Bloodily

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a way that is heavily associated with violence or carnage
2. Done with intense bloodshed or brutal force
3. Executing actions marked by extreme gore or harshness

Etymology: "Bloodily" is a plain formation: the adjective "bloody" with the suffix "-ly" added to turn it into an adverb. The adjective "bloody" comes from "blood" plus "-y," meaning "full of" or "characterised by," so something bloody is marked with blood, and bloodily describes doing something in that manner. The suffix carries most of the history. It traces back through Proto-Germanic "-līkaz," which meant "having the form or appearance of," to Old English "-līċe," the regular ending for turning adjectives into adverbs. Over the centuries the Old English form softened into Middle English "-ly," which is the same ending found in words like "quickly" and "slowly." The root behind the suffix, Proto-Indo-European "*leyg-," is an ancient word meaning "body" or "form," which is why a suffix about shape ended up attached to adjectives describing manner.

Synonyms: gorefully, sanguinely

Antonyms: cleanly, neatly