headilyadv.
/ˈhɛdᵻli/, U.S. /ˈhɛdəli/ 1. Impetuously, precipitately, rashly; wilfully. In early use also: †with excessive eagerness or enthusiasm (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > [adverb] > with rapid or sudden violence
brathlya1300
angerly?a1425
impetuously1485
headilya1500
vehemently1538
angardlyc1540
furiouslya1577
rank1590
wildly1593
amok1838
torrentially1882
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [adverb] > hastily or hurriedly > foolishly or recklessly
belly-flaughtc1375
headlinga1398
headlingsc1400
hastilyc1405
hastlyc1425
overheadc1440
headilya1500
headlongc1500
ahead1530
headlongsc1540
precipitately1615
precipitantly1642
precipitously1646
precipitiously1653
splash-dash1807
ram-stam1808
rum-strum1827
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin vii. 119 (MED) Antor..met hym so hedylyche with a grete spere, that bothe the tymbir and stelen heede shewed thourgh his shuldre.
1567 A. Golding in tr. Ovid Metamorphosis (new ed.) Ep. Ded. sig. bijv A person sage and wyse..who headily will nothing enterpryse.
1683 R. Grove Perswasive to Communion 17 Why should we run so headily into opposite Parties?
1736 L. Welsted Scheme Provid. iv. 38 The multitude..ran headily into mischief.
1820 Asiatic Jrnl. & Monthly Reg. Apr. 370/2 He..broke loose, and renewed his arguments against us as headily as ever.
1884 Punch 19 July 30/1 Beware of entrance in that quarrel headily.
1918 ‘H. Hall’ Man Nobody Knew (1919) xii. 160 He said this headily; his heart had taken over the dominant control of his tongue.
1962 A. Deutsch in N. Q. Brill Psychiatry in Med. viii. 123 Some enthusiasts headily predicted that the most devastating of all mental diseases would soon be conquered.
2001 M. Gellert Fate of Amer. xvii. 275 India and Pakistan were headily escalating their nuclear arms race against each other.
2. In an exciting or exhilarating manner; intoxicatingly; overpoweringly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > pleasurable excitement > [adverb]
exhilaratingly1850
headily1899
1899 S. R. Crockett Kit Kennedy xli. 295 A tingling appreciation of life bubbled headily in his brain.
1920 K. N. Burt Hidden Creek ii. i. 161 The air grew headily light. Even under the blazing July sun, it came cool to the lungs.
1951 M. Henrey Little Madeleine xii. 158 Headily scented arum lilies.
1976 B. Dunkelman Dual Allegiance xiii. 115 Racing ahead victoriously in open country with the wind in your face is a headily romantic feeling.
1991 Guardian 18 June 34/4 The sound of her warm soprano was ravishing.., with the stratospheric phrases of Magda's first aria headily beautiful.
2008 G. Arnold Girl in Blue Dress (2010) xxiii. 307 He is wearing a very elegant black suit..with a clove carnation in his buttonhole; and smelling headily of lavender.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.a1500