oracularlyadv.

1654 J. Crandon Mr. Baxters Aphorisms Exorized & Anthorized i. iv. 27 Such a one shall have a Temple built unto him, from which to give answer and resolution to all other questions and doubts in Divinity, Oracularly.

1826 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey (new ed.) III. v. ii. 47 ‘Dear—but cheap,’ oracularly answered Mr. Brinkel.

1864 Daily Tel. 17 May 5/5 Utterances even more oracularly ambiguous are ascribed to him at Washington.

1944 Sci. Monthly Dec. 444/1 You talk clearly and interestingly,..instead of enigmatically and oracularly.

1986 J. Gloag Only Yesterday (1988) 10 The intense gaze Sylvia would sometimes direct at him before making some oracularly dotty remark.

1771 E. Burke Speech on Jury Bill in Writings & Speeches (1981) II. 162 A timid Jury will give way to an awful judge, delivering oracularly the Law.

1788 T. Reid Aristotle's Logic i. §1. 3 He delivers his decisions oracularly.

1844 N. Amer. Rev. July 86 Mr. Barrow..with rare ignorance of the subject which he treats so oracularly, remarks [etc.].

1884 Truth 13 Mar. 380/2 Mr. Justice Stephen, speaking oracularly, declared that there was no law against human cremation ‘if effected without nuisance to others’.

1909 Chambers's Jrnl. June 386/2 ‘The duties of an office-boy’, returned Mr. Whatting oracularly, ‘are a good deal what the office-boy condescends to make them.’

1934 J. Buchan Free Fishers ix. 46 ‘Some say the Deil's deid and buried in Kirkcaldy,’ Bob quoted oracularly.

1992 S. Sontag Volcano Lover i. iv. 58 She spoke oracularly of her powers, she proclaimed her dual citizenship in the past and the future.