terrificallyadv.
/təˈrɪfᵻkli/, U.S. /təˈrɪfᵻk(ə)li/ 1. As an intensifier: excessively, exceedingly; wonderfully. Cf. awfully adv. 3a, dreadfully adv. 3.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > extremely or exceedingly > excessively
cruellyc1385
overa1400
fullc1400
parlouslyc1425
mortalc1440
perilousc1440
spitefulc1450
devilish1560
pestilently1567
spitefully1567
cruel1573
parlous1575
deadly1589
intolerable?1593
fellc1600
perditlya1632
excessively1634
devilishly1635
desperate1636
woundya1639
woundlya1644
desperately1653
wicked1663
killing1672
woundily1706
wounded1753
mortally1759
dreadful1762
intolerably1768
perishing1776
tremendously1776
terrifically1777
diabolically1792
woundedly1794
thundering1809
all-firedly1833
preponderously1835
painfully1839
deadlilya1843
severely1854
furiously1856
diabolish1858
fiendish1861
demonish1867
sinfully1869
fiendishly1879
thunderingly1885
only too1889
nightmarishly1891
God almighty1906
Christ almighty1945
1777 'Squire Randal's Excursion round London x. 96 Her hair was set upright in the present perpendicular fashion, most awefully high, and terrifically broad.
1787 C. Taylor Surv. Nature II. v. 197 In Africa also he is no less terrifically worshipped, on the coast of Mosambique, and in Japan.
1826 Examiner 1 Jan. 2/1 A scene of gymnastics, in which there is some terrifically fine rope dancing.
1859 C. Darwin in Life & Lett. (1887) II. 160 I am working very hard, but get on slowly, for I find that my corrections are terrifically heavy, and the work most difficult to me.
1885 G. Meredith Diana of Crossways I. ii. 41 Terrifically precocious, he thought her.
1945 L. A. G. Strong Othello's Occup. ii. 43 The poor chap gets terrifically het up.
1972 T. Williams Let. 5 Feb. in Five O'Clock Angel (1991) 255 I got terrifically high on ‘Jamaica grass’.
2004 New Yorker 22 Mar. 26/1 The racing scenes are terrifically exciting, with plenty of Spielbergian obstacles..to keep the Indy crowd happy.
2. In a terrifying manner; frightfully, appallingly. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of terribleness > [adverb]
dreadlyc1175
eislichec1175
grimlyc1175
ungainlya1200
awly?c1225
grurefulliche?c1225
fiendlyc1275
dreadfullya1400
felly?c1400
awfully1487
terrible1490
terriblya1500
fearingly1556
direly1610
dismally1653
dreadful1682
formidably1685
terrifyingly1767
direfully1775
terrifically1778
terrificly1791
appallingly1825
turble1893
1778 H. Hodgson Effusions Heart & Fancy 295 Where, cried he, with a voice loud and aweful as thunder when it terrifically roars over our heads.
1799 C. Proby Mysterious Seal I. iii. 103 To dash her down the precipice that frowned terrifically at her side.
1846 Mrs. Sherwood in Peter Parley's Ann. 228 Arches of rock, which hung terrifically over my head.
1888 S. H. M. Byers Iowa in War Times xxv. 315 Terrifically, and from three directions, the conflict raged.
1904 R. Hichens Garden of Allah Prel. vi Terrifically greater, more overpowering than man, the desert was yet also somehow less than man, feebler, vaguer.
1966 R. Price Generous Man (1967) ii. 200 Lightning flashed. Thunder answered terrifically.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1777