plaguilyadv.
/ˈpleɪɡᵻli/, U.S. /ˈpleɪɡᵻli/ In a plaguey manner; (colloquial) perniciously, annoyingly; exceedingly, extremely. Frequently as an intensifier.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > state of being accursed > [adverb] > as everyday imprecation
wickedlya1375
terrible1490
cursedly1570
plaguilya1586
damnably1598
cursefully1606
damnedly1607
lousily1611
damnablea1616
execrably1633
excrementitiously1638
infernally1638
mangilya1640
putidly1654
infamously1695
consumedly1707
damned1757
damnationly1762
shockingly1768
damn1787
deucedly1819
peskily1833
pesky1833
beastly1853
dashedly1888
stinkingly1906
rasted1919
effing1945
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > extremely or exceedingly > specifically of something bad
sorea1300
grievously1340
terrible1490
beastly?1518
shrewdlyc1533
arrantly?1548
murrainly?1548
abominablea1550
pestilence1567
pestilently1567
cursedly1570
pestiferously1570
murrain1575
plaguey1584
plaguilya1586
grievous1598
scandalously1602
horridly1603
terribly1604
monstrously1611
hellish1614
dreadfullya1616
horrid1615
pestilenta1616
infernally1638
preposterously1661
woeful1684
confoundedly1694
confounded1709
glaringly1709
cursed1719
flagrantly1756
weary1790
disgustingly1804
filthy1827
blamed1833
peskily1833
pesky1833
blame1843
blasted1854
wickedly1858
blatantly1878
shamelessly1885
disgracefully1893
ruddy1913
bastarda1935
pissing1951
sodding1954
pissingly1971
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. x. sig. Oo4 Assure thy selfe, most wicked woman (that hast so plaguily a corrupted minde, as thou canst not keepe thy sickenesse to thy selfe, but must most wickedly infect others).
1599 Hist. Syr Clyomon & Clamydes sig. F2v Plagely well lou'd in our towne.
a1627 T. Middleton Chast Mayd in Cheape-side (1630) i. 5 The Knaue bites plaguely.
1653 J. Ford Queen v. sig. E4v Velas. Who lends me now a sword? Lodov. Marry, that do I, Sir, I am your first man; Here, here, here, take heed you do not hurt your fingers; 'twill cut plaguely.
1711 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 3 Oct. (1948) II. 376 He was plaguily afraid.
1732 Fate of Corsica iii. i. 43 That's very lucky! I am glad they are likely to live; for I am plaguily afraid of Ghosts, ever since my Lord made me lend a Hand to sink the body of Captain Alonza in the sea.
1794 C. Smith Wanderings of Warwick 82 You loved and respected poor Tracy plaguily, to be sure, when you stole his wench from him.
1828 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. III. v. 80 Ronsard is so plaguily stiff and stately.
1839 C. M. Kirkland New Home xli. 276 Ahasuerus began to make a clearin' there, but it's so plaguily lumber'd up with stuns, and so kind o' slantin' besides, that we thought it would never pay for ploughin'.
1898 E. W. Hamilton Mawkin of Flow 266 The scouff whose name we had both learnt to hate so plaguily.
1918 J. Farnol Our Admirable Betty 10 Now, sir, you sound infinite dismal and plaguily dull!
1923 J. Buchan Midwinter xi. 182 I am plaguily hungry, with the frosty air.
1982 Times 7 Jan. 9/4 The dialect is plaguily catching.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adv.a1586