English

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Etymology

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grateful +‎ -ly

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈɡɹeɪtfəli/
  • Hyphenation: grate‧ful‧ly
  • Audio (US):(file)

Adverb

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gratefully (comparative more gratefully, superlative most gratefully)

  1. In a grateful manner.
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 5, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
      A waiter brought his aperitif, which was a small scotch and soda, and as he sipped it gratefully he sighed.
         ‘Civilized,’ he said to Mr. Campion. ‘Humanizing.’ [] ‘Cigars and summer days and women in big hats with swansdown face-powder, that's what it reminds me of.’