perilously

English

Etymology

From Middle English perilously; equivalent to perilous +‎ -ly.

Adverb

perilously (comparative more perilously, superlative most perilously)

1. In a perilous manner.
   • 1951 February, K. Westcott Jones, “Some Australian Railway Byways”, in Railway Magazine, page 118:

     A rather interesting and notable convenience, however, is that of ice water bags, which are hung on to the outside of the coaches at certain stops. These can be reached by leaning out of the window rather perilously, to unhook them, and paper cups are stocked in the compartments.

   • 1988, Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, William Heinemann Ltd, page 90:

     A door flopped open, wobbling perilously on its one remaining hinge.

Translations

in a perilous manner

• Bulgarian: опасно (bg) (opasno), рисковано (bg) (riskovano)
• Icelandic: hættulega, háskalega

Middle English

Alternative forms

• parlously, perelously, perilosely, perilouselich, perilousliche, perilouslych, perllously, perlously

Etymology

From perilous +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɛriˈluːsliː/, /ˈpɛr(i)lusliː/, /ˈpar(i)lusiː/, /-lit͡ʃ(ə)/

Adverb

perilously

1. In a way that is full of peril; harmfully, hurtfully.
2. In a cruel way; strictly, ruthlessly.
3. In a sinful way; evilly, iniquitously.

Descendants

• English: perilously, parlously

References

• “perilǒuslī, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-07-15.