f. prec. + -ly2.]
In a dreadful manner.
† 1. With terror, fear, awe, or apprehension. Obs.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 11673 [The publican] seyde wyþ herte ful dredfully, ‘Lorde, þou haue on me mercy’. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 2680 Hypermnestra, Dredfully sche quakyth. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 77 Mekely and dredfully knowynge oure feblenesse. a 1553 Udall Royster D. iv. vi. (Arb.) 71 I will..so make as though I ranne away dreadfully. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. iv. ii. 150 A man that apprehends death no more dreadfully, but as a drunken sleepe. |
2. So as to cause dread; terribly, fearfully, awfully.
| c 1340 Cursor M. 21882 (Trin.) Oure soulis alle to make redy Aȝeyn his coome so dredefuly. 1593 Shakes. Lucr. 444 They..tell her she is dreadfully beset. a 1666 Brome Ecclus. xlii. (R.), Red burning bolts..Dreadfully bright o'er seas and earth they glare. 1802 Porteus Lect. Gosp. Matt. II. xxii. (R.), A most fatal imprecation, and most dreadfully fulfilled. 1858 Froude Hist. Eng. III. 224 Blazing martyr-piles, shining dreadfully through all after ages. |
3. Colloquially used as a strong intensive = Exceedingly, ‘terribly’, ‘awfully’, ‘abominably’.
| 1602 Shakes. Ham. ii. ii. 276, I am most dreadfully attended. 1697 C. Leslie Snake in Grass (ed. 2) 35 This is dreadfully Astonishing! 1796 Dk. Leeds Pol. Mem. (1884) 220 This dreadfully interesting conversation. 1824 Syd. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 42 Dreadfully afraid of America and everything American. 1881 M. L. Molesworth Adv. Herr Baby 138 He would have liked dreadfully to come home. |