mirthlesslyadv.
/ˈməːθləsli/, U.S. /ˈmərθləsli/ Without mirth; joylessly; humourlessly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > melancholy > seriousness or solemnity > [adverb]
highlyOE
deeplyc1300
solemnlya1325
sadlya1375
soberly1382
demurelyc1400
sadc1400
seriouslyc1425
solemnya1470
murely1474
solemnedlyc1480
solenny1480
in (good, sober, serious) sadness1545
gravely1553
staidly1571
solemniouslya1578
solidly1632
in sad earnest1637
ponderously1637
in jest-earnest1642
in all seriousness1679
joking apart1745
unhumorously1768
solidly1799
in sober earnest1836
mirthlessly1853
votively1857
smilelessly1869
unmirthfully1872
unsmilingly1879
inhumorously1898
soberingly1923
straightfacedly1977
1853 A. Cox Landlord's & Tenant's Guide ii. i. 63 Note whether the little ones eagerly sally forth to their sports, and return with glowing happy faces, or whether they go lingeringly and come back mirthlessly.
1890 W. C. Russell Ocean Trag. II. xxiv. 252 He laughed harshly and mirthlessly.
1920 F. S. Fitzgerald This Side of Paradise ii. v. 289 The little man laughed mirthlessly but conscientiously.
1981 H. Secombe Welsh Fargo xi. 173 Sid was grinning mirthlessly.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1853