wronglyadv.
/ˈrɒŋli/, U.S. /ˈrɔŋli/, /ˈrɑŋli/ 1.
a. In a wrong, undue, or inappropriate fashion; unfittingly, improperly. Also in combinations.
ΘΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > unfittingness > [adverb]
evilOE
wrongc1175
unworthlyc1200
unkindly?c1225
ungraithlya1300
unkindlyc1300
wrongly1303
unconablya1340
unworthily1377
ungoodlyc1380
falsely1393
uncomelya1400
unsittinglyc1412
uncomelilyc1420
unorderly1471
ungainlya1500
ill?1529
unmeetly1533
unconveniently1538
undecently1563
unproperly1604
unbeseemingly1617
viciously1617
unbecomingly1653
abusefully1656
unbefittingly1871
society > morality > dueness or propriety > moral impropriety > [adverb]
wrongc1175
unworthlyc1200
unkindly?c1225
ungraithlya1300
wrongly1303
unconablya1340
unworthily1377
ungoodlyc1380
uncovenablya1382
improperly1390
falsely1393
unduly1399
unseemlya1400
unsittinglyc1412
unorderly1471
induly1483
unseemlily1483
ungainlya1500
uncomely?1518
unmeetly1533
unconveniently1538
wrongfully?1549
uncomelily1561
undecently1563
indecently1589
unproperly1604
unbeseemingly1617
viciously1617
unseemingly1619
misbecominglya1625
unbeseeming1645
unbecomingly1653
invalidly1705
naughty1892
society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > [adverb]
wrongly1303
abusively1531
nought1533
naught1549
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > disharmony or incongruity > unsuitability or inappropriateness > [adverb]
wrongc1175
unkindlyc1300
wrongly1303
unworthily1377
uncovenablya1382
improperly1390
inconveniently1509
ineptly1523
impertinently1546
unaptly1548
unfeatly1548
unhandsomely1548
unfitly1561
disagreeably1566
unmeet1577
unsuitably1624
malapropos1630
unfittingly1637
unfit1653
unworthy1661
inaptly1809
misappropriatelyc1831
infelicitouslya1834
ineligibly1846
inappropriately1847
inapplicably1864
unapropos1956
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 11069 Aȝens God, he ys nat quyte Þat suffreþ for hys owne profyte Holy cherche wrongly be ȝyue To þo men þat wykkedly lyue.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. vii. sig. Mm3v So wrongly-consorted a power could not resist the ready minded force of Amphialus.
a1830 Sir T. Lawrence in Williams Life & Corr. (1831) I. 131 I began life wrongly, I spent more money than I earned, and accumulated debts.
1848 E. C. Gaskell Mary Barton I. ix. 152 She..was so afraid of speaking wrongly, that she was silent.
1904 Daily Chron. 2 May 5/6 A wrongly-set switch.
b. Inaccurately; incorrectly. Cf. wrongfully adv. 2.
ΘΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > inaccuracy, inexactness > [adverb]
at rebours?a1400
unjustlyc1425
wrongly1633
outa1641
inaccurately1669
unaccurately1674
uncorrectly1706
unprecisely1806
inexactly1849
à rebours1895
1633 in E. Spenser View State of Ireland Pref. sig. ¶3v, in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland He deceased at Westminster in the year 1599. (others have it wrongly 1598.)
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding ii. xi. 71 Mad Men,..having joined together some Ideas very wrongly,..mistake them for Truths.
1804 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. III. 464 The judgment is most evidently mistated, or wrongly printed.
1858 J. L. W. Thudichum Treat. Pathol. Urine 34 Which, when destined to be used for the urine only, should be called urogravimeter, but has been wrongly styled urinometer.
1892 Photogr. Ann. II. 735 If any houses have been omitted, or wrongly included under any heading.
c. In an erroneous manner; by mistake or misapprehension; erroneously, mistakenly; = wrongfully adv. 2b.
ΘΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lack of truth, falsity > [adverb]
wrongc1175
miss?c1225
untruea1350
untrulyc1380
falselya1400
wilsomelyc1420
awrong1430
unpurelyc1460
fallibly1552
erroneously1578
sinistrously1581
wrongously1597
false1598
unproperly1604
incorrectly1611
fallaciously1612
mistakingly1652
foul1683
wrongfully1743
wrongly1755
erringly1815
1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. at Misbeliever One who holds a false religion, or believes wrongly.
1814 W. Wordsworth Excursion v. 224 What sees he but a Creature..that yearns, Regrets, or trembles, wrongly, or too much; Hopes rashly. View more context for this quotation
1838 G. P. R. James Robber I. iv. 72 You construe what I have said very wrongly.
1884 tr. H. Lotze Logic 407 To us, rightly or wrongly, general principles appear rather as [etc.].
1918 Times Lit. Suppl. 28 Mar. 147/1 The methods..have, rightly or wrongly, largely fallen into discredit.
2. In an unfair, unjust, or inequitable manner; unjustly, unfairly; = wrongfully adv. 1.
ΘΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > unjustness > [adverb]
unevenc1000
unrightOE
unrightlyOE
wronga1250
falsely1303
wrongouslyc1325
unskilfully1338
unskilwiselya1340
wrongly1340
unrightfullyc1350
wrongfullyc1374
unevenly1382
unjustlyc1384
unduly1399
slanderously1429
injustly1502
undeservedly1549
slanderfully1550
unequallya1599
unequitably1649
unfairly1713
iniquitably1742
inequitably1857
society > morality > rightness or justice > wrong or injustice > [adverb]
unrightOE
unrightlyOE
wronga1250
mislichec1275
falsely1303
wrongouslyc1325
unskilfully1338
unskilwiselya1340
wrongly1340
unrightfullyc1350
wrongfullyc1374
unjustlyc1384
injustly1502
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 8 And yet zeneȝeþ he more þet deþ oþer porchaceþ ssame oþer harm to oþren wrongliche.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. iv. 92 False puple, That by-gylen good men and greueþ hem wrongliche.
a1400 Cato's Distichs (Fairf.) l. 255 in R. Morris Cursor Mundi (1878) III. App. iv. 1672 (MED) A-gaine man riȝtwise, striue þou in na wise, ne wrangeli him greue.
1419 26 Pol. Poems 69 To wynne wrongly wele, wod þey gan wede.
1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 249 Many of them wrongly wandrynge from the ryghtnes of faythe.
1595 S. Daniel First Fowre Bks. Ciuile Warres iv. ciii. sig. Z There he had his rightfull punishment Though wrongly done; and there he lost his head.
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lxix. 9 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 81 Wrongly sett to worke my woe.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) i. v. 21 Thou..would'st not play false, And yet would'st wrongly winne. View more context for this quotation
1839–40 W. Wordsworth Roman Consul 10 When they by wilful act A single human life have wrongly taken.
1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre I. viii. 127 I have been wrongly accused.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.1303