Vilely

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˈvaɪl.li/

Definitions

1. In a way that is profoundly immoral, detestable, or disgusting
2. Performed with an extreme level of unworthiness or offensive nature that elicits strong disapproval
3. In a manner that is shockingly wicked and deeply offensive to moral sensibilities

Etymology: "Vilely" is simply "vile" with the adverbial ending "-ly" attached, the same ending that turns "quick" into "quickly." The adjective "vile" arrived in English from Old French "vil," which in turn came from Latin "vilis," meaning cheap, common or of little worth. That original sense of low value is still visible in the adjective's modern sense of morally repulsive, since to be cheap or base was once to be morally lowly too. The adverb grew out of Middle English, where spellings varied widely: "vyly," "vileliche," "fijlliche" and "villiche" all appear as forms of the same word. Writers in that period did not yet have a settled spelling, so the adverb shows up in several shapes before the modern "vilely" took hold.

Synonyms: wickedly, despicably, reprehensibly, abominably, contemptibly

Antonyms: nobly, honorably, virtuously