deathly

English

Etymology

From Middle English dethlich, from Old English dēaþlīċ, equivalent to death +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈdɛθli/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Adjective

deathly (comparative deathlier or more deathly, superlative deathliest or most deathly)

1. Appearing as though dead, or on the verge of death.

   He has a deathly pallor.

   • 1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], chapter VI, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. […], volume III, London: […] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, published 1 January 1818, →OCLC, page 120:

     I rushed towards her, and embraced her with ardour; but the deathly languor and coldness of the limbs told me, that what I now held in my arms had ceased to be the Elizabeth whom I had loved and cherished.

2. Deadly, fatal, causing death.
3. Extreme.

   He has a deathly fear of crocodiles.

Derived terms

• deathlily
• deathliness

• deathly pale

Translations

appearing as though dead

• Finnish: kuolon (fi), kuoleman (fi) (genitives of nouns)
• German: tödlich (de)
• Middle English: dedly
• Russian: смерте́льный (ru) (smertélʹnyj)

fatal, causing death

• Finnish: kuolettava (fi), tappava (fi)
• German: tödlich (de)
• Polish: zabójczy (pl), śmiertelny (pl), śmiercionośny (pl)
• Russian: смерте́льный (ru) (smertélʹnyj), роково́й (ru) (rokovój), фата́льный (ru) (fatálʹnyj)

extreme

• Finnish: kuollakseen (verb form)
• Russian: смерте́льный (ru) (smertélʹnyj)

Adverb

deathly (comparative more deathly, superlative most deathly)

1. In a way that resembles death.

   He was deathly pale.

2. Extremely, dreadfully.

   The water was deathly cold.

   He was deathly afraid of crocodiles.