superlativelyadv.
/suːˈpəːlətᵻvli/, /sjuːˈpəːlətᵻvli/, /sᵿˈpəːlətᵻvli/, /sjᵿˈpəːlətᵻvli/, U.S. /səˈpərlədᵻvli/ 1. In a superlative manner; in the highest degree; supremely. Also (in weakened sense): exceedingly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > surpassing excellence > [adverb]
sovereignlyc1340
excellentlyc1400
by (an, way of) excellencec1450
transcendingly1528
exquisitely1535
precellently?1567
divinely1582
par excellence1584
pre-eminently1590
superlatively1596
surpassing1598
by (way of) eminency1608
superexcellently1615
by (way of) eminence1621
transcendently1623
surpassingly1658
exquisitively1660
par eminence1823
heavenlike1832
transcendentally1870
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > in the greatest degree or most > in or to the highest degree
principallyc1390
speciallya1425
consummately1529
extremelya1533
out1555
pre-eminently1590
superlatively1596
supremely1597
supereminently1610
super-superlatively1632
ad extremum1640
highest1726
supernally1874
1596 W. Warner Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) xii. lxxvi. 310 What, is she married? Then doe yee superlatiuely sinne.
1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre i. xxiv. 41 Valour was not wanting in the Turks, but superlatively abundant in the Christians.
1671 R. Head & F. Kirkman Eng. Rogue IV. ix. 139 The illest lookt Rogue that ever dropt out of a Carts-arse at Tybourn, was superlatively handsom to this Baboon, bare-arst, Monkey-fac'd Jerker.
1707 E. Ward Wooden World Dissected 68 Channel Cruizers,..are superlatively the best for his Purpose.
1787 C. Cullen tr. F. S. Clavigero Hist. Mexico I. i. 51 I have reckoned five and thirty species of Mexican birds, that are superlatively beautiful.
1835 E. A. Poe Hans Phaall in Southern Literary Messenger June 565/2 A brim superlatively broad.
1868 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea III. x. 211 Superlatively important matters.
1924 ‘J. Sutherland’ Circle of Stars iii. 24 His manner was unimpeachable, his tone superlatively correct.
1974 ‘J. Melville’ Nun's Castle viii. 176 Ted probably was rich. Not superlatively rich (rich rich as the slang goes) but solidly, comfortably endowed.
2005 F. Johnston S. Johnson & Art of Sinking i. ii. 37 Shamela had mocked a gentleman's condescension to a woman of superlatively low birth.
2. Of speech or language: with the use of superlatives; with exaggeration.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > exaggeration, hyperbole > [adverb]
egregiously1553
hyperbolically1555
overreachingly1571
hyperbolicly1596
overlashinglya1613
superlativelyc1615
exaggerately1646
theatrically1647
fulsomely1657
fancifully1801
exaggeratedly1854
exaggeratively1856
exaggeratingly1858
over the top1935
c1615 F. Bacon Advice to G. Villiers ii. §1 I shall not speak superlatively of them [sc. laws of England]; but this I may truly say, they are second to none in the Christian world.
1700 G. Whitehead Rambling Pilgrim 47 He presumes to Dedicate his bitter and scurrilous Invectives against us to the King's High Court of Parliament, superlatively stiling himself, Your Honours most Humble and most Obedient Servant.
1858 Congregationalist & Boston Recorder 19 Nov. 186/6 You can get a fine view from many points; but the finest—perhaps, for it is hazardous to speak superlatively, is to be obtained by crossing the Potomac.
1877 H. James in Galaxy Jan. 104/1 It is rare that, in speaking superlatively of the French,..one does not think of the women even more than of the men.
1988 Chasqui 17 ii. 139/1 Here..the element of evaluation intrudes, with a tendency to speak superlatively of some poems as poems.
1993 PC Mag. 7 Dec. 239/1 There are plenty of superlatively named PCs in this roundup, but Personal Computer Graphics' midsize tower systems actually deserve the Turbo Burst moniker.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1596