glaciallyadv.
/ˈɡleɪʃɪəli/ 1. Geology. By means of glacial action.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > ice > body of ice > glacier > [adverb] > by means of glacial action
glacially1865
1865 C. Lyell Elem. Geol. (ed. 6) xii. 158 Boulders of far-transported rocks, glacially polished and scratched on more than one side.
1880 A. R. Wallace Island Life ix. 168 The present agencies may be said to be just beginning to carve a new line of features out of the old glacially-formed surface.
2. In an icy fashion, icily. literal and figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > ice > [adverb]
glacially1882
1882 G. A. Sala Amer. Revisited (1883) xiii. 166 The high ‘stoops’ before the houses were also glacially glassy as to surface.
1883 E. Lynn Linton Ione II. xx. 179 She asked this as calmly, almost glacially, as if she were not interested.
1889 E. Lynn Linton Thro' Long Night I. i. xv. 251 ‘I was looking at your room’, returned Charlie, glacially polite.
Draft additions 1993
3. figurative. With the slowness of a glacier.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > slowness > [adverb]
slowlyc1384
slowa1398
tortoise-like1645
lently1655
snail-like1825
loiteringly1836
dreichly1844
oozily1871
leadenly1879
snailishly1889
glacially1975
1975 U.S. News & World Rep. 3 Feb. 23/1 In an institution glacially slow to change established practices, it all adds up to the biggest shake-up since the House rebelled against a tyrannical Speaker.
1986 N.Y. Times 16 Dec. c24/4 That the characters and props in the tableaux move, if only glacially, does add a dimension to a theatrical ancient device.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1899; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
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adv.1865