terribly

adv

Etymology: Inherited from Middle English terribli. By surface analysis, terrible + -ly.

1. So as to cause terror or awe.

   “The lion roared terribly.”

   “The mere sensuous impact of trumpet or saxophone, whatever it happened to be playing, was an echo, even though a faint echo, of that excitement and abandon. He wanted to taste, smell, hear: his senses were terribly alive.”

2. Very; extremely.

   “He's terribly busy and you really shouldn't bother him.”

   “The parsnip, stilton and chestnut combination may taste good, but it's not terribly decorative. In fact, dull's the word, a lingering adjectival ghost of nut roasts past that I'm keen to banish from the table.”

3. Very badly.

   “She took part in the karaoke, but sang terribly.”

   ““A joyride gone terribly wrong,” Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor said during a news conference in Steilacoom, which is about 3 miles from the island.”