Really

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˈɹɪə.li/

Definitions

1. In a literal or factual manner, this term highlights the authenticity of a statement or situation, often used for emphasis to indicate seriousness and to convey a strong certainty about conditions or assertions
2. This term signifies the truth or reality of something, emphasizing sincerity and often expressing strong affirmation regarding a statement or circumstance
3. It conveys a sense of genuine belief or confirmation about what is being discussed, emphasizing its validity and often highlighting seriousness in tone

Etymology: The adverb "really" is a plain build: the adjective "real" with the suffix "-ly" attached. That suffix descends from Old English "-līċe," which is the same ending that turns adjectives into adverbs in many English words, so "really" simply means "in a real manner." The adjective "real" arrived in English through Old French "reel" and Late Latin "reālis," both ultimately from Latin "rēs," meaning "thing" or "matter," so the word's core is the idea of actual, existing things. The adverb took shape in Middle English, where spellings such as "realy," "rialliche," and "really" all competed for a while. Its early sense was close to its root: something done in actuality, in fact, or truly. The emphatic and sometimes filler uses familiar today, as in "I really mean it," grew out of that core of genuineness and sincerity.

Synonyms: truly, genuinely, actually, verily, certainly

Antonyms: falsely, pretentiously, insincerely, artificially