frightly

English

Etymology

From fright + -ly.

Adjective

frightly (comparative more frightly, superlative most frightly)

  1. Frightful; dreadful.
  • 1880, Allen Putnam, Witchcraft of New England Explained by Modern Spiritualism, page 404:
    "His wives" (he had buried two) had privately complained unto the neighbors about frightly apparitions of evil spirits with which their house was sometimes infested; and many such things had been whispered among the neighborhood."
  • 2013, Neils Axt, ChronoTales, page 15:
    And they were the first, arriving at frightly matrimonial junction long before their high school classmates had seriously considered such options.
  • 2022, Garry Boulard, Andrew Johnson and Ulysses S. Grant: Their Epic Battle:
    A more frightly scene was scarcely ever witnessed,” Cadwallader observed.

Adverb

frightly (comparative more frightly, superlative most frightly)

  1. In a frightful or dreadful manner.
  • 2025, Brett O'Conor, The Butcher:
    The Kentucky Fright Chicken. They are frightly good!

Middle English

Alternative forms

  • frigtlike

Etymology

From fright +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈfrixtliː/

Adjective

frightly

  1. (rare) fearful, awed

Descendants

  • English: frightly (obsolete)

References

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