diabolicallyadv.
/ˌdʌɪəˈbɒlᵻkli/, U.S. /ˌdaɪəˈbɑlək(ə)li/ 1. In a diabolical manner; devilishly, fiendishly; evilly, wickedly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > diabolicalness > [adverb]
devillyOE
serpentinously1502
devilishly1528
diabolicallya1600
serpent-like1608
diabolicly1683
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [adverb] > diabolically or fiendishly
devillyOE
serpentinously1502
devilishly1528
satanically1590
diabolicallya1600
serpent-like1608
diabolicly1683
demonically1834
a1600 (a1578) W. Roper Lyfe Sir T. Moore (Harl. 6254) (1935) 86 If thos only odious tearmes, ‘Maliciously, traiterouslye, and diabolicallye’, were put out of the Indictment.
1633 W. Prynne Histrio-mastix i. 53 So Diabolically absurd, so Audaciously impious, or Desperately prophane.
1681 N. N. Romes Follies 37 By'r Lady the Woman grows Diabollically Impudent.
1734 A. Radicati Disc. conc. Relig. & Govt. vii. 144 Passages of Scripture diabolically interpreted by our venerable and holy Doctors, are the source, pretext, and wicked foundation of Excommunication, and of all Church-Authority.
1756 S. Foote Englishman return'd from Paris ii. 37 You look divinely, Child. But..they have dress'd you most diabolically.
1854 J. H. Newman Lect. Hist. Turks ii. ii. 98 A place as diabolically wicked as it was wealthy.
1893 C. Fitch Pamela's Prodigy iii. 100 I wouldn't be surprised if she drugged him with chloroform! I'm sure she's diabolically capable of it!
1923 Humorist 3 Nov. 352/3 He began stropping a razor with all his might, while his eyes blazed diabolically.
1962 C. A. Jellison Fessenden of Maine vii. 73 This proposal to shatter the time-honored Missouri Compromise seemed almost diabolically evil.
2013 Business Day (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 27 Feb. (Lifestyle & Leisure section) People don't sit on money like scrooges, counting it while laughing diabolically at poor people.
2. colloquial. Exceedingly, awfully, very, utterly. Cf. diabolical adj. 3a and devilishly adv. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > extremely or exceedingly > excessively
cruellyc1385
overa1400
fullc1400
parlouslyc1425
mortalc1440
perilousc1440
spitefulc1450
devilish1560
pestilently1567
spitefully1567
cruel1573
parlous1575
deadly1589
intolerable?1593
fellc1600
perditlya1632
excessively1634
devilishly1635
desperate1636
woundya1639
woundlya1644
desperately1653
wicked1663
killing1672
woundily1706
wounded1753
mortally1759
dreadful1762
intolerably1768
perishing1776
tremendously1776
terrifically1777
diabolically1792
woundedly1794
thundering1809
all-firedly1833
preponderously1835
painfully1839
deadlilya1843
severely1854
furiously1856
diabolish1858
fiendish1861
demonish1867
sinfully1869
fiendishly1879
thunderingly1885
only too1889
nightmarishly1891
God almighty1906
Christ almighty1945
1792 St. James's Chron. 30 Oct. Concerning Equality and Despotism..where can unpolitical B.T. [sc. the author] aim at drawing the line between two such diabolically distant terms [as Equality and Despotism]?
1825 Drama Nov. 40 The piece..was altogether as diabolically dull as imagination can conceive.
1843 Satirist 14 May 154/3 A diabolically funny article called ‘My Monomaniacal Experiences’.
1903 Smart Set Sept. 58/2 I was very near asking her just now—she did look so diabolically pretty—but I thought it wouldn't be fair.
1981 H. Secombe Welsh Fargo iv. 48 The process was diabolically slow and it seemed an eternity before he reached the bushes.
2010 Leatherhead Advertiser (Nexis) 4 Nov. 18 Parking, especially on Saturdays, is diabolically difficult.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.a1600