dismally

English

Etymology

dismal +‎ -ly

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈdɪz.mə.li/
  • Audio (Southern England)(file)

Adverb

dismally (comparative more dismally, superlative most dismally)

  1. In a dismal manner.
    • 1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 291:
      The ribs of the few horses showed dismally.
    • 1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:
      Outside an owl was hooting most dismally in the darkness.
    • 2020 May 20, Christian Wolmar, “Clarity is required on social distancing and the railways”, in Rail, page 50:
      Boris Johnson's speech to the nation on Sunday May 10 was rambly, incoherent, and he failed dismally in his attempt to sound Churchillian.
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