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grimly

adverb

  1. with expectation of a bad outcome
L14634 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈɡɹɪmli/

adj

Etymology: From Middle English grymly, grimlich, from Old English grimliċ, corresponding to grim + -ly. Compare grimlike.

  1. Grim-looking, grim-natured.

    To hear her rant, one would have supposed, who had not seen him, that her lank-haired, grimly partner, was the prettiest youth in the county of Dublin, and that all the comely lasses in Chapelizod and the country round were sighing and setting caps at him […]

    In reality it was the most terrifying sight I had seen to date: two fried eggs decorated with ketchup, Tabasco and chopped chillis in the semblance of a pair of bloodshot eyes – I would as soon have eaten my own leg. I waved the grimly thing away.

adv

Etymology: From Middle English grymly, grimliche, from Old English grimlīċe, equivalent to grim + -ly. Cognate with Icelandic grimmliga.

  1. In a grim manner.

    He looked round and shouted grimly, "As soon as the gate is opened, you go out there - running."

    I looked out my window / The cloud was grimly forming / Waiting for the rain I saw / The one dark cloud forming