Disgustingly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a way that elicits a strong reaction of repulsion or disapproval
2. In a manner that invokes extreme aversion or distastefulness
3. In a way that provokes severe dislike and unease

Etymology: "Disgustingly" is a plain formation: the adjective "disgusting" with the adverbial ending "-ly" attached. The adjective itself comes from "disgust," and the ending has a long pedigree of its own. The "-ly" suffix descends from an Old English form "-līce," which was built on a Proto-Germanic root meaning "body" or "form," so the ending once carried the sense of "in the shape or manner of" something. That same ancestry is what makes "-ly" the usual way English turns an adjective into an adverb, as in "quickly" or "boldly." The suffix is inherited rather than borrowed, so it has been part of English from its earliest recorded stage, passing through Middle English as "-ly" before settling into the form used today. Because it attaches to almost any adjective, "disgustingly" is a transparent word: once you know "disgusting," the adverb follows automatically, meaning "in a way that is disgusting."

Synonyms: repulsively, revoltingly, abhorrently, offensively, sickeningly

Antonyms: pleasantly, agreeably, enjoyably, delightfully, charmingly