Abysmally

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /əˈbɪz.ml̩.i/

Definitions

1. In an extremely bad or severe manner, relating to a vast depth of something tangible or metaphorical
2. In a way that signifies an unfathomable extent of poor quality or state that is deeply negative
3. In an extraordinarily low and unacceptable fashion, often implying great depth in terms of failure or inadequacy

Etymology: "Abysmally" is simply the adverb of "abysmal," formed by adding the suffix "-ly" to it. That suffix has a long pedigree: it descends from a Proto-Germanic word meaning "body" or "form," which came to be used as a suffix meaning "having the form or quality of," and it passed through Old English "-līce" and Middle English "-ly" before settling into the modern form. So the adverb inherits a very old sense of "in the manner of," which is why it reads as "in an abysmal way." The adjective it rests on, "abysmal," came into English from Late Latin "abyssus," meaning "bottomless pit," itself borrowed from Greek "abyssos," "without bottom." The word therefore began life as a picture of something with no floor at all, and "abysmally" carries that sense of depth into the idea of falling as far as possible in quality or condition.

Synonyms: terribly, awfully, dreadfully