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adv

frightfully

FRYT-fuh-lee
adv
1
In a shocking or dreadful manner.
"The victims were frightfully treated."
2
Very; extremely (dated, chiefly British, often in a posh or old-fashioned tone).
"I'm frightfully sorry, I didn't catch your name."

How to Use Frightfully

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMostly used now as an old-fashioned British way of saying "very" ("frightfully sorry", "frightfully kind").

When to use it

Sounds dated or deliberately posh/comic in modern speech.

Word Forms

more frightfully comparative, most frightfully superlative

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The victims were _____ treated.

Rhymes for frightfully

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial